The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Planning (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 63: Expecting another attack by the Maara’dahl, everyone works together to keep people on Med’nor safe, while Keryth plans his defense strategy.

Jevan gently placed a hand on Ardyn’s shoulder as he guided his friend through the busy corridor of the hospital wing that was recently brought online. Because Keryth’s engineering and medical techs were still upgrading some systems, it wasn’t fully operational yet. However, with all the revived Athla’naa aboard the Rahn’naa, along with the growing encampment around the tower, the smaller medical bay could not accommodate everyone’s medical needs anymore.

“I have been wanting to come down here ever since I heard they were bringing it online,” Ardyn said with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “I know they explained that a hospital is a larger version of the medical bay, but I’ve never seen a hospital before.”

“Neither have I, although Marta was telling me they have hospitals in Ateria,” Jevan said, as they approached the main doors into the hospital wing.

The first thing he noticed was a lack of a key slot or touch interface to open the doors. When an Athla’naa who had been walking behind them pushed past, the doors opened as soon as she approached them. Looking at Ardyn, Jevan gave him a shrug as they followed through the now open doorway. Once inside, the doors closed behind them of their own accord.

Before them was a large desk with several Athla’naa behind it, facing them. Jevan recognized the young Athla’naa, who waved them over. “Jevan, Ardyn! Welcome to the hospital wing. Is there something we can help you with?”

“Hello, Kyael! Takyra said we should come and ask for a tour,” Ardyn replied. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

“You’re in luck. Takyra and Aerys are overseeing some upgrades this afternoon,” Kyael said. “It’s not too busy right now, so I can show you where they are.”

They followed the young Athla’naa through another set of doors and down several long hallways. Everything was a pristine white, from the floors to the walls, ceilings, and even the sparse furnishings they saw.

“This wing is enormous,” Jevan remarked, as they kept walking.

“We designed it to be the first hospital in our new colony,” Kyael said. “Not only does it have the capacity to handle the existing population on board the ship, but we also designed it to have the space for the expected population increase after we’d settled on Maal’dak Five. I still can’t believe we ended up here instead.”

“We all have had a lot to adjust to,” Ardyn agreed.

Finally, Kyael led them into a large room where they saw Takyra and Aerys, along with several others. “There they are,” he said, pointing. “I must get back to my post. It was good to see you both!”

“Come join us,” Takyra said in greeting. “Were you getting a tour of the hospital wing?”

“Kyael led us to you,” Jevan admitted. “All we’ve really seen are the corridors so far.”

Takyra made a bemused noise of disapproval. “Typical. Well, you’re just in time to see some of the surgical upgrades come online.”

Before either of them could respond, there was a bright flash as Keryth joined them.

“Excellent timing! We were about to — ”

Keryth held up his hands to interrupt her. “I have urgent news. Our operatives have finally infiltrated the Maara’dahl leadership, and our agents have confirmed that the rebels are amassing a large attack against Med’nor.”

“How much time do we have?” Aerys asked.

“That is the good news,” Keryth replied. “We have enough advanced warning this time, and I believe our fleet will arrive here before they will.”

“That is something, at least,” Takyra said. “We should inform the others, so the medical bay upgrades will have to wait.”

Andreesen began pacing after hearing the news. “You’re sure that Ateria is in danger of attack?”

“According to our operatives, yes, I’m afraid so,” Keryth replied. “According to their reports, the Maara’dahl have amassed a sizable fleet. Possibly large enough to get around our planned blockade and target the planet.”

“What can we do? We need to protect our people. We’re not equipped to defend against an attack like this,” Andreesen said with growing concern.

“Without the planetary defense grid in place, we need a two-pronged approach,” Keryth replied. “The battalion arriving from Aria’naa will do its best to prevent their ships from heading toward the planet. However, I’m concerned some may get past them.”

“Takyra and I have been going over the logistics and we think we could offer some refuge to people inside the Rahn’naa and outside under the shield,” Aerys suggested. “Although we could use your help to transport people from the nearby villages and settlements that aren’t already in the existing encampment.”

“Yes, excellent idea,” Keryth agreed. “With the extension and reinforcement of your shields, you could support a sizable encampment. How many do you think you can also accommodate within the ship?”

Moving toward a display by the wall, Takyra brought up a schematic of the Rahn’naa. “We have enough space to accommodate around five thousand in quarters, and if we have enough time, we could put another ten thousand into the cryopods.”

“How about your cargo holds? My star cruisers could use their transmat to move the cargo to make room for more,” Keryth suggested. “Also, we could use the cargo holds on the Pah’ora to shelter even more.”

“Would they be safe when you engage the Maara’dahl in battle?” Andreesen asked.

“There’s plenty of room on the Pah’ora for a few thousand, as long as they don’t mind being close together,” Keryth replied. “It’s an older model that the Maara’dahl salvaged from our derelict shipyards, so we wouldn’t use it in battle. I’ve already had my engineers upgrade its shields and my star cruiser can protect it. Anyone on board should be perfectly safe.”

“That is all well-and-good,” Andreesen said. “However, we have nearly a billion people on Ateria. How do we protect them?”

“Haven’t we been building bunkers throughout the provinces for just this eventuality?” Aron asked. “They won’t hold everyone, but they’re better than nothing.”

“You’re right, I’d forgotten about them,” Andreesen said. “We haven’t completed construction on them, but I will recommend to the Grand Council that we shelter as many people as we can in the completed bunkers.”

They spent the next several hours calculating exactly how many they could protect within the ships and with the shield around the encampment, and then prioritized which villages and settlements they could most efficiently evacuate.

“Would sending people down into the mines protect them?” Mathias asked.

“Yes, I believe so,” Keryth replied. “Our sensors are unreliable at reading life signs deep underground, and would be nearly impossible for the older ships the Maara’dahl are using.”

“Wouldn’t the mineshafts collapse if they hit them with your energy weapons?” Tomas asked.

“Yes, that is a possibility,” Keryth admitted. “However, if any ships get past our battalion, they will center their attacks on larger population centers. Besides, there would be no reason for them to attack your mines, as their sensors wouldn’t be capable of detecting life signs underground.”

In the end, they figured they could protect around fifty thousand on Vestos, and the bunkers on Ateria could protect another half-million. Only a fraction of the population, but it would have to do.