A Paradox in Retrograde (26 page)

Amida questioning his assumptions said, "Not any easy task for
any man. However there may be far less complex and dangerous
means yet to be explored. For example, it may be simpler and less
costly to destroy your enemy's fleet as it lies at anchor, than to
face a thousand ships. I would wager my brother's plan is to do
just the opposite, by drawing them in and destroying them in an
Earthly holocaust of fire. This would unfortunately have dire effects for the Earth. Landaus with my guidance you could attempt
such a mission in a preemptive strike that will lay waste to their
long ships. Grunhuf of course you too could also go along."

Landaus was incredulous to the thought, and so asked, "I've never even flown in any thing other than an air ship. How do you
propose that I could actually pilot a starship? Today was the first
time I've ever laid eyes on one."

Amida tried, as well as he could to explain it in way that might
allay his fears.

 

"You can set your anxiety aside, though I am lacking a physical
body I will be there guiding you."

 

"And just how do you propose to do that?"

 

"That's where Ibsen figures into the equation. He will act as a
host and as my voice. Together we shall make the jump."

Landaus shook his head side to side. He was not at all pleased
with the idea of his son being needlessly placed again in harms
way. "Now wait just a minute. For what logical reason could
there be to place him in danger?"

"To answer this I would say that I really don't see any other way.
He will be safe at all times. Even if the ship is destroyed, he will
still be within my protection." But why do you need him? Surely
there must be some other candidate."
"No I am afraid his connection to my mind is perhaps one in a

million. I will find no other suitable host within the time required for this mission. And if I do not go and submit the young
prince to our enemies, your ship will be blown out of the sky.
By ransoming the young prince we can buy the precious time
that we will need."

Within the scope of what he had seen that day, Landaus saw the
relative logic to his proposal. For a moment he did not speak as
he gathered together in his mind the steps that need to be taken
for such a venture. He raised his head up to look at the apparition and asked.

"Ok, let's say for the sake of argument that I do agree to this
scheme of yours. How would you propose we blow these ships?
We possess no such weapon in our arsenal."

"Perhaps you don't; however there among the objects obtained
in the raid on the alien ship, you will find the explosive charges
you need."

In the air beside him, there appeared a floating three dimensional image of a rather strange looking artifact. They looked at the
glowing object carefully as it rotated before them. Grunhuf
could recall seeing no such items among confiscated items. "I
was there when the cargo was off loaded. I did not see these
things you place before us."

"Perhaps that is true. However I assure you they are there. I suspect these objects have been masked from your sight. A simple
act of suggestion was all that was required. This can be easily
taken care of. Now all of you look into my eyes andlisten to the
sound of my voice. I will count to three; and on three the spell
shall removed from your eyes. One, two, and three now remember."
A flood of images filled their minds and the world suddenly
looked different. Grunhuf shook his head and he said. "I have
seen them. I know where they are. He had us load them into the
guard armory. There are about twenty of them. If we could get in
there before anyone sees us, we could probably get in and get out
of there with half a dozen or so without much of a problem."

Landaus with a stern look on his face responded, "Without any
problem? Those are my guards, I trained them myself. They're
not going to let us stroll in there and raid the armory."

"You might be right Landaus, but I don't really see an alternative."

Landaus was again silent as the wheels in his head spun round.
Lady Xora, who had herself till now been silent, finally spoke. "If
it hasn't yet occurred to you, it seems obvious to me what should
now happen next. You and Grunhuf go in there and get those
charges. I and the children shall make ready the ship. Landaus
lend me your side arm. I may have more use for it than you."

Although this plan seemed immediately logical for Landaus
there still were reservations to be resolved. Amida sensing this
spoke, "We still have a little time to refine these plans, however
the longer we wait the more dangerous Ananda will become."

By now on Nibaru tensions mounted, for the radio relay from the
scout ships had for some time now gone silent. The situation
grew more worrisome with each passing hour. For the time of the
invasion would soon be upon them. The optimal launch window
would open in two days time. To go too early, or leave to late
could prove risky for such an operation. The great king Aaralaat
paced to and fro before the window that looked down upon the
idle ships. He was frustrated, but there was little he could do. Despite his frenzied appearance he was capable of a good deal of
restraint. He knew it would not be wise to launch the attack before hearing report from the scout ships. He would not however
be able to delay action indefinitely. The launch window was not
his only concern. His people after their long sleepgrew anxious
as they spoiled for conflict. Though it would never come out in
public discourse, he did not want to be remembered as his grandfather had been, the king who led a folly of a campaign.

Just then he heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming towards
him. He turned to see his queen Nivia accompanied by a guard
rush up to meet him. "What is this Interruption?"

The guard bowed before him and said, "I apologize for the intrusion, however I fear it could not wait."

Nivia interrupted him and said, "There's no time for this, your
son Prince Leif we believe may have stowed aboard one of the
scout ships."

Aaralaat with a look of angry confusion asked, "Is this true? How
could it be so?"

The guard with his head still bowed, spoke. "Your Highness we
have searched the palace and the surrounding grounds. There he
has not been found. None of his close friends can recall his
whereabouts since just prior to the launch of the two scout ships."

Aaralaat turned toward the window and looked up into the night.
There he saw the fiery blue orb of the Earth dominating the night
sky. He thought how truly beautiful a sight it was. It was no wonder one so young would be drawn so easily to it. He sighed and
turned to his queen. "I will go myself and retrieve him."

Nivia looked on him in shocked disbelief. "But you are the king.
Surely you must know it is not your place to abandon your throne
in a time of war."

The king responded resolutely. "Firstly we are not yet at war. Only the King can declare war. Secondly it is my own fault that he
has left us. I refused his request to join the war party as was his
right. I admit it was out of concern for his safety. That I did underestimate his bravery is to my shame. Nivia I shall lead a sortie
of the most skilled warriors. Word of this can not leave this palace. In the interim I leave the kingdom in your capable hands. If
I do not return you shall know what to do."

Chapter 11

By this time the work going on within the great hall, had already
gotten well under way. Guards, workmen and officers alike had
done some heavy lifting for the cause. Pews, benches and tables
that had previously occupied the cavernous space had been removed. In their place rows of highly specialized work stations
now stood. These had been constructed of readily available lumber and sheet metal. From these make shift cranes and carts too
had been made ready. And so their work would not cease, electrical wiring and long strings of lithium lights were set above,
hung haphazardly from the high ceiling. The lights cast down a
washed out, uniform glow that glared upon every work space a
diffused even light. Cast in thisirrepressible light each would
work deep into the night. Under Ananda's leadership within the
matter of just a few short days the interior space of the great hall
had been wholly transformed into a workhouse. What once was
an ornate ceremonial space now bristled with all manner of toil
and labor.

Materials had been evaluated and identified. They were then
sorted as to their purpose. Tools of every variety that had been
gathered from throughout Baldur had been brought to bear on the
project at hand. Fortunately for them very few items required
custom fabrication, because most of the work entailed the repurposing of the captured materials. Most of what was needed was
already there although in a different form. For most these objects
seemed initially to be some what of a curiosity. Though some
manufacturing existed on Baldur, there was nothing of these precise standards that could serve as an adequate comparison. As it
stood their experience was that most goods were hand made by
highly specialized craftsmen. What ever initial barriers this created were quickly overcome. As they would discover these systems though foreign, by the nature of their simplicity of design
had made the work simpler than they could have imagined. So
despite the facts that many little understood the alien theory behind this technology, there was simplicity to these systems’ manufacture that lent itself easily to augmentation. Once they had
been trained to know what they were looking for the work progressed quickly. Many of these items contained within a miniaturized equivalent of an earthly power station. From there then it
was merely a matter of channeling those vast dormant energies
held within into a more potent and volatile state. Ananda was
there he possessed this knowledge as to the how. He would show
them only what they needed to know. Though they thought little
of it this was for them was possibly the most difficult part to understand. They for the greater part had been science minded; in
as much as they had been skilled mechanics and engineers, few
could claim true credentials for this dangerous work before them.
Despite this, by virtue of their determined obedience they more
than compensated for this lack of knowledge and expertise.

Ananda was there carefully watching the work commence. Trying as he would to orchestrate in a few days, what all of Baldur
could not have done in a lifetime. His outer demeanor did not betray the hidden turmoil within. In the background he stood as
metal smiths put the finishing touches on one of the few custom
made components. These constructed to exacting tolerances
were the lead lined bomb cases and custom charge holders. On a
raised platform in the center of the hall, one of the newly minted
objects sat. Vaguely circular it stood about a meter in height and
in circumference. It surface dressed dully in gun metal grey was
studded menacingly with an array of protuberances through
which the precisely timed charges would be fired. This part he
knew was critical for if the implosion were to trigger the anticipated chain reaction, there could be no room for error. With calipers in hand the head smith checked and rechecked every seam,
thread and rivet. From his vest pocket he pulled a small note pad
and rechecked the figures of his calculations. He scratched his
beard as his mouth mimicked the numbers. He did not lift up his
head from his figures until he was satisfied. Covering his eyes
from the sharp light he scanned the crowd for Ananda. Finding
him, he presented him with the thumbs up sign and spoke,
"Captain? Captain everything seems to meet the set forth required tolerances. Not bad for hand made, aye captain?"

Ananda came in for a closer inspection. Running his hand along
its smooth case hardened edge he felt a wave of exhilaration fill
every corner of his body. For it was at that moment he saw in his
minds eye his victory completed. He fought with what steel he
could muster to resist this emotion he dared not express. He not
only knew such a display was inappropriate but more importantly it could stifle his plan. He did not wish at this stage to alienate
his allies needlessly. For so many endless centuries this forlorn
tragedy had repeated itself. The endgame at last was within his
grasp. Though he did his best to disguise his emotion his eyes
gleamed with a most sinister smile. The corners of his mouth
rose ever so slightly as he spoke.

"Yes, it's a fine job. How long would it take you to build another
ten?" The smith again scratched his beard playing for time.
"With some help, I could complete that order in three weeks
time at the minimum."

Ananda knew he could not afford to go lax on his men. He
looked at the men squarely and in a voice tinged with anger said,
"Unfortunately time is one luxury we do not possess. In three
weeks your timetable will mean little for we shall all be dead. I'll
allow you three days. You will be given all the materials and
help you'll need. If however you have not completed this task we
will be ill prepared for victory. For I assure you in three days
time their fleet could easily be upon us."
Meanwhile over this same period many plans had been put forth
by Landaus and the others on which way they could best proceed
with their plans to thwart Ananda. Ultimately they were of one
accord they must stop the fleet of Nibaru where it lay by destroying it. For their plan to work they would require both the acquisition of the alien craft and the explosive charges, both held in and
near the citadel. It was agreed that they could not by force of authority openly take what they needed. This would be seen as an
overt treason. Instead they would by stealth reach for what they
needed right from under their noses. Until this point they had felt
it necessary to avoid as much of the goings on as their duties allowed. Or else they feared they may again fall to Ananda's spell.

Now as the appointed hour approached and evenings dusk began
to rule the sky they could delay no longer Landaus and Grunhuf
approached the citadel of Breideblic on foot. Theywere a bit
nervous for they feared their body language might somehow give
away their intentions. However as they entered beneath the large
outer door, they were surprised to find their presence there went
largely unnoticed. The streets too were unusually deserted even
for this late hour. They had imagined they would need to avoid
the eyes of curious onlookers and over eager guards. Instead they
found the citadel gates wide open and unattended. It would seem
that the attention of all its citizenry had some how been stolen by
way of their free will. They had hoped they had not been too late.
For early on there was a way out of the situation, but there would
be no convincing them of it now. They then would for now continue as planned. But they would have to do it alone. Carefully
Landaus stepped through the threshold gate. Looking this way
and that he could not believe the men he had hand picked and
trained had abandoned their posts so readily. "When this is all
over there will be some reprimands." Grunhuf was puzzled by
this reaction and so asked, "Landaus, would I be correct to assume you would rather have had the resistance of your own
guard?" Landaus filled with stifled emotion said,