Yantis Greepe looked over the data that was illuminated in three dimensions. The table allowed for holoprojectors to display the maps and information as a visual representation of data that was input from an outside source.
Or at least that's how Yantis understood it. There are so many variables that would determine which corner of the galaxy this thing would now be hiding that it was making his head spin. He wasn't really sure how this technology worked, but he knew that it was easier to decipher when there was a map projected from thin air.
"We know that it entered the system from this trajectory," Edgeman Ven said. Colar Ven had been in the program for nearly a decade-much of that time spent under the tutelage of Yantis Greepe and his team. He was much younger than Yantis, and a very quick learner for the workings of this holo-projector.
Yantis may feel inadequate with this new technology, but he was more than prepared to discuss and trade ideas and secrets with those who were able to share High Republic technology. There were advantages that both groups would see from any exchange Yantis could procure.
Ven highlighted a section of the sector with a shining, red circle. It appeared as a jarring event on the field of blue galactic space. Dots followed from the incoming trajectory of the creature to the planet Kour and its moon, watching the timestamp to see the duration at different stages of the interaction between the celestial object and the creature.
The others surrounding the map held their gaze on the animation, placing hands on their chin or their hips in concentration. The crew of the Gargantuan were dressed immaculately, and could be ready to fly the warship with a moments notice. Each member had their place, and had been specially chosen by Yantis after careful consideration of their qualities.
A Knight is only as strong as his weakest link.
Ven continued, "It collided with the moon after only a few moments in realspace. The moon was destroyed, splintering into dozens of dozens of smaller pieces. After some days pass…" Ven pressed a few more keys as Yantis watched. The creature, retaining it's perfect, spherical shape, began to glow subtly. Yantis knew, and could see the barely perceptible turn of the sphere as it began to face Kour. "...is when the next phase began," he said diplomatically.
Was that a hint of regret in his voice, Yantis wondered.
He placed his hands on the edge of the table, and leaned down to look closer at the map. His hair remained in place, and the folds of his suit revealing no hint of irregularity or anything out of place. Unless you knew it was there, the concealing fold of his sleeve hid his dagger as well.
"Zoom out, my Edgeman." He requested patiently. After a moment, the image of the creature grew smaller in the map. The surrounding lines of hyperspace routes into and out of the sector displayed their paths to the other nearby areas of the outer rim. He watched the creature glow, and noticed Ven slow the time back to the original viewing. After a moment, Yantis watched as the object disappeared.
The creature had jumped to hyperspace.
It left no trace when it did.
Where did you go?
Yantis took a deep breath. "Well, at least we know something."
"Sir?"
He pointed to the incoming and outgoing trajectories, which formed a V containing about a 50° angle of separation. "It didn't go back the way that it came, which makes me think that it is a roaming creature, without a home to return to."
Ven looked up at his Knight. "Are you certain? Without a computer to navigate the stars with, it could be returning to where it believes it's home to be."
"No, I don't believe that. If this creature can jump into hyperspace and travel such distances at such speeds that we require our ships to perform for us, it is very possible that there could be other things it is capable. We just aren't aware of its full capacity yet."
One of his scientists spoke up. "With as much as it just accomplished here, I feel as though there may be more to its behavior than just consuming. We should prepare for the other abilities that it may have."
"While we should prepare for the other capabilities, we don't necessarily know that yet. A beast of that size may need many more...encounters before it is satiated. It may just be looking for its next target," Yantis supposed. Could that even be possible? With a creature of this size?
There were murmurs around him that told they shared his doubts.
Or did they share his fears?
"My Knight, shall I begin to run diagnostics to determine possible destinations for this creature? Without the energy readings from the Mining Conference, it could take some time before we discover the next target."
"Yes, that is good procedure," Yantis smiled at his Edgeman, who waved at the group around them. They dispersed, with their directives known to each of them. "'The next target' suggest these actions are the wish of a sentient creature. Do you propose we attempt to negotiate with it? Make our wishes known that the actions they conduct are pernicious and vile?"
"I simply wish to prevent more lives from being lost, sir." Ven gazed emotionlessly at his Yantis, who knew this about Ven. The boy, a mere 28 years old, was always careful to save lives with minimal risk to the surrounding community. Yantis was not without his own admiration of his goals. His experience aided him in understanding that there was sometimes a cost that was unavoidable.
Turning off the holoprojector, Ven went to Navigator Yuly, who was running the computations that followed possible vectors out of the system.
"Sir, there's another pod coming our way. Should I move to intercept?"
Yantis went to the only Rodian on board, Hubort Phran. As the Lookout Officer, he was responsible for watching the radar and had been finding many escape pods from the planets as the citizens evacuated for safety.
It's incredible that there weren't more evacuations, Yantis thought, considering how few ships there were to receive them.
"Yes, intercept and communicate to Hadley that another will be coming on board. Determine life form type and quantity of the pod prior to interception."
"It looks like just a single life form, sir."
"Very good."
Looking out the window, Yantis marveled at the desolation of the Kour orbit. He watched the pod streaking through space as it began to slow from the Gargantuan's tractor beam. The occasional rocks and planet surface was not enough to remind anyone that there had once been a planet and moon here.
After the creature consumed the planet, it left nothing behind. It ate the crust, the core, and Yantis could only watch from a receding distance as the creature moved it's newly formed arms and hands to collect the slowly floating debris into the craggy mouth until there was nothing left.
Edgeman Ven breathed a sigh of relief. They'd eliminated another populated system from the possible locations the creature could have gone to based on its trajectory.
We're going to have to come up with a name for this thing, sooner or later. We can't just keep calling it the creature.
The SED Officer suddenly stood and rushed his way over to Yantis, whispering into his proximity. Yantis nodded and said a few words before glancing at his Edgeman in understanding and leaving the bridge.
Noserkin sure does like to be kept in the loop, Ven mused to himself. This disaster was allowing them to use all the resources that the High Republic had shared with them. Ven was part of the first generation to train with the holoprojector and hyperwave transceivers. The two of these allowed for a near-instant communication network that allowed the Knights of the Edge to act with more authority and command than ever before.
His first mission with Yantis had been to install the hyperwave transceivers in proficient points around their section of the Outer Rim.
That had been a dangerous assignment, Ven remembered. You haven't felt truly vulnerable until you are floating around in hyperspace, connected to your stationary ship only with a tether! Feeling the strange pressure of dark matter and dark space in a hyperspace tunnel was more claustrophobic than Ven would ever admit to another person.
But it allowed them to communicate with Noserkin, and the other Knights of the Edge. They would have been helpless to coordinate as much of their Edgekin without this technology.
Noserkin had been the first to understand the importance of bargaining and negotiating with the High Republic. The rewards had been nothing if not crucial for the immediate growth of the Knights. Between the communication technology and the medical allowances they were now afforded, the Knights of the Edge were more powerful than they had ever been in the history of the Edge.
Ven ran his fingers over the scars on his face, aware of how he owed his own life to the gifts of the High Republic.
Stepping into the private enclosure, Knight of the Edge Yantis Greepe input the lock code behind him and sat down to allow the communication booths to tether. Spanning over 10,000 light-years, Yantis knew it should take time to connect. Instead, the transmission was ready to allow for him before he'd gotten comfortable.
Yantis stood in the designated area, allowing the invisible scanners to sweep his body, calculating the shapes and contours that would display for Noserkin. At the same time, the familiar suit and face of his Kin came into focus in front of him. Yantis noticed the similar style of appearance as they holoprojector.
Once again, the capacity of the holo to display the unseen threat shown in the image was inadequate.
"Knight Yantis Greepe, report," the quick and crisp voice stated.
"We know now that the creature is alive," Yantis began. "It entered into the orbit of the planet Kour about 30 light-years away from Tatooine. When it arrived, its momentum carried it into the moon, causing an impact event on a scale I've never seen before. After several days of what I can only describe as the creature charging up, it presented itself in such a manner that arms and legs unfolded as it devoured the planet Kour. There is nothing left."
Noserkin imperceptibly leaned forward, "Nothing?"
Yantis shook his head. "We watched it finish its consumption before entering hyperspace and leaving in another direction. We're working to discover where it will exit hyperspace."
"See that you do, Yantis. I'm sure I don't have to remind you what a disaster this would be at a time like this?"
"No, I know what's coming."
"It would be a disaster."
"You say that like it is not already."
Noserkin scrunched up his nose in condescension. "You think I'm not aware of how our plans have changed already? Kour was vital to our plans for the future, but worry not. We have already adapted." Noserkin waved to someone out of view, someone Yantis could only assume was giving him more information from the report he'd sent out. His attention came back to Yantis. "It changes nothing."
"I'm concerned that we won't be able to keep up with this creature. The speed with which it can travel, consume, and alter it's choices is far beyond what we can do on the Gargantuan. We would make quicker progress if you could send the scientific fleet to meet with us."
"What would they be able to provide you with that you don't already possess?"
"Their instruments can detect what we're using to track it with better accuracy than what we have here on board."
"You mean it's leaving a trace behind of its activities?"
"Something like that." Yantis knew that there were chemicals at the Mining Conference that were mixed with the invisible ionized energy particles. The mixture was reminiscent of what leaked out of a faulty hyperdrive-which was absolutely trackable. That's what they found to lead them to Kour.
They also found a large bubble of the same ionized matter where Kour used to orbit it's star. There was no trail to lead them to the next stop, however.
"I'll send Knight Tremble and the fleet of Kathfronds. Where should he meet you?"
Yantis became aware of his blinking comlink, alerting him to information from the bridge. "I'll get back to you on that, Noserkin. Within the hour."
"Understood. Yantis, be sure to cover every corner of this operation. Kour had been a vital step to our convergence with the High Republic, but we have found a replacement. Do not rule out the possibility that this was orchestrated."
Absurd.
"Sir?"
Noserkin pointed at him with ferocity. "There are people here who I trust with my life. There is no one outside of the room I'm in, excepting yourself, who I do the same. Should you feel doubt or an uncertainty about any individual, detain them immediately. No matter their ranking within the Edge. Does this order come to you understood?"
Yantis didn't understand.
He didn't feel a creature this large could be manipulated by a being the size they all were.
He didn't think that the Edge had competitors that would go to this length to stop them.
But he didn't think that the High Republic would understand to their methods without obvious examples like the one that they had just lost.
"I understand," Yantis said.
Noserkin allowed his face a flicker of tenderness. "Make safe choices, my kin."
The image of the Kin of the Edge flickered and faded.
His heartbeat wanting to begin racing, Yantis took a few seconds to breath deeply. Breathing the recycled air in through his nose and out of his mouth calmed him somewhat. Only then did he accept the request for communication. It was his Edgeman.
"My Knight, we found where the creature is going. Should we depart?"
