16: Blue Light
As the General Secretary of Royal Affairs, Kav'rak had found himself beset with various administrative duties. He suspected that it was a position his political opponents had created just to get him out of the way. As the hero of Dalabrai, they could hardly discredit him and none dared try to assassinate him. So, no doubt by Brigade Leader Tav'kar's orders, Kav'rak was booted upstairs into a comfortable desk job that gave him certain duties but otherwise kept him out of the way of the affairs of the royal court. That was ironic, in a way, given that his title suggested he had some sway on royal matters. He knew the Regent liked him, something that Tav'kar no doubt found displeasure with.
His appearance at the ball the other night had stirred the pot, or in Kav'rak's view, the den of snakes that was the royal court. He had just as many rivals in there as he did allies, and whilst Tav'kar and his cohorts intended to bring an end to the monarchy, Kav'rak was of the old guard. The monarchy was necessary and had been a mainstay for fifteen-hundred years. Someone had to become Emperor, but that would only happen once those hardliners such as Tav'kar were taken out of the picture.
Kav'rak still held an office with the advanced weapons research division. The subspace bomb project, nicknamed 'Blue Light', had been overseen by him since its early beginnings. He had been one of several such overseers, military officers and politicians who had put the project together with funding attained from independent investors. After the incident on Dalabrai, where the Calsharans had taken control of a facility that had once served as a research station for the project, the whole thing had been put on the backburner. It was a security risk, and gods forbid the Calsharans ever got hold of the research and make something out of it themselves. They already had a technological edge, and that was arguably a result of the 'Great Betrayal' that had ended the alliance, an alliance that had once stood between the makalvari and the Calsharans close to one-thousand years ago.
Kav'rak, outfitted in his usual drab green uniform studded with the many ribbons of his awards and commendations, limped his way through the warehouse space that served as the main workshop floor for Project Blue Light. Cables of varying thicknesses snaked across the floor, connected to computer terminals and power outlets and various other instruments that Kav'rak could not identify. The whole space was bathed in a pale white light, emitted by the numerous fittings that were fixed to the rafters of the high ceiling. The place was scattered with workbenches and metal containers, with shelves of tools and spare parts and circuit boards at either side. There was an office ahead, little more than a simple partitioned box set upon the upper half of the far wall such that its occupants could oversee the work going on down below. Kav'rak saw no movement in the window up there, although he figured the person he intended to meet was present if only because the lights were switched on.
There had once been a team of a dozen researchers working here, each a specialist in their fields. The research itself had centred around the large, grey metal cylinder set upon a platform towards the middle of the laboratory. It lay dormant, an unassuming object that was about a foot in height and four feet in length. A panel was open on its side, revealing an intricate array of conduits that glowed with an inner blue light. However, what was intended to be the most powerful weapon the makalvari had ever devised was otherwise dormant, left in a partially finished state that rendered it as little more than an oversized paperweight. Kav'rak intended to change this, needed to change it if he were to succeed in his goals.
He worked his way up the steps towards the office. The door was open, revealing a comfortable and personalised space. This included soft carpet underfoot, a polished desk made of some rare timber and more than one framed painting about the walls. There were still images as well, photos of an ageing makalvari male shaking hands and smiling with various important people from over the last twenty-five years. There was even one of him standing with the late Emperor, being handed some kind of medal by the old man.
Kav'rak had respected Emperor Crovakari III a great deal, a respect that had come from growing up in the palace as the son of the Captain of the Royal Guard. The Emperor had been like an uncle to him, old when he had been young. For that alone, he would stop Tav'kar and the military junta he had waiting in the wings, no matter what it took to do so.
"I must say, Major, you do look a little worse for wear." The wizened, weary voice caught Kav'rak a little off-guard. He paused in the doorway, searching the office for the source. The ageing makalvari male who was in so many of the framed paintings stepped into view, outfitted in the white uniform of someone from the scientific division. His head plume was a faded grey in colour, his skin heavily lined and weathered as expected of someone pushing seventy years. He motioned for Kav'rak to come in.
"Would you like a drink, Major?" The old male asked him. Kav'rak nodded his head, never one to turn down a free drink. The older male turned around and strode over to a cabinet in the corner. From there, he retrieved a bottle of some form of expensive liquor, and he poured both himself and the Major a glass.
"This place has been very quiet these past few months," the other man told him. Kav'rak limped into the office, wincing as one of the phantom pains that had haunted him since he had lost his leg suddenly shot up from the stump. His prosthetic was in place, yet it did nothing to stop the aches. The only thing that did seem to work was alcohol, and Kav'rak took the offered glass eagerly.
"The money's dried up, as you no doubt know. As such, we can afford to have only myself here." He peered at Kav'rak with one brow-ridge raised in a curious manner. "I may be a genius, but I am also old. There is only so much I can do."
"I know, Ver'tuk." The esteemed Ver'tuk was one of the Republic's most celebrated scientific minds. A number of breakthroughs in energy production and even the reverse-engineering of Ancient technology had been spearheaded by Ver'tuk. To many, he was the top of his field. Very few knew what he did now, and it was generally accepted by those outside of the project that he had retired from scientific pursuits. Of course, one such as Ver'tuk did not so easily retire. The thirst for knowledge was in his blood, and no matter how old he may become, chances are he would be striving for further scientific advancement up until the day he died.
The subspace bomb project had been his idea, and only he could make something so unlikely seem possible: not only would it be the most destructive device ever created, its energies would be dispelled on wavelengths not previously affected. The very fabric of reality itself could be fractured, and the dangers such a possibility brought with it were considerable. It was no wonder, then, that Ver'tuk had relished the work, driving the research team he commanded to the brink of exhaustion.
Chances are, those subordinate scientists were relieved to no longer have to work with him.
Scientific research was not cheap, especially when it was something truly revolutionary. Ver'tuk had been content to continue the work on his own for however much long he could, to the point that he would be doing it for free soon enough. Naturally, sourcing materials and parts he needed was very difficult without financial backing. Kav'rak surmised that Ver'tuk had turned to black market sources for more recent purchases, something that the Major was more than happy to let slide. Ver'tuk was too clever to be caught by the authorities. Geniuses made excellent criminals.
"It has been three months, two weeks and seventeen days since you last came here," Ver'tuk said, reciting the numbers with ease. Kav'rak could not be sure if they were even correct, yet since they came from such a man he assumed them to be correct. "I've made some progress on my own, but even with my contacts it has become difficult to source the materials I need. The work has slowed, as you can well imagine."
Kav'rak noticed the painting on the wall to his right, if only because of the striking image it offered: that of a city, specifically a makalvari city with its towering structures and connecting walkways, set ablaze. Bolts of energy lanced down from an orange sky in striking shades of blue. At its base was a small, embossed plaque, and upon that were inscribed the name of the piece and its artist: CARAVUK ABLAZE, THE GREAT BETRAYAL. By Solvuk'tal. A well-known artist painting an event that had gone down in makalvari history in infamy. The Calsharans had betrayed them, bombarded them into submission and set them back one-hundred years. Ancient history now, but the ramifications continued to be felt one-thousand years later.
"And the bomb? How close is it to being finished?"
"Finished?" Ver'tuk frowned as he considered the question. "If you mean, is it good to be detonated somewhere, then I'm close. Very close. However, I would suggest it is too early for a field test. The low-yield devices we let off in that asteroid field created some readings that I need to examine further."
"Those were months ago."
"And the effects of the detonations continue to be felt out there," Ver'tuk countered. As dedicated as he was to his work, he was also smart enough to be cautious. These were unchartered waters here, and any mistake could mean destruction on a scale never before seen. Two small, low-yield devices had been built based upon earlier designs a year ago. Both had been detonated in a far flung, remote system. One within atmosphere on a lifeless, rocky world and another in that system's asteroid belt to better determine the weapon's effects in vacuum. The weapons had managed sizeable, if somewhat disappointing, explosions. The one Ver'tuk worked on now was the big one, the kind of bomb that could level an entire city with ease. It was necessary to have it built far beyond any makalvari city, and the flight out here had taken a few hours and brought Kav'rak to a mostly remote island far north of the capital.
"There are some other parts I need to finish it," Ver'tuk added.
"Does High Command know?"
"Know of my work?" Ver'tuk nodded his head. "I have submitted regular reports, as per procedure."
"And have you received any word from them?"
"None as yet. I get the impression they no longer care for our project." He was right in that regard. Other, more pressing projects had taken up the attention of the higher-ups. Even Brigade Leader Tav'kar seemed disinterested in Project Blue Light. This would work to Kav'rak's advantage, for the simple fact he needed a victory, be it against the Calsharans or some other powerful enemy. This bomb would provide that victory, and if he annihilated a large enemy force with a project he oversaw then his reputation would be greatly advanced. Perhaps enough so for a promotion, and in turn that promotion would bring him one step closer to his ultimate goals.
"From now on, doctor, I need you to falsify those reports. I need you to tell them no progress is being made and the funds have run dry. I need you to present the idea that the work is coming to an end."
Ver'tuk frowned again, this time with doubt crossing his aged features. Kav'rak's tone hardened, and he gulped down what was left in his glass before he continued:
"This is our project. You finish that bomb and others will take it and take credit for it. You are not the kind of man to let such a thing happen, are you?" He had to appeal to the scientist's vainer side. Ver'tuk had his share of vanity, as did most geniuses.
"Of course not, Major. But to falsify information submitted to High Command and, in turn, the Royal Court…" He shook his head slowly. "If they send an inspection team, they may very well see I am lying."
"Not for a while. I'd give it a few months before they question things enough to send someone out here. And that will be more time than I need."
"What do you plan to do, Major?" Ver'tuk eyed him with a questioning, if somewhat wary, gaze. "Nothing stupid, I hope?"
"I plan to win us a great victory, doctor. And I plan to expose every traitor in the Royal Court. You've heard the talk, I'd wager. That there will be no more Emperors. That the Makvarsum will become the ultimate power." The 'Makvarsum' was simply the makalvari Parliament, comprised of representatives from all over the Republic. All its provinces, its colonies and the like were represented in the great halls of the Makvarsum. "I won't let that happen. This weapon, this bomb, it may be our key to winning this secret war."
Ver'tuk hummed quietly, an indecisive noise on his part.
"You really think so?"
"I think it's part of the solution," Kav'rak added, and his voice grew more impassioned. That was likely a result of the drinks he had had on the way here, compounded by the one he had just shared with the scientist. "These are hard times we live in, doctor. Hard times brought on by weak and corrupt leaders. Hard times that will be rectified by strong, forward-thinking men such as us. What we do, we do for the betterment of the Republic as a whole."
"How very patriotic," Ver'tuk said, as drily as he could. "I do what I do for the advancement of the makalvari people, not for your political ambitions."
"You're building a bomb, doctor."
"We're in the middle of a war, Major. A weapon seems the most useful thing to build at the moment." Ver'tuk was no pacifist, and he had said more than once in the past that weapons research often opened up avenues for the advancement of other fields that could truly improve one's life. He was a pragmatist at heart. Military-backed projects simply offered him the most cutting-edge technology and the potential for the most revolutionary of changes. He wanted to leave his mark on history, and a weapon could very well do that in the most literal way possible.
"There is a line being drawn, in case you haven't noticed. The monarchists on one side, and the parliamentarians on the other. If you haven't already, doctor, you may well have to choose a side."
Ver'tuk said nothing to this. He simply turned around and walked over to the window nearby. From there, he could gaze down onto the laboratory floor and set his eyes upon the bomb itself. Such a plain, innocuous object at a glance. Yet, within it was contained a power unlike any deployed in a weapon before.
"I can lie on the reports, Major," Ver'tuk said, after a pause. He did not turn around, still in deep thought. "I can do all you ask and help you attain your victory. As long as I get credit in the end." He spun around then, setting his eyes firmly upon Kav'rak. "That is what I require, Kav'rak. Appropriate credit for my work when the time comes."
"That is acceptable, doctor," Kav'rak said. "The work is yours, after all. I simply require a victory, and this project seems the most expedient way to get it."
"I never took you for a monarchist," Ver'tuk remarked.
"I grew up in the palace. My father was Captain of the Royal Guard and the late Emperor was practically family. And on that note, doctor, would you not agree that a strong leader is required, and that the Regent certainly does not qualify. Had the Emperor had a living son, we wouldn't be in this predicament. I fear that this war will grant the likes of Brigade Leader Tav'kar the opportunity necessary to take full power, to end the line of succession and implement a military dictatorship."
"And that leader you say we need, that would not be you by any chance, Major?" Ver'tuk narrowed his eyes. He was simply curious, offering the Major a wry smirk. Kav'rak frowned in turn, although he did not answer. It should have been obvious, certainly to Ver'tuk. Kav'rak would not be going ahead with his plans if there was nothing in it for him. If he could rid himself of his rivals, then he could likely get promoted to something more suitable for a man of his experience and skills.
"You talk of treason, Major," Ver'tuk said. He did not sound as if he cared, he had simply made an observation.
"No more so than others in the royal court," Kav'rak countered. "The war offers opportunities, and I would rather act on them before they are gone completely. And preferably before others seize the chance."
"You really think my project will help you?" Ver'tuk motioned towards the bomb itself through the window, where it was situated on the laboratory floor. "Who will you use it on? The Calsharans?"
"It's a thought," Kav'rak said. The Calsharans certainly had it coming, after all they had done the past few years. And even historically, where they had taken nearly every opportunity they could to trample on the makalvari. Those lizards had to pay, and what better time than when they were at war with themselves?
"I have to warn you, there are still too many unknowns about the weapon's effects," Ver'tuk said. He scratched at his chin with one clawed hand, before he ran that hand through the plume of grey feathers upon his head and ruffled them in an absent, worried gesture. "The only way to find out those effects is by field testing the weapon. If you do happen to find the opportunity you need, I will gladly release the bomb to your power. I simply suggest you take care in choosing your target."
"It could kill a lot of people."
"I'm well aware of that, Major. I made peace with that fact a long time ago." Ver'tuk's eyes met with Kav'rak's own. There was a more sombre look in them now, and the ageing scientist continued speaking with a somewhat more subdued tone of voice: "I care about our people same as you do. If we have a choice between building a weapon capable of destroying the Calsharans or letting them destroy us, then by all means I will build that weapon." He paused, watching Kav'rak's more curious look for a moment. "You have heard that they are retreating?"
"Of course, doctor."
"People assume it's because of their civil war, but I have received reports from contacts I have in various government departments. Some seem to indicate that there is another enemy out there, and that the Calsharans are retreating from them, whoever 'they' are." Ver'tuk watched Kav'rak closely, searching for any hint as to what he might have known of this matter. "If this is true, then maybe this new enemy on the field is of greater concern for the Republic?"
Kav'rak knew about the enemy, had known about it since he had become entangled with the humans from Earth, not to mention his interactions with Jonas Quinn of Langara. The Void Demons, or the 'Scourge' as others knew it, seemed to be turning up about the galaxy at random. There was no rhyme or reason to what they did, no apparent strategy. They bypassed entire systems yet attacked others. So far, they were known to the higher levels of the makalvari government only, and even that information was sparse and inconsistent. He knew of an attempted attack on Earth which had been stopped before major damage could be done, so that at least indicated that this new enemy was not invincible.
Even so, reports from contacts on distant and mostly human-occupied worlds did suggest that a new threat was in play. Given time, they might very well find their way into Republic space. If that happened, they would need to be ready. The subspace bomb was one method to ensure their readiness, a deterrent even that could make any foe think twice before assaulting the central star systems of the Republic of Makvar.
"They are capable of fielding weapons that can annihilate entire worlds," Ver'tuk added. "I can only surmise that you know of them if my contacts know of them."
"Your point, doctor?"
"My point is, we should perhaps save our weapons for them?" He quirked a brow-ridge, intrigued as to hear Kav'rak's thoughts on the matter. "The Calsharans may be our main rival, but if they fear something, then perhaps we should fear that thing as well?"
Like most makalvari females, Lina'rai lacked the thick plume of feathers upon the head that many adult males sported. The feathers on a female were of a lower profile and sparser. Their forearms lacked the plumes that the males carried in those places, and the skin tones of the females were generally lighter. Compared to Kav'rak's deep blue-black tones, Lina'rai was a light cream colour. She stood in the doorway of her aunt's home, dressed in a simple blue gown. Above, the sky was the deep orange-purple of dusk.
"What do you want?" Lina'rai did not sound so much annoyed as she was tired. Kav'rak steadied himself upon the wall at his left, standing under the shade of the simple wooden roof built over the property's front porch. The house was well outside of the city, located in a small rural backwater town that was, in turn, situated amongst some picturesque, forested hills. The city was far off on the horizon, the gleaming towers and shuttles in flight glittering against the growing darkness.
This house was modest, unlike the multi-floored home Kav'rak had back in the city. Nonetheless, the village was a quiet one, surrounded by greenery that he found offered a somewhat calming background. He stood cast in the porch light, the scent of something cooking wafting on out of the doorway ahead of him. Presumably, he had caught Lina'rai when she had been preparing dinner.
"I want to see you," Kav'rak said. His voice was missing its usual confidence. "I want to see my children." They had three daughters, none older than eight years. Makalvari often birthed children in pairs or threes, an indication of their vaguely avian nature.
"You should have called," Lina'rai stated. She folded her arms over her chest and frowned as she regarded the uniformed Major. "You look worn out." Her nostrils flared and her expression became firmer when she detected a particular scent wafting off of him. "Have you been drinking?"
"I had a few drinks," Kav'rak admitted. "That's no crime, is it?"
"A few here, a few there and a few more after that." Lina'rai was unimpressed. "You have a problem, Kav. Coming here drunk was not a good idea."
"I want to see my children, Lina." His wife had run out on him months ago. He had tried to bring her back, but all that had done was cause a fight that had frightened their children and seen Lina'rai's brother get involved. Had Kav'rak not been so drunk at the time, he might have been able to stand up to Jura'kul the construction worker. Instead, the Major had found himself half-conscious in a gutter, his face bruised and his nose bloody. He had also wet himself at some point during the encounter, although in the drunken state he had been in at the time he found he did not much care.
"You know you shouldn't be here." Lina'rai, if she was nervous, was doing a very good job of hiding it. However, Kav'rak detected a slight waver to her voice, and it seemed to him then that she did not have a perfect handle upon it.
"You can't just take them from me," Kav'rak said. "They're mine as well as yours."
"Kav, please, come back when you're in better shape." Lina'rai looked him from head to toe, her gaze lingering on his artificial leg. Kav'rak noticed this and gave an annoyed huff.
"Yes, Lina, I have a prosthetic. You know that. Everybody seems to know it, and everybody always casts the same judgmental look when they do see it. Like you are now."
Lina'rai's subsequent glare seemed to suggest that she took offence at that remark.
"Kav, go home. And then, when you're sober you can call me. We can work something out."
"You're my wife, Lina. You should be with me." He went to step into the house, but he wobbled on his legs instead and had to catch himself once again at the wall. Lina'rai offered him a sympathetic look, one that only sparked anger within Kav'rak.
"I don't want your sympathy," he spat. She looked startled then, and Kav'rak slowly took his arm off of the wall. "You don't, you don't know…" He trailed off. He looked at her again, then tried to get a glance over her shoulder and into the house. Were the children in there? They had to be. He could not see them, could not hear them, but they had to be in there.
"Give up the military," Lina'rai told him. She spoke with renewed conviction then. Here was a woman who had tired of spending weeks at a time alone with the children, whilst her husband had attended to military matters. She did not understand the life he lived, and it was not one Kav'rak could simply give up.
"You know I can't do that," Kav'rak said.
"Why?" Lina'rai's voice rose slightly in volume. "You have plenty of money. You're a Major, Kav. Just what more do you want? Do you want to be a General?" She was getting worked up now, in a manner that Kav'rak had rarely seen from the quiet and reserved woman he had married. "No, no it's not just the military you're caught up in. It's the politics. They even gave you a new job, didn't they?"
"Administrative duties," Kav'rak replied. "But Lina, there are people in government working to change things for their own ends. Someone has to be there to contest them."
"You think I care about politics?"
"It affects us all, Lina."
The female shook her head. She knew her husband was stubborn, but then again so was she. It was not the first time they had fought like this. Things had simply reached a point where she could not see the marriage working out. All she wanted was her husband to be with her, to live a normal life without the need to claw his way up the ranks of governmental power. It was Kav'rak's ambitions that he seemed more concerned over, rather than his family.
"I can be here more often now, with my job," Kav'rak said.
"You've been in that job for months. You could have come sooner."
"Not with your brother around." Kav'rak gave an anxious smile. "Look, Lina, I had to see you. And the children. I have business to attend to off-world and I'll be gone for a while." He saw the way in which she frowned, the sort of glance that suggested resignation. "It could be dangerous. I might not return."
"And even when you're here, you're not really 'here'." She sighed, before she slowly shook her head. "No, Kav, not today. Get sober first, then call me. I can't have you coming here unannounced. It'll cause problems with my aunt. And if my brother sees you again, he'll probably try and kill you."
She had a point. Kav'rak knew he was letting his bad habits get the better of him. Even so, with business off-world to sort out he had wished to see his daughters before leaving. He knew his wife would not let him in now. Not to mention, she was not one to easily change her mind. No, he would have to leave lest he start another fight. At least this time around, Lina'rai had remained mostly calm. So had he, and he had not even raised a hand against her. Maybe the alcohol had dulled his anger instead of having increased it?
"When I come back," Kav'rak said, resigning himself to missing this chance to see his daughters. Lina'rai nodded, yet uncertainty still tainted her features. "I'll be sober when I come back."
Kav'rak returned to his office, arriving there later in the evening. The place was how he had left it, although a package awaited him by the door. He took it inside with him, tearing open the packet and finding it to be the reports that the Minister of Intelligence had promised him. It was everything they knew of the situation on Langara, and Kav'rak settled in for another long night with a bottle of potent liquor by his side.
The files were in paper form, although the Minister had also forwarded to his terminal the digital versions. Nonetheless, Kav'rak preferred a physical copy and with a pen in hand he scribbled the odd note in the margins of the reports as he read them. Langara was a planet he had visited more than once, and his diplomat status still remained in place (no doubt a result of an oversight on the part of his superiors). He had all the credentials he needed to go there and involve himself in the developing crisis. However, he would need to call upon an old acquaintance if he was going to get the most out of his visit. As much as he liked to limit his interactions with the people of Earth, it seemed he would need to enlist their services once again. Last time he had done so, he had lost a leg. He could only hope his luck was better off this time around.
At least the mission to Dalabrai had been clear: destroy the weapons research facility. This time around, he was not even sure what to make of the information he had before him. Something had gone horribly awry on Langara, and as a result of this their source of naquadria was in question. If he could resolve it, then he would go some ways to getting the reputation boost and recognition he required.
He needed Jonas Quinn. Kav'rak started making calls, as booking a trip through the stargate involved navigating the bureaucratic mire that was the Republic's various military-related departments.