Battleframe (The Mindwars Book 1)
Battleframe
Book One of
The Mindwars
Michael Gilmour
MRG Asset Trust
PO Box 37, Dingley Village 3172,
Melbourne, Australia
michaelgilmour.com
This paperback edition 2015
Edition 1
First published by the MRG Asset Trust 2015
Copyright © Michael R. Gilmour 2015
Cover Illustration by Sebastien Hue
The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9942191-0-7
ISBN-10: 0994219105
Set in Garamond
Printed and bound in the USA by CreateSpace, an Amazon.com Company
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Available from Amazon.com, retail outlets and other online stores.
Maps, character profiles and
additional information available at
michaelgilmour.com
Table of Contents
Prelude
Part I Friendship
Chapter 1 The Past
Chapter 2 Freehold
Chapter 3 War has come
Chapter 4 Called in Help
Chapter 5 Research Ravine
Chapter 6 Training
Chapter 7 Fighting For His Life
Chapter 8 New Friends
Chapter 9 Test Pilots
Chapter 10 Teamwork
Chapter 11 Struggle
Chapter 12 Assault
Chapter 13 The Search Continues
Chapter 14 In the Hanger
Chapter 15 Bosk
Chapter 16 A Scourge Fist
Chapter 17 The End
Chapter 18 Concord Central Command
Chapter 19 Return to Freehold
Chapter 20 The Beginning and the End
Part II Revelations
Chapter 1 The Real World
Chapter 2 Deliberations
Chapter 3 Is this a dream?
Chapter 4 Plans and Gliding
Chapter 5 Selfia in Command
Chapter 6 A Father’s War
Chapter 7 Pyro’s Dance
Chapter 8 Out of the Frying Pan
Chapter 9 Fight to the Death
Part III For Real
Chapter 1 Early Morning Rush
Chapter 2 Taxis and Bus Stops
Chapter 3 The Boardroom
Chapter 4 Decisions
Chapter 5 Goodbyes and Enemies
Chapter 6 Alpha Three
Chapter 7 Transformation
Chapter 8 Breakfast
Chapter 9 Central
Chapter 10 Dissention
Chapter 11 Water, Poison and the Barrier
Chapter 12 Attack!
Chapter 13 More to do
Chapter 14 The Battle in the Dome
Chapter 15 It is Finished
Glossary
For my wife
Who is always at my side cheering me onwards.
You’re an amazing editor that always has a smile and a cup of tea.
For Timothy
Who has my back in playing games.
You’re the best son that a Dad could ever wish for.
For Sarah and Elise
Both of you are incredible daughters
You challenge me to make the female heroes like you both.
For my father
Who is a man of imagination.
You continue to inspire me to new heights!
For the game players
Bosk, Elzetro, Pyro, DG and Kheldar.
Thanks for all the good times defending the universe!
Prelude
With a surge of mental energy, Wisdom energized the form of an elderly English gentleman. Gold rimmed round spectacles and a greying goatee adorned his face. A matching soft cap complimented a brown tweed jacket and pants that were reminiscent of mid twentieth century Earth, a planet that was light years away from where he now stood. For some reason he had grown quite accustomed to this shape and drew a sense of comfort from resting his hand lightly on the carved wooden walking cane at his side.
Wisdom looked around the dark alleyway created by the surrounding, soaring skyscrapers. Abandoned old wooden pallets, cardboard boxes and several small clear plastic containers littered the area, the refuse of a burgeoning civilization. High above, he could make out a small patch of blue sky, where every now and then a flitter-car would scoot into view and just as quickly vanish from sight.
Chuckling to himself as if to a jest only he could hear, Wisdom walked to the end of the alley and stepped out into a huge open square at the heart of a bustling city. He loved this place and remembered when the builders had laid the first blue paving tile that seemed to mirror the cloudless sky above. The area was so large that even with the number of workers employed it had taken them years to complete the task. Skyscrapers, of a similar size to the ones that had created the alleyway from which he had just stepped, fenced the square in on all sides. Everything was on a vast scale in the capital.
Wisdom let his gaze wander across paving to the eight large water fountains positioned equidistant from each other along the circumference of a giant circle. Each fountain represented one of Kaladon’s eight continents with a single larger fountain in the middle symbolising unity. The sound of the spraying water provided a soft undercurrent of tranquillity as it gently echoed off the surrounding buildings.
Kaladon IV was the fourth planet out from a binary star system and teemed with over twelve billion inhabitants. It was the home world of the fledgling Concord of planets, and was the birthplace of a human society that had only recently developed interstellar travel.
Across from Wisdom, a teacher led a procession of primary school children towards one of the fountains. A little further away was a group of families with the adults enjoying each other’s company while their children ran around like satellites orbiting a planet. Despite being in the centre of a city of forty million people, it was beautiful and peaceful.
As Wisdom wrested his hands lightly on his cane, he stopped for a minute to enjoy the warmth of the distant twin suns on his face. As he gazed upwards, the sunlight highlighted his unusually bright blue eyes. His entire ancient race had similar coloured eyes and his seemed to sparkle with eagerness behind his spectacles. It had been quite some time since the three of them had met in this fashion and only now because the plan was nearing a critical juncture.
The people going about their business subconsciously made way for Wisdom as he strolled across the blue stone pavers towards the bench directly opposite. There was a calmness and surety about him as he settled on the seat between a young man and a middle-aged woman.
The young man looked like a university student from the college on the far side of the square. His ruffled unkempt hair mirrored his rumpled pants and t-shirt that was emblazoned with the university’s motto of, “Think, Plan, Act.” A smudge deposited from his last meal, disrupted the final word. To their loss, many had made the mistake of judging him by his dishevelled appearance. In one hand, he held a reading tablet as he digested the latest scientific news from the inhabitants of this world.
In sharp contrast to the young man, the woman was stunning and would be a head turner at any party. Long blond hair cascaded down her back while her white blouse revealed just a little of what was discretely hidden underneath. Her fingers thrummed rhythmically on the outside of a black violin case that rested on her equally black neatly pres
sed slacks. On the ground beside her was a dark leather briefcase with a folded silver music stand sticking out the end.
Unnecessarily clearing his throat Wisdom asked, “So Intellect, what do you think of Kaladon?”
The young man looked up from his tablet, paused to refocus his bright blue eyes and to ponder the question for a moment. “I’ve been scanning the latest scientific research papers and it appears that all is in order. No one has detected our influence over the last several thousand years.”
Wisdom smiled and turned towards Intellect beside him. “I didn’t ask for the results of the plan. I asked what you thought of this world and its people.”
“It’s wonderful.”
Wisdom raised his eyebrows to encourage his colleague to continue. Intellect sighed and reluctantly put his reading tablet down. “The humans here have passed through so many obstacles: war, famine, environmental problems and economic disparity to name but a few. With a little help from us they’ve now started colonizing the star systems in this sector.”
Wisdom nodded. “And you Creativity?”
Creativity shifted on the bench so that she could get a better view of her two strange companions. Each of them indulged in energizing a form they felt the most comfortable but she always wondered why Intellect liked to wear unclean garments. Her intensely blue eyes sparkled in remembrance as she replied in a voice that was like a perfectly tuned instrument. “I played with the Kaladon orchestra and Balnarth’s music brought me close to tears. The highs and the lows pulled at my heart. The way he managed to bring the audience with him on the journey was close to remarkable. The arts, education and health are everything that we could have dreamed.”
Wisdom again sighed deeply, “That is good. Although young, the Concord of planets is even now beginning to glimpse the dangers that await in the galaxy.”
Creativity lovingly opened her violin case and smiled as she again remembered her last performance. Concern entered her voice as she said, “Wisdom, at your request I have ensured that the discovery of nano-technology has taken place. That will surely help them.”
“Yes, it will help immeasurably but there will still be much suffering,” Wisdom replied.
Intellect picked up his reading tablet and then paused in deep thought. As if reaching a conclusion he looked across at his two colleagues and said, “For all their technological advances they need the others. It’s only the genes combined with the technology that will give this galaxy a chance.”
Removing his hat to reveal thin grey hair Wisdom mopped his brow with a handkerchief that he’d pulled from his inside jacket pocket. “The meeting will happen soon but not here. It won’t be long before the Concord and the people of Earth will come face to face.”
“And what of Kaladon IV?” Intellect asked.
Wisdom shook his head from side to side as if struggling with what he was about to say. “We can do nothing for them without disrupting both streams. For the sake of their development, the Concord and the people of Earth must not know of our influence yet. They will become psychologically dependent upon us and that will mean the end.”
Creativity looked across at the families admiring the fountains dotted around square. The sounds of children screaming in delight as water suddenly sprayed from the sides of a pyramidal shaped sculpture cut across the general hubbub - “So this will all be gone?”
Wisdom perched his hat back on his head and replied in a sombre voice, “Yes.”
Blue eyes turned to look into blue and a tear trickled down Creativity’s milk white cheek, “Isn’t there anything that we can do?”
The concern of eons suddenly etched across Wisdom’s face, “No, they are doomed.”
Part I
Friendship
Chapter 1
The Past
“Get back in here and finish those dishes young man!”
“Oh Mum. Can’t I skip them just this once? I really want to build the lean-to with Dad in the woods.”
Ray’s mother quickly wiped her hands on her apron and glanced out the window. She squinted as she gauged how long it would be until the first sun set and the second rose above the horizon.
“Please Mum?” Ray whined.
“Oh get going you scoundrel!”
“Yeah!”
Without looking back (in case she changed her mind) the blond-haired, blue eyed ten year old rushed out through the fly wire door and slammed it behind him. The red barn was on the other side of the family’s old flitter car at rest in the driveway and it did not take Ray long to reach the huge double front doors. As he pulled the left one open, he could hear his father rummaging around for what they would need for building the lean-to together in the woods.
“So your mother let you off the dishes?”
Ray pulled the door of the barn closed behind him just like his Dad taught him since he was little. “Yes sir.”
A broad grin crossed his father’s face. “You’d better do something special for her tomorrow. Come here son.”
Ray ran to his father and felt himself immediately lifted off the ground in a bear hug. “Oh, my you’re getting big and heavy.”
Ray hugged his father back even harder to show off his muscles. He loved hearing his father say that he was growing up. One day he was going to be as strong as his dad and wear overalls and a checked shirt just like him. They both ended up laughing as Ray’s father gave his son a little tickle under the ribs before putting him back down.
“OK, I’ve got the saw and the nails. What else do we need?” Ray’s father said half to himself.
“A hammer! We need a hammer Dad!”
“That’s right, we need a hammer.”
Ray laughed at his dad for forgetting the most critical tool. After packing their things into a bag, Ray’s father grabbed his rifle and they both headed out of the barn and down white fence line that separated the fields of wheat from the woods.
Behind them, Ray’s mother smiled to herself as she placed another dish in the rack. Flicking a strand of hair out of her eyes, she looked lovingly at the two most important men in her life walking side by side away from the house.
After reaching the edge of the forest a few hundred metres from the house Ray’s father asked, “So have you picked a place?”
Ray screwed up his face in concentration. “I think just through there looks good.”
His father replied seriously, “I think that’s a good choice as well. The trees are bent at just the right point to help us with the construction.”
Ray clambered through the fence’s crossbars while his father climbed over the top. They could still see the house not far away through the undergrowth and for the next few minutes, they cleared the area around the base of the selected tree. Ray’s father bent down to check that the tree did not have any spines like many of the species in the woods.
Just after he had married Ray’s mother, they had made the decision to be one of the first farming colonist of this world. The vast wheat fields helped feed the Concord’s core worlds and it was not long before their little farm began to prosper. Soon after arriving, Ray was born and the planet felt more like home every day.
“Dad, what’s that noise?”
“What noise son?”
Just as he asked the question Ray’s father turned his attention to the sky as the screeching wail of something falling reached him. Through the brush, he watched a dark metallic pyramid slam into the ground next to their flitter car, sending a cloud of dirt into the air. The pyramid was a few feet taller than the flitter and at the apex, an energy orb began to pulse faster and faster.
In a strained voice his father said, “Son stay by my side and don’t leave it. Do you understand?”
Ray knew that his dad was using his very serious voice and only replied, “Yes sir.”
With his rifle in his right hand and his son’s hand in his left, Ray’s father abandoned all thought of the lean-to. Skirting along the edge of the woods, with tree branches whipping against them, the
y ran as fast as Ray could back towards the house.
With a dishtowel still in her hand, Ray’s mother stepped out onto the porch to see what was making all the commotion. She had heard the awful whining sound and the thump as the object fell from the sky. A shimmering purple haze formed at five distinct points around the machine. Within the haze, sparks flashed like small lightning bolts back and forth until the vague shape of men in some sort of strange armour began to form.
She recognized those shapes and dropped her dishtowel as she fled along the porch in the direction where her husband and son had gone.
As he ran to keep up with his father, Ray watched as his mother jumped down to the ground and run towards the fence line. A brilliant beam of red light lanced out and seemed to pin her in the air mid-step. Her face contorted in agony as she collapsed to the ground. Ray watched as his father screamed in a way he had never heard before. He had seen his dad angry with him or yelling at a contractor but he had never seen his father like this.
With tears building in his eyes, Ray’s father dropped to one knee and lifted his riflescope up to his eye. Ray heard the brief build-up of energy and watched in grim fascination as his father’s blue beam fled the rifle’s muzzle. The man that had hurt his mother dropped to the ground.
The earth in front of them suddenly erupted in a rapid series of puffs of dirt. As if in a dream, Ray watched his father tossed backwards by an invisible force and his good work shirt suddenly turn a deep crimson colour. Crawling over to his dad, he looked into vacant staring eyes.
Ray was confused and bewildered. He had never seen anything like this before. Were his mum and dad playing a new game? When was the happy part? He then looked down at his father’s rifle and he knew how this game needed to end.
He had fired his father’s rifle a number of times before. All children that grew up on a farm in one of the colonies learned to fire at targets with their dads. Picking up the rifle in his small hands Ray lay in the grass and looked through the telescopic sights.
He saw the ugly pale faced man with the pink eyes that had hurt his father and squeezed the trigger. The man dropped and Ray felt a little better for it. Just then, Ray’s home exploded in a ball of fire and a wave of heat washed over him. Ray looked through the scope at the big bad man who had hurt his house, just as his father had taught him, and squeezed the trigger again. The big bad man fell to the ground and then stood up again and turned in Ray’s direction.