The portal could have been one of the greatest inventions of all time.
But such a dream is nothing but a dormant display in the airship's museum---useless and abandoned.Alec and Phil stood by the life-size, tubular structure in front of him. As Alec skimmed through the plate inscriptions on the stand, he couldn't help but feel the loss of what was to be man's greatest invention. A machine that can transport you anywhere is a stuff of dreams. Still, despite being just a display the amazement was there. For the tubular machine may be inactive but it is 100% operational! Yet the one that's standing in front of him right now, the only existing one, sadly is barred for used.It had been a global sensation when announcements of the breakthrough came. Now, it only stood there as a monument of the many unsuccessful attempts to perfect it, waiting for that inspired young genius, if there is one, who is going to break through the pitfalls of its perfection anShe was tall and lean, donned on a full sleeved, waist-length gray, fabric coat that hugged her slim body. Beneath it is a white sleeveless top with a slanting strap on one side that crossed her chest. A short, skirt was worn over a pair of gray tights and knee high fabric, flat boots. There is no mistaking that she is the same young girl in the lab photo because of her sharp features. It's very familiar...and yet somehow different.Different from what he expected.As she stood expressionlessly looking at the consoles of the portal, he watched her keenly: The thick red, shoulder length straight hair plain and loose around her head and resting on her shoulder, snow-white skin, high forehead, stunning sharp nose. She was beautiful but not the Hollywood kind of standard. Her beauty is exotic; a conglomeration of races - most prominent of which is possibly Greek which gave her well-textured facial bones and yet there was a softness about her face. Like an angel - a fierc
No matter what happened, Ava, don't you dare come back to Sybil.She could almost hear her father again as she walked down the hallway away from the men from Sybil.But she need not be told. She knew better than to go back.She could not allow the enemy to get hold of her. Ever.**"And she called herself a civilian-" Alec muttered as he took a gulp of beer. "Heck, she's been acting General on us. We can even act more civil than her. She's no longer in the military premises yet she is more cold-blooded than any hardened soldier. What is up with her?"He recalled her stiffness, her inanimate way of speaking which is a steady lifeless tone... and yet there was no impatience in it. How can she spoke forcefully yet managed a calm voice, he had wondered.They were in a classy bar on the second floor of the ship, seated beside each other on a b
Today, the first academic symposium of the month long convention will be held.Something tickled his nose that made him got up immediately: coffee. And he knew it wasn't just any coffee like that one they get in Sybil for breakfast; it's a freshly brewed aromatic coffee delivered to their room."Do you know what time is it?" Phil who was sitting on the dining table tinkering with his computer greeted him."Uh, let me guess...it's 7'o clock like yesterday," replied Alec without a slight hint of remorse as he was getting up from the bed."How come you still don't have it in your blood to wake up early when that is what you've been routinely doing for the past seven months?" Phil asked as Alec sat opposite him at the dining table, helping himself with the coffee."Must be the bed; I haven't slept in such a comfortable bed in seven months,""It wasn't so comforta
The spacious auditorium occupied the entire top floor of the airship. Today, it is brimming with people for the first day of the WAC symposium. With a seat capacity of thousands, it is enough for the vast student population in Cyrus. It offered a 360 degrees sky view through the glass panels that circumvents it like a glass igloo. Sunlight flared all around seamlessly, filtered through tinted anti-ultraviolet glass panels. Up front is a large stage. On its backdrop is a billboard-size monitor and Phil, Alec and Sanders recognized it to be belonging to the World Government's Communication Network - the Centralink. They were surprised to find it in this civilian activity. The WAC being outfitted with the sophisticated official government commlink technology only goes to show the prestigious support the World Government accords to this academic event. They wondered who would appear there. They d
General Dunreft was called away from the WAC symposium to view a highly important and urgent transmission by the enemy, the first and only.Waiting for him in his spacious, round shape office are two of his commanding officers, Simon Rutledge and Ben Kaine, middle-aged men of stature."For the first time in the history of this war, sir," Commander Rutledge immediately reported as Dunreft stepped in the double doorway. "Addressed specifically to you, Sir," Rutledge mentioned what everyone already knew."After a decade of intentionally blocking communication signals " added Kaine.Dunreft went straight behind his desk, sat down with one of his elbows propped up on the desk and his chin resting on his curled forefinger in contemplation. A decade of war and yet these invaders remained as strangers for reasons known only to them. Is today really the day they are going to break their silence once and for all?"Okay, put it on," instructed Dunreft.Kaine signalled one of his men in the backg
For a few seconds with her eyes closed Ava felt like she was trapped inside her skull.There was but the disconcerting sensation and the drowning silence. Her head fell low and her temple furrowed. If she were facing a mirror, she would have seen a diamond-like mark flared on her temple for a fleeting moment...the Atlantii symbol...a quick display of light...The VIPs had removed themselves from the stage. Everyone fell in a throng as they hustled out of the auditorium; the seats emptying out, the aisles in a crowded jam, and the 4 exit doorways spread across the large hall slowly became a bottleneck of bodies."What the heck is going on?" Alec muttered. He took out his mobile and started dialing Sybil. He was halfway in doing so when he and everyone else heard it. A chorus of necks arched up towards the glass dome above.'Is this for real?' Alec exclaimed in his head. He saw an all-too familiar scen
The air space around the large floating fortress, against the deep blue sea below and bright daylight, was pictured like a swarm of flies littered with mini explosions here and there. A figure in a dark cloak in a dark room stood over the large holographic aerial screen projection. He could see a number of casualties on their side, as always. Earth has always proven themselves better skilled at space combat, not that it matters. They are not here to subdue Earth."My lord, we have succeeded. The key is now in our hands," came a voice report."Bring her at once and retreat," spoke the cloaked figure in its language. His intense voice echoing in the empty confines of the dark room. "And make sure to destroy their floating fortress.""Yes, my lord."'What a pitiful planet,' the cloaked figure thought. 'Now you will be paying for your impertinence."****What was that?Private Alfred Garrison had seen the tube
Ava Kinski adjusted her blurry eyes until the closed doors of the elevator shaft and the flickering lights became evident in her sight. She felt something cold running down one side of her face and she flinched slightly as she became aware of the sharp pain on her head. Her eyes fell low and saw the trail of red on her shoulder and chest. She pulled her head up slowly, hissing at the pain.The last thing she could remember was being thrown off her feet and then scurrying on the floor with the rush of adrenaline to the lift she knew existed at the back of the stage before collapsing into unconsciousness."The airship is in a state of catastrophe. Please calmly proceed to the escape pods at the base level..."That recorded instruction occupied the sound space. She could hear it from the close confines of the elevator shaft. She jolted up, remembering what had transpired in the auditorium. The battleship that crashed in wasn't the WDF's..."Please proceed to