Black Star Rising: A Cybernoir Space Adventure by Peter Kalu

Author:Peter Kalu [Kalu, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Venture Press
Published: 2017-12-05T22:00:00+00:00

Our founding heroes were space pilots from Urth,” Commander Idris began. “Half a millennium ago, they flew in a flotilla far beyond where anybody had dared explore before. They came across a Galaxy which had a sun and four sets of twin, life-sustaining planets. They named the Galaxy Logos and hoisted their own flag.

“Urth military authorities objected. Working for the military, they could only claim in the name of Urth’s military, Urth’s junta said. The pioneers refused to return, or to recognise Urth junta’s authority. They refused to pay Urth Galaxy tributes. They were labelled renegades by Urth and the first war between Urth forces and Logos began. Urth got the worst of this and finally abandoned Logosians to their fate.

“With the war over, the period of building began. Logos founders had a vision: to kiss into being a bold new world. Raw materials were readily available in Logos. A breeding programme was devised. Soon a substantial population was established on all eight planets. New cities sprang up, new technologies were discovered, a brand new civilisation arose. The vision held strong. There was a new system of government, a new jazz of human souls. The spirit of hope reverberated from Logos throughout the Universe. But you know all this.”

“Carry on,” said Mandella grimly. She knew most of it. He had omitted small things like the slaughter of the native species by the Logos founders, but the story was on the whole accurate.

As Idris continued, Sky commsed Mandella. She was puzzled: “Polygraph readings are blank.”

Mandella silently acknowledged the message. Officer Triple told her he had got a fix on the broadcast frequency, and had accordingly targeted what he took to be the cockpit, fifty metres below the docking sphere at the top centre of the hulk’s deck.

Meanwhile, Commander Idris went on:

“A snowflake is uniquely beautiful until it dissolves. We had a wonderful society, until the ties of solidarity unravelled.”

“How did that happen?” Mandella prompted. There were intelligence circulars of interplanetary warfare in Logos, but no firm details.

Idris shivered.

“It’s the oldest story — the rise and fall of Empires beginning with Urth’s African Songhay and continuing through the Romans.”

“Tell it.” said Mandella.

There was a moment’s hesitancy, then Idris continued. “Fudoh the Immovable was elected to power. Gradually, rule by plebiscite became rule by dynasty. Why? Why ever? The seduction of power. The stupidity of the led—”

“He came to power?” Mandella started, trying to keep him tracked.

“Yes. Fudoh and his clan ruled by fear. The new Government was a race system, organised along blood lines. There were rebellions from the excluded clans on all planets. Fudoh mercilessly repressed them. In time, the old way was forgotten, and his tyranny was accepted. About this time he acquired the title, the Immovable.

“But I and a few others kept the dream of democracy alive. We read the teachings of Marcus Garvey, his prophets Robert Nesta Marley and Nelson Mandela, as well as the words of our founders. I talked to my people.”

“Your people?”

“I was a general in the Logos defence force.

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