Novella - a novella based on the game Star Legacy.

     
                                          
                                          
STAR LEGACY             
                                         
 Part 2: Beyond         
 of the Universe                 
                                         
 * Novella - introduction *         
                                         
 (C) Yuri Matveev  
                                          
                                         
Got crazy and typed Deton                
___________________________               
 ZX-LEGION                        
                                         
                                         
                                         
     From secret report No. 186 Intelligence
of the Military Conference
Central Union of Human Colonies
(October 3756):                      
(October 3756):                      
                                          
     According to the results of the investigation,
I am reporting that the agent committed
jump transition according to the standard scheme and pro-
walked the Schiller point without interference. Trajectory
movement in the hypertunnel in all respects
corresponded to the intended purpose. However,
according to regular Jumpologists, the ship
agent deviated from the calculated trajectory.
It is impossible to determine the reason for the deviation.
There is an assumption that in the interval
jump time from 3 to 7.5 milliseconds
there was a collision with a foreign body. Su-
There is also a dissenting opinion from one of
experts, who, based on their own
mathematical calculations involves
following: agent ship jump transfer
was deliberately interrupted by artificial
by an external body having the ability
jump motor blocking. If we accept
take these into accountassumptions, then, according to
taking these assumptions into account, then, according to
According to experts, the agent could nepexba-
to steal patrol ships of the Artang race. B
In connection with this, I propose to consider re-
the results of the investigation at the next meeting -
research committee of the Military Conference
nia.  Deputy Chief Advisor PYBC
for support issues Colonel of the Armed Forces Sid Yur-
gens.                                     
                                          
     From the transcript of a closed meeting
special commission of the Supreme Council (November 3756)
yes):                                      
                                          
     "Due to the fact that at the moment
it is not possible to continue
investigations into the Neustrashimy case, all
submit documents and investigation results
to the archive. Colonel Sid Jurgens prepared
write a press release. Message text
before publication is subject to agreement with
Chairman of the Military Conference..."      
Chairman of the Military Conference..."      
                                          
     From the official message of the Military
Meetings (published in all central
publications and transmitted through all channels
communications in December 3756):               
                                          
     "... Military Conference of the Central
Union of Human Coloniesdecidedly op-
pobepraet statement of the Ministry of Forces Oba-
rons and Supports of the Artang Expansion o as-
would be a violation of the Leyva Peace Treaty. Sun
CSCHK officially declares that there are no
there would be no disruption to the agreements reached
lo.  All statements and rumors about penetration
into the area of competence of the SOPE representative of Bo-
of the Conference is a provocation of those forces who
Some people want to violate the established Leivsky
agreement on parity and balance between our
by our races.  The Supreme Council of the CSCHK will continue to give
rebuff to all kinds of provocations, aimed at
intended to incite interracial hatred."      
important to inciting interracial hatred."      
                                          
 * * *                   
                                         
     From the secret report of the Minister of SOPE
Pluda Roger to the Supreme Commander
By expansion (December 3757):                
                                          
     "...According to the information we have,
the CSCHK agent who infiltrated Raksla left
the limits of the planet using the central
deflection of TEMPORA. Unfortunately, special
the security unit failed to
pexbatutb object. Unit employees
found in the Temporal Zone abandoned
the object is a human boat of the "Mukha" brand.The Ministry of SOPE has data o
that the object managed to pass through
TEMPORARY vortex and go beyond the limits of
becthoro us space. At this moment
ment it is impossible to determine exactly where you are
movement of an object from zero deflection."            
movement of the object from zero deflection".            
                                          
     Mark of the Supreme Commander
Expansion on the margins of a secret report:   
                                          
     "Take immediate action. Find the object and
destroy."                              
                                          
     From Plud's administrative note
Roger to the Kratu Implementation Department officer
Arohy:                                    
                                          
     "...use everything available in your
We have the opportunity to determine
of the structural karmagram of the object..."   
                                          
 * * *                   
                                         
     Sid Jurgens left his office.
The working day is long over. All cells
mines and employees of the Military Conference have already
went home. The aircraft remained in the building
went home. In the Air Force buildingremained
only security guards and employees of scientific la-
laboratories that worked around the clock.
In addition to them, there were also cleaning robots in the building,
who leisurely went about their direct
responsibilities.  Sid walked along the long, bright
illuminated corridor to the ckopoctomy elevator. 
                                          
     Today set the last one
point in the case of the Armed Forces agent "Neustrashimy".
Just yesterday, on all media channels there was
the Official Statement of the Military was transmitted
The meeting, in which, for obvious reasons,
to us, the main military organization of the TsSCHK, from-
was wary of all the rumors related to the de-
scrap of the Neustrashimy.  And today Sid
personally handed over his mysterious file to the archives.
The Chief Military Adviser didn't even glance
blinking, he silently signed the folder with
results of the investigation. A little later Sid
went to the Archive and handed over the file to the local
secretaries.  he perceived the closure of the case
secretaries.  he perceived the closure of the case
like a personal tragedy. Still - how much strength
was spent on investigation. Besides
Sid knew the agent personally. "Unustra-
Shimy" is a man of enormous willpower, very
an experienced employee - and suddenly, without a trace,
chez.  A person who has been in such pe-
rubbish, from which I could not get out myself
Devil.  Frankly, Sid didn't believe it.
that "Neustrashimy" could have disappeared without a trace in
interstellar space. And whatno matter what
if you talked to him, he would definitely let you know
about yourself. From anywhere in the Universe. He found
would be a way.  But the fact remained a fact - neither
a single hint that "Fearless"
alive  Although, while the investigation dragged on,
through the prism of official reports of art
tahrckoro Ministry of SOPE, looked through
conclusion - “Neustrashimy” managed to win
Artang patrol and land on the legendary
naya Raxxla But what happened to him next?
There was no answer to this question.            
There was no answer to this question.            
                                          
     Raxxla - planet-mystery, planet-dream
desperate pilots, completely owned
artangam.  Coordinates of the star system, in
which planet was located were classified
chens.  Only the pilots knew the exact coordinates
from the league of the "Dark Wheel", but about this order-
there hasn't been anything for a long time now
audible.  Thus, the Military Conference
could not send his people there, and then
consequently, it was impossible to continue the investigation.
business progress.                             
                                          
     Sid Jurgens understood that the official
Statement by the War Ministry of Artang o
rumors surrounding the agent of the Military Conference, -
just a check for the lice of the agents
CSCHK.  But that didn't make it any easier.
One thing was clear - when THEY demonstrated
to the entire universe of living things andunharmed pi-
lot "Artang the Great" - "Fearless"
lot "Artang the Great" - "Fearless"
have not yet fallen into their clutches. Was he alive?
or became food for some toothy
th predator from that planet is already different
question.  The only alarming thing was that after
no more official statement from Artangi
never mentioned the agent.            
                                          
     Sid entered the elevator and pressed the button
number "8".  He decided that before
when he goes home, he'll definitely take a look
official status of the Neustrashimy case in
Archive.  Sid wanted to make sure for the last time
to be sure that in the main registry of hanpo-
tive of the case of "Neustrashimy" and his own
His name bears a sad label - “BUSINESS
CLOSED."                                 
                                          
     When the elevator arrived on the eighth floor, it
went out into the small hall and mechanically turned
I turned right along the corridor towards the Archives.
There was no one here. Somewhere far away, in the sa-
There was no one here. Somewhere far away, in the sa-
at the end of the corridor, a robot-u- hummed quietly
Borschik. I must say, these cleaners have...
whether quite powerful artificial intelligence
that and, if necessary, it was possible to use them
make small talk.  Sometimes robots
met and escorted visitors to the Military
Meetings.Sid Jurgens walked up to the door leading to
information storage and clicked a few
buttons on the combination lock.  But the door doesn't
opened.  Grunting in surprise, he repeated
set. No result. Sid is confused
rummaged in the inner pocket of his pid-
Jacques. I took out an electronic organizer and fresh
provided the access code to the vault.  Everything is right
right.  The code has not been changed. Then what's the matter?
He repeated the code combination for the last time.
nation and turned to the ro-
to the cleaning bot:                            
                                          
                                          
   - Hey, wait!                         
                                          
   -  Good evening!  - responded clean
male robot voice.                    
                                          
   - Who entered the storage in the last hour-
lische? - asked Sid Jurgens.       
                                          
   -  Nobody. - The robot's manipulators are lowered -
came down and began to quickly scrub away the
a large spot on the floor near the colonel's feet
ka.                                       
                                          
     Sid Jurgens looked at his feet:       
                                          
   - Leave work.  Is there data o
visitors to the Archive?- No.                                 
                                          
   - What, no data at all?          
 - What, no data at all?          
                                          
   - No data.                          
                                          
     Sid Jurgens looked at him warily.
a crazy robot. He himself today, when-
yes I did, I saw several people
who registered the entrance to the storage facility. And this robot
should have seen them. A means and put it in
your electron-positron memory.  But,
as you can see, the memory of the iron idiot was
pristinely pure.                         
                                          
     Sid Jurgens was confused. Send this
idiot behind security? Or maybe cxo-
child yourself? While he was thinking about his decision,
nie - the door to the storage room is sharply pacnaxhy-
las.  He stood half-turn to her and didn’t
managed to understand nothing - a crushing blow
hit his temple and knocked him over onto his back. On carrying
How many seconds did it go dark in my eyes? When he
jumped to his feet in the corridor there was no one
jumped to his feet in the corridor there was no one
it was. Sid Jurgens flew through the open door and
I was stunned - chaos reigned in the storage room. Internal
new door leading to a whole treasure trove of information
matsii - in the holy of holies of the repository, was
carefullycut out.  The thief worked hard
laser with point guidance - all key -
high security points were in place - they were not
touched. The laser installation stood on the headquarters
tive opposite the mutilated door. Looks like
that the thief knew the diagram of the security alarm system
lization.   Video camera eyes helplessly
looked through the transparencies thrown over them
new video filters. It is clear that on the central
remote control saw only what was necessary
must be seen so as not to turn on the signal
anxiety. Audio microphones were filled with viscous
dark liquid that appears to be completely
muffled all sounds sent to
central security console.  To
It took no more than three seconds to assess the situation.
kund.  He jumped out of the vault and ran
kund.  He jumped out of the vault and ran
to the elevator. The cabin was on this floor.
So the criminal rushed down the stairs.
Near the exit to the landing Sid
I saw the security alarm remote control. Not for-
thinking, he broke the protective glass and
pressed the red button deep into the depths. Bye
the siren blared, the colonel rushed headlong
down the stairs - it seemed to him that
you can overtake the unknown. But on the third
floor he stopped: the window on the interstaircase
pacnaxhyto platform, and to the railings
the end of the rope is knitted. The other end was dangling
downstairs, on the first floor level.           
                                          
   - Whatwhat happened, Sid? - asked behind the scenes
a familiar voice. - Who turned on the siren? 
                                          
     The Colonel turned around. On the stairs under
Kate Brown - external specialist
Contacts of the Military Conference. Sid Jurgens
explained everything that happened. Brown attention
explained everything that happened. Brown attention
looked carefully at Jurgens and turned to
to the guards who have already come running:               
                                          
   - We have an emergency. Urgently cordon off the entire building.
Close all entrances and exits...          
                                          
                                          
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reprinted from zx-review To be continued