HOMEWORLD2: WRATH OF THE GODS
CHAPTER 3: DISCOVER
It is not always easy to perceive the size of the Galaxy due to its sheer massiveness. Considering that the distance between Kharak, beyond the Great Wastelands, and Hiigara, an Inner Rim world, is at least thirty-five thousand light years, it is easy to understand the irrelevance of the fastest fusion drives. They are, after all, conventional drives.
With such stellar distances in mind, one can definitely see the importance of hyperspace – the only known means of efficient travel across the Galaxy. Hyperspace came to the known Galaxy only in the First Time, with the Bentusi's discovery of the First Core. Using the vast powers granted by the First Core, the Outer Limb Trade Routes were established, uniting the Galaxy in peace. While various hyperspace modules were developed as a result of the Bentusi's technological hand downs, no other sentient race was able to develop a similar hyperdrive with the capabilities of the First Core.
It did not take long for the various races to realise the value of hyperspace in combat. The Hiigarans first took advantage of this in their terrible war for domination. Corrupted by the power of the Second Core, they were quick to use its far jumping capabilities in their mad conquest. Thankfully, they were stopped by the enigmatic Bentusi.
While hyperspace's importance remained during later times, especially during the Hiigaran race's Homecoming, there is no doubt that the End Time saw the most vicious use of far jumping hypertechnology. With the Third Core came great bloodshed and tragedy, bringing much of the known Galaxy to its knees.
The Galaxy's understanding of hyperspace has come a long way since the First Time, and ships now sport hyperspace modules with ever-increasing jump ranges. Yet, some mysteries remain.
What secret lies behind the seemingly-infinite power of the Hyperspace Cores, that allow them to propel entire fleets across mind-numbing distances in a single jump? What causes the bizarre hyperspatial anomalies in various regions of space?
Most importantly, was hyperspace developed as an instrument of discovery, or a tool of war?
Outskirts of Hiigaran System:
As the Legacy of Kharak flickered into objective being on the outskirts of the Hiigaran System, Yuno was relieved to see that Admiral Eefrit had recovered from the nasty emotional shock. She too felt his pain, as death was something she had gone through in the not-so-distant past. Yet, she questioned herself; who feels more pain – the one who dies or the one beside?
"Hyperspace jump successful. Extrapolated sensor readings show that the hyperspace module is functioning at 100 efficiency. I am confident that we will have no trouble reaching the projected maximum jump range of two thousand light years."
"Yeah, that is good to hear Yuno. If only…"
"Eefrit, nobody wanted for it to happen. I'm sure Soban wouldn't want to see you grieve over his passing."
"… Is there any word from Hiigara?"
"Of course. Hiigaran Fleet Command is very pleased with the performance of the Legacy's hyperspace module. Not surprising, since it was designed by Kiir Sjet himself."
"That guy is brilliant. Where would we have gone using those modules with three-digit jump ranges?"
"Admiral, I am receiving additional instructions now. We are to return to Hiigara immediately for final retrofitting, after which we will re-launch for our first mission."
"First mission! They've still got a few more weeks' testing to go!"
"Hiigaran Fleet Command wants the retrofit done in twenty hours. They want us to investigate the Turanic Raiders who are supposedly developing new weapons that would prove disturbing to Hiigara's security."
"New weapons? I didn't think those pirates could be good techs. Time to head back, I guess."
"Attention all crews, we will be initiating return jump to Hiigara in one minute. Please return to your posts immediately."
Onboard the Exile, Hyperspace transit:
Kiir switched on the viewscreen in his quarters and was greeted by eerie blue streaks of light. It had been three hours since they entered Gate 112A, and there was still no end in sight.
It must be a pretty distant galaxy, he thought.
Kiir returned to his notes and started working feverishly at them again. They had received word minutes ago about the tragic loss of the Progenitor Dreadnaught Gatekeeper of Sajuuk. While he was disturbed by the fact that the Turanic Raiders were using Beast weaponry, he was affected more by Hiigaran Fleet Command's response to the matter.
"While the loss in Hiigaran life, especially war veteran Captain Soban, is indeed tragic, the loss of infinite research possibilities on board the Dreadnaught is very much regrettable."
Since when did Hiigaran Fleet Command become such a heartless organisation? They now valued technology over life itself! What would Karan have done instead?
Alas, Karan would not hear of this matter. She was too far away now. Last he heard, Karan and Sajuuk were now in the Unexplored Regions to the Southern Fringe, exploring an extension of the Eye of Aaraan that was thought to lead to a section of the Galaxy closed off by naturally-occurring gravity wells. That was the other mystery behind Progenitor technology – their ability to jump through gravity wells and other hyperspace inhibitors without trouble.
He had tried to tackle this problem before in an attempt to solve the woes that external gravitational influences had on hyperspace travel. Kiir had spent many months filling paper with equations and scribbled notes, each of them more inexplicable than the last. In the end, he was left with a series of equations to which there was no plausible answer. The only clue he had was that his equations were somehow related to the results he got from calculating Far Jumper equations. If he could somehow find a solid mathematical way to link them together…
Fatigued by the mental effort, he put his pen down on the table and closed his eyes. Just as he drifted slowly into slumber, he was jarred back to reality by the Commander's booming voice.
"Attention all crews! Sensors indicate that the Exile will be returning to normal space in one minute. Report to your positions and stand by for hyperspace exit. Scientist Kiir Sjet, please report to the bridge immediately."
As the echo died down, Kiir got up from his wooden chair, stretched, and left his room hastily. He walked onto the bridge just before the ship returned to normal space. The blue streaks surrounding the Exile slowed as the hyperspace in front of them split open, revealing the blackness of space beyond. Moments later, the Exile emerged from the hyperspace gate, followed closely by its escort fleet of frigates and destroyers.
"It looks like we made it, Kiir. We're running a preliminary scan of the region now, hopefully we'll be able to figure out our location."
"Remember, Commander, that we are in uncharted territory. Though my curiosity remains strong, I am still concerned about the safety of this fleet."
"Your worries are unfounded, Kiir. This fleet is fully equipped to handle anything short of a complete mothership assault squadron."
"Sirs! Sorry to interrupt you, but scanners have picked up a large debris field thirteen kilometres from our position. Preliminary scans indicate Bentusi origins…"
Kiir and Commander Hyll were both stunned by the sudden discovery, but the Commander recovered quickly.
"Bentusi origins? Helm, micro jump to those coordinates at once! All ships follow suit!"
Many thoughts were running through Kiir's mind now. The Bentusi were all gone, wiped out during the events of the End Time. How could they be here? Unless…
As the Exile re-entered hyperspace, Kiir spoke loudly so that everyone on the bridge could hear him.
"I believe we have found the Galaxy to which the Bentusi fled."
Onboard the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk, Hyperspace transit:
"What is our status now?"
"Unknown Captain. We are rushing through hyperspace to an indeterminate location."
"Is there any way we could get ourselves back to normal space?"
"Engineering is already reconfiguring the hyperdrives to generate a quantum waveform with a reversed signature. Hopefully, that will cancel the effects of this rift and get us back to realspace. Alright! Engineering reports that they're done!"
"Hang on everyone. Helm, engage hyperdrives!"
The Gatekeeper shuddered violently as her hyperspace systems whined under the strain. Sparks flew from the Helm console and the bridge filled with the acrid smell of fried circuitry. The ship's lights flickered and the cooling comfort of life support became erratic.
"What's going on?"
"Sir, hyperspace NAV systems have shorted out and we're detecting massive power fluctuations in the main reactor. We're also picking up some sort of energy feedback in the Phased Cannon Array!"
"Soban to Engineering! Cut the power to the Phased Cannon Array! Can you stabilise our power?"
"Got it, Captain! We'll do everything we can down here!"
Another massive shudder rocked the Dreadnaught, which now dipped perilously to port. At the same moment, the sight of hyperspace outside the ship began to slow down, and a window of realspace opened before them.
"Engineering, all power to hyperdrives! We have to push through!"
"Roger that Captain!"
With a tremendous groan as her superstructure strained under the gravitational stresses, the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk dropped back into normal space violently. As the smoke cleared from the bridge, Captain Soban gazed around to see if everyone was alive. Thankfully, they had all survived save for a few bruises and grazes.
"Damage report."
"The hyperspace NAV's dead, hyperdrive plasma conduits have blown out, minor stress damage to outer hull and internal structure. Everything else seems alright."
"Doesn't sound very bad. Get the repairs going now! Navigational officer, where are we?"
"I'm checking our sensors, they're still pretty much confused by the sudden transit to normal space. It's going to take a while for readings…"
Captain Soban switched on all the viewscreens and studied the surroundings carefully. The whole place looked very alien and light scattered randomly in all directions. It was as though the universe was bending in around them. It was then that he noticed the two stars at both sides of the Dreadnaught.
"Captain, none of our starcharts match our present location."
"Not really… People, it seems that we're still inside the Coruc-Tel System, though I can't explain why everything looks so… different."
The twin stars of Coruc and Tel were still distinctly recognisable from their colour, size and brightness. However, the rest of the space around them had changed, showing bizarre-looking constellations and stars as though they were in a parallel universe. As the sensors struggled to make sense of this stellar phenomenon, a long range scanner picked up something derelict in the distance.
"Captain, long range scans have revealed a derelict object at approximately thirty-nine kilometres from our current position."
"Derelict object? Any other details?"
"None at the moment, but long range visuals show a stunning resemblance to the Far Jumper Hyperspace Cores."
"Resemblance? What do you mean?"
"Well, the structural design looks similar, except the one out here is at slightly larger than the Far Jumpers we've seen thus far. The containment unit also appears to be more complex."
"We should investigate this then. Helm, set course for the derelict, maximum burn."
As the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk inched closer to its target, Captain Soban wondered what implications this would have on the Galaxy. The Three Cores were believed to be the only Far Jumpers existent in this Galaxy, yet they had just gone out and found a Fourth Core. Soban also worried about the battle they had left behind. Did the Sabre survive the encounter with the Turanic Raiders and the infected inhibitor station? If so, then all would be well. Otherwise, Hiigara could be facing another terrible Beast outbreak in the foreseeable future.
As Soban pondered over all this, he and his crew failed to check their chrono pieces. Tel had been orbiting in the same plane for fifty-nine hours already, and the massive star began its random shift out of orbit again...