Page 152 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

“We noticed that, the same symbol on all the recovered cylinders. It looks like a crescent moon.”
T’luha said “it’s exceptional material, looks like glass based enamel, but it’s more like cubic
zirconium” she added.

“Did anyone manage to get into any of the cylinders?” Tom suddenly asked shaking out of his trance.

“No, but a couple did split and there is crystalline circuitry inside. I pulled in a few favours and
managed to get a copy of those files.” T’luha said handing over a data crystal “The military scientist
who owed me the favour said that they think it’s some kind of pulse field generator. Though; as with
most Gantrax stuff, they couldn’t be certain. It’s way beyond our level of technology. The circuitry
went down to the Nano scale!” she added. Tom was smiling; he realised that T’luha was going to be
a valuable member of this expedition after all. Trok shook his head.

“I don’t think it’s of Gantrax origin. The Glyph isn’t in what Gantrax dialect symbols we have found. It
isn’t Hagunenon so could be Kryst, though I don’t recollect seeing anything similar. I wonder if this
has any bearing on the destination coordinates worked out for the Third Galaxy?” he said puzzled.

The Veklaar’s next stop was at the very rim of the Galaxy in a system called in Buraxin
“Shavat’n’ Var Yolflar”; in Interlac it was a crude reference to a part of the anatomy that expelled
solid waste. To avoid the obvious connotations it was shortened to Yolflar, which translated as “Rear
Passage” in Interlac, which was better, though not perfect. The outpost on the fourth planet from
the Star; Chavvot, was the destination. It was here that they would get their next supplies and make
final contact with the Unity. From here on in they were in neutral territory, no faction claiming any
rights in this sector, chiefly because the gravimetric disturbances in the
region made navigation hazardous. Hubris also wanted to look up an
old colleague and former mate. She was working in a refuge on the
outskirts of the outpost. Killiris was trained in all medical fields and had
joined the Order of Sisterhood after she and Hubris had parted. Female
Vahamat had the right to change partners as often as they wished; it
also meant that reproduction would result in a wider spread of the
gene pool. For some odd reason; the Vahamat were sexually and
reproductively compatible with only a few races, so interbreeding was
possible, but limited. Killiris had left Hubris to join with a member of a
race known as the Vintar, distant cousins of the Unthar. Together they
had set up the refuge for travellers from all races to get medical
attention. Her Vintar mate had passed on some ten years ago. Hubris
wanted to see if she still remembered him fondly.

“I wouldn’t normally make a request of this nature Krysta; but seeing as we are in the vicinity, I
would appreciate the opportunity. It has been a while since I had… relations, though the visit would
not be in that nature. I wish to see if she is well and if I can help in some small way” Hubris had
asked, looking like a shy schoolboy. Krysta agreed and let him have personal use of a ground craft.

Krysta had also allowed the crew some liberty while supplies were loaded by the local dock
crew. These were mostly group seven class Mechanoids; Trok felt a little odd giving them orders, but
he did so never-the-less. Chavvot was typical of most Rim outposts frequented by Spacers; Casinos,
Hotels and houses of ill repute seemed to dominate the main streets of the settlement. There were
the usual government buildings and port facilities, but Chavvot had some other attractions that also
meant it catered for the tourist and academic classes. To the north west of the main settlement was
a spa and resort. The area there was riddled with strange rock formations, an abundance of oasis of
various sizes and ruins of a Hagunenon military installation. It was near the spa and its hot mineral
springs and mud pools that the Medical refuge was located. One of the Coms techs had a fascination
with everything Military so he and two others went to the ruins. By accident they would uncover a