The Powers That Be by Aer-ki Jyr (best sci fi novels of all time .txt) 📕

“Define ‘potency.’”

“That lesson is beyond your current skillset and thus unavailable to you at present.”

“Can the launch of a Spore be detected from another galaxy?”

“On some occasions, if the galactic range is not too far. Essence will return to its natural realm even without physical collision over the course of time. Even Essence crafted to resist this decay cannot persist in our realm permanently without a Lifeform to attach to.”

“Does this sensor array monitor other massive Essence Rushes?”

“It will detect any that occur with significant magnitude within the local region.”

“Are there others occurring within this galaxy?”

“I do not have information from the other Temples, nor access to the primary sensors in this one. I am detecting the Essence Rush from this facility by similar mechanisms of scale as you possess. I am a database terminal, not an access node for the Temple’s active systems.”

“Can the Temples see others beyond the Hadarak that use such great power?”

“The Founders have encountered none that can match the output of a Hadarak Colony Spore other than the Apocalypse Monsters themselves.”

Mak’to’ran flinched. “Do you have recordings of such occurrences?”

A hologram appeared of a galaxy, but nothing was detailed in it except star positions.

“What am I seeing?”

A light pulsed to his left, far outside the map to get his attention, and he saw several dim icons represented there.

“Is that the location of the Apocalypse Monsters?”

“They do not return to the same place after consuming their targets, so we only know of their location when they activate. The Essence Rushes they used to propel themselves toward the target galaxy are visible by the Temples and give the Founders forewarning when they are coming, but there is nothing the Founders can do to stop them. Their Essence output levels are beyond measuring.”

“By what factor must they outscale the current Essence Rush in order to be visible on the map you now show me?”

“The smallest detected prior to the destruction of Hettaris was on a magnitude of greater than 10 billion.”

Mak’to’ran’s large Era’tran frame suddenly felt very small. “What happened to the galaxy you show me?”

“Hettaris was purged of 28% of its star systems before the mild incursion ended and the Apocalypse Monsters disappeared into the intergalactic void.”

“Was this a galaxy with Temples in it?”

“Yes.”

“Where they destroyed?”

“Some were, most survived.”

“And what has become of this galaxy now?”

“The Lifesprings created new systems in the devoured tracts of the galactic swirl and caused a spewing of new proto-matter from the Galactic Core to feed the development of others in the far future.”

“What is this ‘proto-matter’ that you speak of?”

“There are points in every galaxy where matter and energy spontaneously emerge. Most are usually dormant, but after the Apocalypse Monsters finish their destruction many of these Spring Points are opened and new material and energy is deposited in the galactic swirl.”

“I have never heard of such occurrences,” Mak’to’ran said, fascinated by the new knowledge that was pouring forth from the Responder. “Where are they located in this galaxy?”

“They are always located near galactic center, and the Hadarak prize these locations second only to the Gateways.”

“As a fuel source?”

“Affirmative.”

“How do you know they are connected to the Lifesprings?”

“Whenever a Lifespring occurs a massive Essence Rush is detected with unlimited potency.”

“The Temples can track these as well?”

“Without fail. They are of a greater potency than the Colony Spore jumps.”

“Have you ever detected one?”

“On average, 18 occur each century within this galaxy.”

Mak’to’ran’s jaw dropped. “Are we under Apocalypse Monster attack as well?”

“Lifesprings do not only occur after an attack.”

“Can you determine where these are actively occurring?”

“Not with enough alacrity to observe them directly, but their positions are able to be pinpointed by the Temples, though not by this unit.”

“How do you know what the average is then?”

“Basic data is updated into the database periodically. The occurrence rate is one such modification that is regularly made.”

“Are the locations of the previous occurrences also added to your database?”

“Negative.”

“So you are given enough data to teach, but not to allow those within the Temples to monitor events beyond?”

“The purpose of the Temples is to teach and allow for training. The Founders are tasked with dealing with what is beyond.”

“As am I,” Mak’to’ran argued lightly. “Can you show me one of these Colony Spores?”

The galactic hologram disappeared, replaced by what looked like a squid with 29 tentacles coming off the rear of the ‘vessel.’

“Why is the shape the way it is?”

“Intergalactic collisions must not be allowed to damage the leadership, and much mass is collected enroute through such collisions. A sacrificial section of the Spore thus precedes the portions with vital compartments.”

“It’s a ram?” Mak’to’ran asked, referring to the bulbous head on the front that was a third wider than the rest of the ‘squid.’

“A ram intended for small collisions or a single rogue planet. Successive collisions with planetary bodies will destroy the Spore, and 3 such expansions have been documented as failures because of obstruction of the Gateways.”

“Accidental or intentional obstruction?”

“One accidental, two intentionally arranged by the Founders in galaxies that they expanded to prior to the Hadarak’s arrival.”

“They mined the Gateway approaches with mass traps?”

“It is one of many techniques used to slow the expansion of the Hadarak, but containment has become impossible. They continue to spread to new galaxies, and those galaxies provide reinforcements to those that already exist, further strengthening them against any counter-force coming from within.”

“This is why you believe our efforts stand no chance of defeating them?”

“One of many reasons.”

“Does the travel of the Hadarak reinforcements occur with a similar Essence Rush?”

“Ones of much smaller magnitude for the larger carrier vessels, but none for the smaller.”