ONE: Epilogue of Hermesh

39. The Secret Project

As the war progressed, one particular mystery, subjected to the highest amount of wild speculations, was of a top secret scientific project called Venua. 

Despite the outlandish theories, Admiral Tekkar knew that Project Venua did indeed exist and that its overall control rested with Commodore Reemon Erra. She was also reliably informed that the project had originally begun at Andhorh. But after Erra entered into a treaty with the Manwatus, it was slowly relocated to Alamiin, mainly because it was situated at the farthest end of the galaxy.

From a few other scattered intelligence she picked up, Tekkar also discovered that since the relocation, at least seven fleets comprising the most advanced battleships in the force had been constantly patrolling the system. Alongside those ships, unconfirmed reports suggested that the six other planets of the system constantly generated power to maintain the massive automated defence purposed with defending Alamiin. That effectively made it the most heavily defended system in the galaxy.

The project complex on Alamiin was situated beneath the planet surface and was built around three gigantic machines, located at the core of the planet. Such was the level of security surrounding Project Venua that even senior military officials could not go beyond Tarroch, the system's last planet, without proper clearance.

But when it came to the project itself, even after a year knowing about its existence, all Tekkar was certain about was that the project had something to do with the 100,000 odd Amarthians, Helmeshi, Xacreths and Manwatus, who were being selected to leave Hermesh as a final attempt to fight off extinction.

***

“Admiral?“ a voice came from behind Tekkar, breaking her chain of thoughts, as she stood looking towards Alamiin from above Tarroch.

Turning around, Tekkar saw a young officer standing by the open door.

“Yes?“ Tekkar asked.

“Commodore Erra has sent a ship, to take you to Alamiin.“

This was the first time in almost a year that Tekkar realised she would see Alamiin, or for that matter, Reemon Erra in person. For a moment, the thought overwhelmed her.

She studied the young officer looking back at her with pleading eyes Tekkar said, “No Ferra. Even if I see it and they disclose what the project is about, in most likelihood, I won't be allowed to tell you or anyone else about it."

"Yes, Admiral."

Tekkar could see the spark go out of the young officer's eyes. Knowing the inquisitive nature of the young officer, Tekkar changed the topic of conversation and asked, “Do you have the latest progress report?“

“It has been transmitted to Alamiin,“ Ferra replied.

“Good.“

“Anything else, Admiral?“

“No, that will be all.“ She dismissed Ferra.

Tekkar was born in Alamiin. But this was not the Amarthian home planet. Druhiin was destroyed when the sun of that system went supernova, more than half a millennia ago.

Unlike the lush green Druhiin, Alamiin, situated at the very edge of the galaxy, was terra-formed from scratch for over twenty Amarthian years. Everything, from its perfectly smooth terrain, to the mountains of pure blue crystalline rocks that glittered in the morning sun, to the four moons that orbited Alamiin in order to align its rotation with a precise Amarthian day, was created to appeal to the aesthetics of its eventual inhabitants. In Tekkar's eyes, Alamiin was the most beautiful planet in the whole galaxy, only because it was made that way.