Archon chapter 0 - prelude

The age old hall of the council stood with no empty seats that day. All 2000 Elder Archon were present, a rare and deceivingly deadly occurrence. The hall of the council was round, with rings of pews, each ring further out, raised higher than the last, with 5 of the rings in total. All sat in silence, eyes closed in thought. Lights dim and the intricate, ancient patterns and weavings of the column pillars that once supported the great domed ceiling of the hall. Projected images of the vast blackness of space, broken only on the left side by deep blue glow of the planet, and countless specks of ships and craft that loosely swarmed and turned in the inky black of space, numerous as the stars.

A once great civilisation covered the face of that calm blue world, but no more. Cities lay in ruins, broken apart and picked bare by the voracious appetite of the fleet, taking human and resource both, whichever seemed more valuable to the ones collecting. Deeper inside the council ship, fresh recruits were being indoctrinated into the Archon ranks, large machines wiping their memories clean and reprogramming their very conscious into that of the Archon people, stripping emotion and individuality. A handful of the race, the strongest and most powerful, some forced and some willingly, were given a similar but vastly kinder treatment. Shreds of their humanity would remain after the process, ghosts of what once was, to allow them to act as the personal servants of the Elder Archon. In several others of the great capital Archon ships, the same was being done, as well as resources being purified and converted to Archon materials, fresh ships and frigates constructed for the next great conquest.

Below, planet side, the bones of the once great race shudder, fewer than 100,000 people remained alive and free. They knew not why they were spared, only that they were alive. Alone, but alive. Perhaps in 10,000 years the Archon would return to hoe the fresh harvest of their children.

A great silent voice echoed the chamber, as every Elder Archon spoke in unison within their minds, synchronised and ready.
'Honoured brethren of the council. As we have in days long since passed, I stand with you, in your halls and your presence. It is time to decide our new course.' The unison fell ended, as in total silence they debated. They spoke to one another, all hearing all others, but concentrating on their own convocation. A lesser mind would be overwhelmed by the sheer level of information being passed between the collective minds of the Elders, but they continued in silence, offering a coordinate, speaking of one of the lost colonies, suggesting a previously attacked world, someone pointing out that there would likely be far fewer minerals to gain in that, somebody worrying over logistics. Unabated, the session could last weeks, even months, and outside in the reaches of space, the great fleet stood at ease, silent and waiting for a goal. Servants blankly waited, officers shifted on their feet. It was a tense time for them, that long silence. Without the council they were lost and weak. The hands wished for orders, but the mind was busy.

"I have something to say." A voice rang in the silence. Elders looked up, in shock and revulsion, the mind fell silent. All eyes gazed on Elder Polenese, who stood up, his fair blue eyes casting about, looking back at the individuals. His slightly curled blonde hair bounced as his fair face snapped to look at an Elder who also then stood up,
"Your archaic, barbarian's way of communicating pains my ears. As it does this council. Why do you insult our name brothe-"
"It was not too archaic for the ancestors, nor is it for this council. I speak to suggest our new target." The one who challenged him slowly sat back down, but as he did a woman, dressed in black twisting armour and a veil slightly covering her eyes spoke up. Her voice sounded much older, and dry than she, and some of her words had strange inflections revealing how little she used the voice. But she smiled as the words came out, almost playfully.
"Brother Polenese. You speak boldly, but alone. The council makes its decisions based on the group remember? Not the individual. That is why we are strong, and the many alone, weak." The blonde Elder smiled again, at her replying,
"I remember sister, but I have something to say that will bring the many to agreement. I, Elder Polenese, believe I have located a world." He paused for a moment, looking around once more. The sister retook her seat. "A world... with a gate ship." There was brief uproar in the council; all abandoned their silent mental debate, voices quarrelling, as Polenese smiled.
"LIAR!" "There has not been a gate since the end of the ancestors!" "Heresy!" the accusations flung around diffused, as pockets of Elders supported the possibility, resistance uniting, and Polenese just silently smiled at the chaos he brought. This place had become so... boring. Rotten and decayed. A rut.

"And what is the name of this world, I might ask?" One of the physically older of them asked. It was not his wise sounding voice that piqued Polenese' response, a voice and face could be deceiving... but the way he asked, so strongly, such authority.
"All in good time brother," he simply replied.
"You seem very confident of yourself Polenese," the old one spoke again, as powerfully as before. The others faded silent, witnessing their confrontation. "And what, may I ask, would we do in the meantime about this, union of planets; we heard rumours of among the people of this world? Rumours not only found in the minds of the traders, but the children, the elderly, and above all else, the leaders. I feel there is weight to these 'rumours' and such a union would need to be addressed brethren," He addressed the whole council now, using the situation to voice his own concerns, "We are strong because together we are united, and apart they are weak. If they should start emulating the old ways and working together, we ourselves could be threatened... if that happened we could only expand the council to make the fleet large enough to fight a fleet supported by more than one world, or-"
"Or find the homeworld." Polenese sharply cut in. The facial expression of those around him portrayed the shock and disbelief at his words, how could anyone suggest that!?
"What you speak is heresy to the very ancestors themselves," someone in the crowd commented. Indeed, the very notion had not once, EVER been considered. The ancestors left the homeworld long long ago to colonise the universe. It was said that they left behind a secret, so great that they could never return, that it had been too great a burden to those left behind and had led to their deaths... no one knew what it was, perhaps a weapon, or knowledge of something too terrible to know and be sane... the popular belief was the secret to existence, but it was the most strict law in the Archon race. To never return. Ever.

He stood apart from the council, allowing them to debate without him, willingly. Their silent words to one another, he blocked out, awaiting their decision. Hours had passed until finally they opened their eyes. The veiled woman spoke for them, to him.
"We are in decision brother Polenese," she smiled as she said it, he smiled back,
"So you have seen the truth of my words brethren?" her smile widened more fiercely as he said this. The words she spoke shattered him as they came out,
"We are in agreement that you shall be forever banished for your heresy and lies, stranger Polenese." The stare of the council members became more hardened at his obvious outrage, the fury in his eyes. But rather than fight it, he turned on the spot, the red cape he affixed to his armour billowing out. He left the council silently. As he left the woman's smile dimmed slightly. Her brow furrowed as she hid what she thought from the others and reached out to touch the mind of her most trusted officer.
"See that outcast Polenese has an accident, officer." The man silently confirmed the order, and immediately left to obey.

He was there to greet the outcast, as Polenese boarded his personal Trimaran scoutship, alone. He took off, and set his course. And was never heard from nor seen again. His last known course, was that of the world where he sought the gateship.


He had set the coordinates of his phase drive to planet Earth.