The Iris (Gravity, Space, and Time: Book 1) by Patkós Csaba - HTML preview

Chapter 38 - Dangers

Date: July 6, 2856

In the wake of the emissary's revelations, the bridge crew was reunited with the rest of the Iris's surviving members. Relief washed over them as they discovered that nearly everyone had been successfully healed or revived. The loss of those few who could not be saved cast a somber shadow, a stark reminder of the perils they had faced.

The following days passed in a flurry of activity. The bridge crew, now burdened with a wealth of knowledge, relayed the emissary's warnings and the history of the

galactic war to their comrades. It was a daunting task, but the urgency of their situation demanded it. They needed to prepare for the unknown, to steel themselves for the dangers that surely awaited them beyond the confines of this alien sanctuary.

A palpable tension hung in the air as they readied themselves to reboard the Iris.

Excitement mingled with trepidation as they prepared to check and recheck every system, every piece of equipment. They had been assured their ship was fully operational, even enhanced, but the lingering uncertainty gnawed at them. What unforeseen perils awaited them in the vast expanse of the Milky Way, a galaxy now steeped in a history of conflict and uneasy alliances?

Finally, the sixth day arrived, the eve of their departure. Captain Peterson and Commander Collins found themselves once again within the dimly lit observation lounge, a familiar sense of foreboding settling over them as they awaited the emissary's return.

"Welcome back, dear humans!" The emissary's voice resonated through the chamber, its familiar human-like form coalescing from the ambient light even before the words had fully faded. A renewed energy crackled in its tone, replacing the melancholy of their previous encounter with a self-assured, almost commanding presence.

"There is a grave danger facing humanity," it declared, its voice now laced with urgency. "An imminent threat, but also a possible long-term solution."

Peterson and Collins exchanged a look of surprise, their expressions carefully controlled.

After a brief pause, the emissary continued, "First, allow me to state that we, the Gravity People, after much deliberation, have decided to aid humanity in its hour of need. One of you must address the immediate danger, while the other seeks out the long-term solution."

Confusion mingled with the initial shock in the eyes of both Peterson and Collins.

"The imminent danger is...well...humanity itself," the emissary explained, its voice grave. "In the context of galactic rules your species is, as of yet, unaware of. As I mentioned, gravity travel was restricted to 2 GUs after the war. And various species, including the Thor'axe, are tasked with patrolling the gravity well to ensure compliance. The Thor'axe, a formidable race, are just in their enforcement. While fair to those who abide by the laws, they severely punish those who do not. They won't hesitate to mete out justice, regardless of whether a species is aware of the rules or not. Such punishment is usually swift, brutal, and often results in regressing the offending species back to a pre-technological state."

Peterson and Collins held their breath, their eyes widening with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

The emissary continued after a brief pause, "Humanity has been under close scrutiny for the past decade or so by the Thor'axe. They detected your attempts to send probes beyond the 2 GU limit. However, as these were mere research probes with relatively rudimentary technology—" Here, the emissary paused, a hint of amusement flickering in its eyes. "Forgive my bluntness, but your technology is so basic that the Thor'axe are frankly amazed you managed to discover gravity travel at all. They were traversing the stars when your ancestors were still learning to walk upright."

A wry smile touched the emissary's lips before it continued, "As I was saying... you were not considered a threat because there was little chance of success. But things have changed. You built the Iris and ventured beyond the 2 GU limit. And you were incredibly fortunate. The Iris is unlike anything humans have constructed before, and your journey was far enough from Earth that the Thor'axe cannot definitively link it to humanity. As I mentioned, the Thor'axe are fair, but they won't hesitate to act once they're certain of a violation. You managed to evade them, so they couldn't inspect

your ship, at least not yet. However, the greater danger lies in the two returning ships from your ECHO project, carrying two additional black holes. They will arrive soon, and we've learned that your kind has already begun constructing at least one, possibly two, more ships like the Iris. The Thor'axe now have a profile of your vessel.

If they detect any similar ships near your solar system, you'll be doomed. They will attack without hesitation."

"But we have the defenses I developed during the Enigma project!" Peterson interjected, his voice a mix of desperation and defiance.

The emissary let out a soft, almost pitying laugh. "Do you honestly believe those defenses could stand against a civilization that's millions of years ahead of humanity?"

"We'll take the Iris and fly back at best speed. Damn the 2 GU limit! We'll push it and fight alongside our people to defend our home!" Peterson declared, his voice thick with determination.

"But Captain," the emissary interjected gently, "we are very far from your planet, Earth, is it? You likely wouldn't arrive in time if you want the Iris to remain intact. We have another solution."

The emissary looked from Peterson to Collins, then continued, "To eliminate the immediate danger, one of you must take a shuttle back to Earth. Quickly. This person will need to convince your leaders to halt the construction of any more starships and, instead, fortify the defenses of your solar system to a level that will deter rash action from the Thor'axe. You see, they are accustomed to dealing with significantly inferior species and lightly defended star systems. They will act, if necessary, against any foe. But you may be able to delay their reaction by many years if you fortify your borders. And by borders, I mean you will need to defend a two-light-year radius

around your sun. That's the standard territorial claim for any species within this galaxy."

"A shuttle?" Collins asked, processing the situation with his strategic mind already racing.

"Yes," the emissary answered. "We will assist you." It paused for a moment, then continued, "During the war, we were nearly wiped out by the matter beings.

Fortunately, our scientists discovered how to manipulate time. It is difficult, requiring immense energy and concentration, but it saved us. By accelerating our own time relative to the rest of the universe, we could suddenly produce ships and crew at an astonishing rate. That is, from the perspective of our enemies. Time manipulation is not something we undertake lightly, as it severely weakens and ages those who use it. However, on a small scale, with only one being in deep hibernation aboard a shuttle, it is not as taxing."

"Deep hibernation?" Peterson inquired.

"Yes. We can bring your shuttle close to Earth in less than a day from our perspective. However, the occupant will experience time as if they were traveling at the shuttle's maximum speed. Let's just say that would take millions of years. Thus, whoever is aboard the shuttle must be placed in deep hibernation. The Gados have been kind enough to provide us with a device that can sustain a human in stasis for up to a billion years and then revive them."

"You go," Peterson said, locking eyes with Collins at the exact moment Collins uttered the same words. After an awkward silence, Collins felt compelled to elaborate. "I hold no official power over governments, but decades of leading classified projects have given me extensive connections. There's a good chance I can persuade them to do what's necessary. If not, I know how to sabotage the ECHO

project, delaying the next two ships for decades."

Peterson nodded solemnly. Collins turned to the emissary, his voice steady, "What about the long-term solution?"

The emissary met his gaze with a resolute stare. "The long-term solution will be revealed only to the one who remains here. The risk of even accidental disclosure is too high for both your people and mine. We cannot afford that risk." A brief silence settled before the emissary continued, "Commander Collins, I understand you are the one chosen to return home. Ala awaits you outside the door. She will guide you to the Iris and the shuttle we have prepared." Another pause, then a final farewell,

"Goodbye, Commander Collins... and good luck back home."