Progeny (The Progenitor Trilogy, Book Three) (23 page)

              ‘Not to mention the source of that mysterious signal,’ Steelscale added.

              ‘Agreed,’ Rekkid replied.  ‘We’ll contact the ship. Maybe they can render us some assistance.’

The small image projected from Rekkid’s comm. was heavily distorted, the sound scratchy and sometimes indistinct, but Mentith’s face could still be seen.  He looked tired - worn out by recent events –but he still listened carefully to the three archaeologists as they explained their discoveries so far.

‘So, there is evidence that points to Progenitor influence in this system,’ he said.  ‘I think we can all agree that Eonara brought us here for that reason.’

‘Unfortunately we’re still not much closer to working out exactly why,’ Rekkid replied.

‘And sadly we’re not much closer to reactivating Eonara to ask her why,’ said Mentith. ‘We have detected changes in the surface of her AI core, but whether that points to some sort of self repair underway, we simply don’t know.  We may have more answers once the ship’s own AI core has been reconnected.  My engineers assure me that we are getting closer to getting the
Glory
back online, pending a full purge of the ship’s systems.’

‘A purge, War Marshal?’

‘Shaper viruses have been found throughout the ship.  We reactivated a number of areas of the internal network and found them infested with intelligent and malevolent programs.  Quite how they got there and circumvented our countermeasures is a mystery, though presumably it occurred during our attack run on the Shaper portal and our subsequent escape.  All areas of possible storage are being wiped and rebuilt before we reconnect the ship’s AI.  It’s a laborious task for my engineers, but they are making good progress.’

‘We would appreciate any assistance that you could spare to help us get inside this structure we’ve discovered,’ said Katherine.  ‘Any heavy cutting or lifting gear would be a great help in gaining entry.’

‘Agreed,’ said Mentith.  ‘I’ll see what I can do about that.  However, the mysteries you have uncovered are not the only ones that have come to light.’

‘Oh?’

‘We dispatched a fleet of ships to the asteroid belt around this star in order to gather raw materials so that the
Glory
can manufacture replacement components for itself.  However, the crews made a number of interesting discoveries.  Judging by composition and distribution of the debris it would appear that the belt is in fact the remains of another planet and moreover that it was inhabited.  A number of bodies and the remains of artificial structures have been found amidst the rubble, miraculously preserved since the planet’s destruction.  Here, let me show you:’

A static image appeared alongside Mentith’s.  It showed a number of contorted and desiccated humanoid forms floating free inside a hollow space. 

‘We have carbon dated the remains,’ said Mentith.  ‘These people died about ten thousand years ago.’

‘I wonder if they’re the same people that inhabited this planet?’ said Katherine. ‘We found the butchered remains of a number of people in the ruins, but it was difficult to tell what they originally looked like.  We did find depictions of humanoid figures down here though.’

‘It’s very possible that they are the same race,’ said Mentith.  ‘Even a civilisation with relatively primitive space flight technology would not have found it too difficult to make the crossing from one world to the other.  We won’t know for certain until we have samples from both to compare.’

‘What the hell happened to these people?  What could destroy a planet so utterly?’

‘A chance collision with another body is one possibility,’ said Mentith.  ‘Perhaps a rogue planet, thrown out by its parent star entered the system and collided with this one?  We are very close to the galactic core.  The chance of such an event occurring is much greater here.’

‘No, I don’t think so,’ Katherine replied.  ‘This planet that we’re standing on was nuked over and over.  Somebody wiped these people out deliberately.  I don’t think that the destruction of its sister planet was an accident, I think someone blew it to pieces.’

‘It’s possible,’ said Mentith.  ‘With enough time, one of our dreadnoughts would be capable of such a thing.  But why destroy one planet completely and nuke the other?  It makes no sense.  More to the point, it smacks of wildly differing levels of weapons technology being used.’

‘Perhaps the Shapers did this,’ Steelscale suggested.  ‘Perhaps they destroyed one world whilst their minions dealt with the other?’

‘Well, maybe we’ll have more of an idea once we’ve gained entry to this building,’ said Rekkid.  ‘Incidentally, War Marshal, are the
Glory’s
sensors able to estimate the age of this star system?’

‘Yes of course,’ Mentith replied glancing to one side as he obtained the data from the ship’s sensors.  ‘This is only a rough estimate,’ he said. ‘But based on the mass of the stars, their current energy output and their spectroscopic signature, this system appears to be slightly under three and half billion years old.’

‘So the Progenitors could never have come here in person,’ said Rekkid. ‘They left the galaxy before this system had even formed.  Which begs the question: what is a building constructed out of Progenitor materials doing on its surface?’

The shuttle, sleek looking despite its wide bodied design, landed carefully on the flat, broken ground next to the ziggurat and folded its wings like a bird settling onto its nest.  It had descended from the
Shining Glory
, bringing with it what technicians Mentith was able to spare and their equipment.  It had first landed at Camp Keros to collect Arrakid and then made the short hop to the ziggurat.

A boarding ramp formed in the craft’s rear and slender figures began to exit, carrying boxes of equipment on AG pallets and shielding their eyes against the fierce wind that had blown up, filling the air with grit as it howled around the broken buildings of the dead city.  There was another figure too, a slender, snake-like thing that shone silver in the wan sunlight as it studied its surroundings with compound sensor clusters.  It was a combat drone.

‘I don’t know why they’ve brought that thing,’ said Katherine, eyeing the drone with suspicion through the eyepieces of her re-breather as the mechanoid retracted the multiple weapon arms it had deployed upon exiting the shuttle.  ‘There’s nothing alive down here but us.’

‘Maybe they’re erring on the side of caution?’ Rekkid suggested.  Katherine snorted derisively.  Steelscale gave a low growl as he eyed the metallic thing moving unnaturally across the rubble.

Arrakid approached and waved in the Arkari fashion at Rekkid.  Rekkid returned the gesture.

‘We got a good look at this place from the air,’ said Arrakid. ‘Very impressive. We tried to get a good look from the
Glory
but the damage to the sensors and the state of the atmosphere made it difficult.  There’s so much dust and cloud at high altitude that it’s difficult to get a clear view of the ground at times.’

‘We may have found the source of those transmissions, but we can’t get inside it,’ said Rekkid.

‘I’m sure we can find a way.  Odd looking building though.  It doesn’t seem to fit with the others that we saw on the way in.  Mentith said that it has connections to the Progenitors?’

‘Yes, there’s Progenitor script over the door along with an inscription in the native language and the construction material appears to be of Progenitor origin.  I’m hoping that we can find more bi-lingual inscriptions inside and figure out the language of this planet’s inhabitants.’

‘Well, we found a few fragments of the native script along with the bodies in the asteroid belt.  Given that they were found in what looks like the remains of a deep shelter they’re probably just instructional or warning signs, but I thought you might like to see.  No examples of the Progenitor language though.  Here, have a look.’

Arrakid produced a slim datapad and handed it to Rekkid, Katherine and Steelscale who passed the device between themselves and squinted at the images of writing stencilled onto a metallic looking wall.  It was immediately obvious that the script in the pictures and the script over the entrance to the ziggurat shared a common set of characters.

‘Are these the same people though?’ said Katherine. ‘We need to know if the remains that we found match the bodies that you pulled out of the middle of that asteroid.’

‘I took the liberty of sending teams to the co-ordinates you provided for the cellar where you found the bodies and the temple also,’ said Arrakid.  ‘We’ll get samples and do tests and we’ll know soon enough.  It does seem likely though, based on the images of the skulls that you found and the appearance of the bodies that we uncovered.  They do seem very similar.’

‘So how do we get inside this place?’ said Katherine, jabbing a thumb at the ziggurat. ‘And why have you brought that thing?’ she added pointing at the combat drone which even now was attempting to scale the smooth, sloping side of the ziggurat’s lowest level.

‘For its advanced hacking abilities, and for protection,’ said Arrakid.

‘Protection against what?’ said Katherine.  ‘In case you hadn’t noticed we’re in the middle of a dead city.’

‘Filled with pockets of radiation and who knows what else,’ Arrakid replied.  ‘Besides, you did suggest that this might be some sort of military installation.  It is not inconceivable that we might encounter automated defence systems that are still active after all this time.’

‘He has a point, Katherine,’ said Rekkid.  ‘We don’t know what might be holed up inside, plus that thing might be able to find a way in.’

‘Yeah, you’re right, I guess,’ she replied.  ‘It’s just that it gives me the creeps.’

The drone had reached the top of the ziggurat.  Having climbed the third and final of the stepped levels, it stood on the tip of its articulated tail for a moment, scanning the horizon with its sensors before it began to scrutinise the surface of the roof. Then, having seemingly seen enough, it started to make its way downwards again.

‘Come on,’ said Arrakid.  ‘Let’s take a look at that entrance.  I want to see those carvings for myself.’

The massive blocks that shielded the entrance to the ziggurat stood before them once more, looking as impenetrable as ever, topped with the enigmatic carving.  The drone, meanwhile, was slithering along the first level above the entrance, weaving back and forth and moving its sensor encrusted head from side to side.  As the four archaeologists watched, it began to climb down the surface of the blocks, repeating the same motion as it went.  Finally, it reached the ground and undulated towards the group, stopping in front of Arrakid like a dutiful dog having returned a stick to its master.

‘What did you find?’ said Arrakid.

The drone replied in the Arkari language, its voice flat and emotionless.  As it spoke it projected a three dimensional rendering of what its sensors had found.

‘The blocks barring the entrance are hollow,’ said Arrakid, for the benefit of the others.  Each contains parts of the door mechanism as well as a magnetic lock probably controlled by a computerised system deeper within the structure.  However, the blocks are moved by a cantilevered arrangement which should swing them clear if the lock is released.  The drone thinks that it should be able to blow the lock from the outside with its spatial distortion cannon.’

As he spoke, Arrakid pointed to the various components highlighted within the projected scan results.

‘Why doesn’t it just blow a hole in the door?’ said Steelscale.  ‘It would seem the easiest solution.’

‘It would lack finesse,’ Arrakid replied.  ‘The drones have a limited intelligence, but they do take pride in their work. Besides, it would constitute the vandalism of an ancient monument.’

‘Just tell it to get the door open, Arrakid,’ said Katherine.  ‘And tell it we appreciate the level of care it is taking.  Also, ask it if it can scan the rest of the building, it might be nice if we knew what to expect once we step inside.’

‘Sadly, the walls and roof are much thicker than the entrance and are solid all the way through,’ said Arrakid.  ‘The drone tried to scan deeper but it was unsuccessful.  We’ll have to take a look for ourselves I’m afraid.’

At Arrakid’s command, the drone made its way back to the ziggurat and climbed up onto the entrance once more.  It stood poised over the hairline crack between the two massive blocks, its upper right weapon arm extended and poised as if it were lining up its shot.  Then they saw it fire.  There was a sharp bang that echoed across the silent city and a ripple in the air that shot downwards into the crack in the blink of an eye.

Then there was an awful groaning noise.  Slowly, the blocks began to slide upwards and apart.  The drone slithered quickly down to the ground as the entrance opened like a set of massive jaws before coming to rest with a dull boom.  As the door opened, a draft of cold air issued from the depths, like a dying breath.

‘There must be another entrance or air vent somewhere that’s causing a through draft now we’ve opened the door,’ said Rekkid.  No-one replied. All were gazing into the shadowy depths, where a ramp angling steeply downwards into the darkness could just be seen.  The wind whipped across the open entrance with a low moan. ‘I suppose we should go inside and have look,’ Rekkid continued.  ‘Arrakid, would you like to lead the way?’

Inside, the top of the ramp was covered with centuries of accumulated dust and grit that had worked its way through the narrow gap between the blocks covering the entrance.  Rekkid, Katherine, Steelscale and Arrakid led the way, the combat drone undulating along at Arrakid’s side like an obedient pet, its body held in an upright S shape.  The rest of the team would follow with the heavier equipment once they had made an initial investigation of the site, though for now it was being moved inside the entrance out of the howling, grit laden wind.

The ramp pointed steeply downwards for a couple of hundred metres or so after which it turned a corner.  Its ridged surface was constructed not from the Progenitor material but from a relatively ordinary looking concrete-like substance, as were the walls and ceiling, which, sheltered from the elements, had remained almost totally intact save for a few cracks here and there caused by subsidence.  The torch-beams of the team appeared feeble against the all-encompassing gloom.