ONE: Epilogue of Hermesh

31. The Forbidden History

Till the very last moment, Commodore Reemon Erra tried his very best to talk himself out of asking the question that Yannan had suggested he should. With the Manwatus finally getting on their side, ready and willing not only to contribute to the war efforts but the Final Project, the Commodore was momentarily tempted to let bygones be bygones.

And yet, as he recollected every interaction that he had ever had with the Xacreths, since after the war, Erra realised that there wasn't a single instance when any of them had ever advised him to do anything. Experience had taught Erra that the Xacreths, much like the Manwatus, never made frivolous statements. His mind was debating this, while the two Manwatu scientists, Ikora and Ngaro, explained the various properties of Negative Matter to him.

"Who are the Asurs?"

The moment he asked that one question, silence fell over the place like a palpable shroud. That one simple question turned all the control and advantage that the hosts had, till that point, right on its head. The two hovering orbs went quiet and dim for a while. But now that he had said it, it was too late to retract. Erra knew he had no choice but to stand his ground.

“Did Sheel tell you about the Asurs?” Ngaro asked finally.

“No he did not. But your response tells me, whoever did, was not lying.” Erra replied.

“The Xacreths?” Ikora asked again.

“Then they can now remember that far back.” Ngaro sounded thoughtful.

Erra held his tongue, realising the last statement was not meant for him, but for Ikora. An eerie silence ensued. The Manwatus, who, forever seemed ready with answers, were for once, struggling to come up with a reply.

It was Ikora who broke the silence, “We do not know what you have been told, Commodore Erra, but the Asurs lived and died long before your species had even evolved.”

All Erra's mind could process was that there was indeed a race called the Asur. The Xacreths had been right.

“Do any of you know about an archaeologist and academic by the name of Nargin?” Erra asked suddenly.

“Yes we do,” Ngaro answered.

“Her theory was of a second Ancient Race that evolved in Hermesh during the same time as your ancestors. Was she right?”

“No she was not. The Asurs were not indigenous to our galaxy. They came here.”

“From where?” Erra asked, visibly surprised.

“It is a chapter of our past that we do not wish to discuss.”

Erra fell silent, to process what he had just heard. There was a time, long ago, when he would've given anything to get answers to those questions. That, once young archaeologist in Erra started to distract him at the possibility of learning about the Asurs.

Erra was hot by an epiphany, as he started to connect three separate pieces of information that he was privy to. Towards the end of the last war, only two very weakly defended systems stood between the invading Xacreth forces and Andhorh. Driven by desperation, for the first time ever, the Manwatus allowed Amarthian and Helmeshi ships to enter Andhorh space, to bolster its defences.

Overcoming their shared disbelief, those who first laid eyes on the planet and its moons, concluded that turning them into such comprehensive fortifications, even using Manwatu technology, would have taken at least 100 years. And even though most of the defences were evidently upgraded, it was clear that the original fortification was built a very long time ago. They looked, for the lack of a better word, ancient. Once the war ended the Manwatus were asked why they needed to build such a massive defence when there was no other species in Hermesh to challenge them. But true to their nature, the Manwatus did not provide a satisfactory response.