“Really?” Although the formula for such treatments had been found in the Data Ark on Earth, they had only added a few decades to the human life span, not centuries. And only then by somewhat delaying the onset of aging. “And this doctrine? Is this the basis of the rebellion I’ve heard so much about?” Nathan wasn’t sure how Tug would react to his question, but he had a feeling there was more to the farmer than he let on.
“Ah yes, the rebellion.” Tug smiled as he regarded Nathan’s question. “As you probably know, people do not generally care to be told how to think. Eventually, more and more of the Ta’Akar people began to openly reject the doctrine. When the military tried to force the matter, it sparked a violent backlash that quickly spread throughout all of Ta’Akar space. A rebellion erupted that has been going on for more than two decades. It has cost many lives on both sides, and has cost the Ta’Akar many systems over the years.”
“You mean they once controlled more than just the five systems they control now?” Jessica asked.
“Oh yes. The Ta’Akar once controlled twice that number. But the war has forced them to abandon the outer systems in order to maintain control over their core worlds,” Tug explained. “In fact, this system was once under Ta’Akar control.”
“So they were spread too thin?” Jessica was hoping to get some information about the Ta’Akar forces.
“Yes. They did not expect such heavy resistance at first, and were caught unprepared. They lost many ships and had problems with mass defections amongst their forces. Had they not pulled out of the fringe systems, I doubt they would have defeated the rebels at all.”
“Then the war is over?” Nathan asked.
“Recently, the Ta’Akar launched an offensive against the last of the rebel forces that were in hiding. Rumor has it that only a small, insignificant number escaped and that the Ta’Akar are claiming victory. I suspect they will continue to hunt survivors down until all have been eliminated.”
Nathan noticed a melancholy in Tug’s voice. “You seem disappointed?”
“If this rumor is true, it is only a matter of time before the Ta’Akar reclaim their lost systems.”
“Many believe they will not stop there,” Jalea added.
“You think they’ll try to expand again?” Nathan asked.
“If the Ta’Akar wish to prevent future civil unrest,” Tug explained, “it would be wise for them to expand their domain in order to vastly increase their base of power.”
“Make themselves too big to overthrow,” Jessica commented.
“But if their forces are weakened, as you say, then wouldn’t expansion be difficult?”
“One would think,” Tug said. “However, it is believed that the Ta’Akar are close to perfecting a new power source, one that will give them nearly limitless energy. If this is true, there will be no stopping them.”
The conversation fell silent on that note. While Nathan was curious about this new power source, he couldn’t help but be annoyed by the fact that the information had been yet another fact that Jalea had kept hidden from them.
“What do you know about this power source?” Jessica asked.
“Only that the research is being conducted on the Ta’Akar homeworld, and that it is said to be nearing completion,” Tug said.
“How is it you know so much about it?” Jessica asked. “You would think something like this would be kept secret.”
“The Ta’Akar have continued to talk openly of this project. They consider their home system impenetrable. And knowledge of their coming power source serves to keep the restlessness of the Ta’Akar population under control. It gives them hope for a better, more stable future.”
The room fell silent once again, as they considered Tug’s statements. “But enough of this talk of rebellions and doctrine. It is too depressing for dinner conversation.” Tug turned to Vladimir. “We have heard little from you this night, Vladimir. Tell me of your world.”
Vladimir looked at Nathan, unsure of what to say. Nathan nodded slightly and shrugged. “Our world is a beautiful place,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “It has many diverse climates and environments, as well as many different cultures and civilizations, some of which date back thousands of years.” Vladimir was proud of his Russian heritage. His culture had been one of the few that had survived the great bio-digital plague without becoming diluted beyond recognition.
“Truly? Your civilization is that old?” Tug was surprised by the revelation. “Then how is it we have never come across your kind before?”
“We’ve only recently begun venturing out into distant space,” Jessica interrupted.
“Then you’re explorers?”
“Yes, in a manner of speaking,” Nathan admitted.
“But then, aren’t we all?” Tug concluded.
Vladimir, who had finished his food quickly as usual, moved to excuse himself. “If nobody has any objections, perhaps I could take a look at your ship, while the rest of you continue with your meal.”
“Of course,” Tug insisted. “The ship is in the large barn at the far end of the compound. Out the front door, and straight ahead. You cannot miss it.”
“Thank you,” Vladimir said as he rose.
Jalea uttered words to Danik in their language, after which he too rose to join Vladimir.
“Captain?” Tug began. “I am curious about something.”
The statement instantly raised Jessica’s concern. She nudged Nathan’s leg with her own as a reminder of caution.
“What might that be?” Nathan asked in his most diplomatic tone.
“This world you come from. Your friend says it is thousands of years old. Yet I have never heard of a civilization that was much more than a millennia old, save for one. Could your world be that one?”
Nathan felt backed into a corner. This farmer, who had not turned out to be as simple as he would have others believe, seemed to have considerable knowledge of the area of the galaxy they happened to be stranded in. As well, he suspected there was far more that the farmer was not telling him that undoubtedly would be useful information.
Being straight-forward and direct had always served Nathan well in the past, but the stakes were much higher now, and he quite possibly was out of his element under the current circumstances. “And if it were? What would that mean to you?” Nathan asked, trying to deflect a question with a question.
“That is a complicated question, Captain, with a complicated answer.”
“I’ll try to keep up,” Nathan told him, a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth. He cast a side-long glance at Jessica, who didn’t seem terribly impressed with his efforts to avoid the topic thus far.
“Perhaps it would be best if I were to explain the legend more clearly,” Tug began. “The legend states that all human life began on a single, faraway world called Earth. Nearly two millennia ago, the people of this world began to venture out to nearby stars. But somehow, along the way, they angered their gods, and as a punishment were infested with a terrible evil that quickly spread throughout all their worlds. Many fled, seeking to escape the evil before they too were consumed by its horrors. Some groups managed to escape untainted and start anew on untouched worlds, while others were already infiltrated by those touched by evil. Such worlds fell even before they had started, causing some of their people to flee even farther out into the galaxy.”
“And this is one of those systems?” Nathan asked.
“In a manner,” Tug explained. “It is believed that several of these ships eventually settled in the Pentaurus cluster. Its five stars made possible an interstellar civilization that developed rapidly due to an abundance of resources and numerous habitable worlds. Being in such close proximity to one another enabled the settlements to share the technology and resources they had brought with them, in a way that benefited all. At least at first.” Tug picked up the bottle of drink and distributed the remainder of its contents equally amongst their glasses as he continued speaking. “Until one world decided they wanted more, and that the best way to get it was by force.”
“The Ta’Akar,” Jessica said.
“Yes. So rapid was their conquest that their leader believed himself a god, destined to rule all that he could conquer. Although I believe he claimed to be uniting the people he conquered.”
“How did they manage such rapid conquest?” Jessica asked.
“None of the other worlds had thought to arm themselves,” Tug explained. “None had thought it necessary.”
Nathan couldn’t help but think of the Earth, and how his father was running for office in order to stop the
