The Tale of the Ánradh

Supreme Commander Alor · The Tale of the Ánradh

--- The year is twenty, twelve… and thirty, if one was to use the Terran system of time and continue it from their starting point; the birth of their religious icon. The year is also 2100 EE, Elron Era, elsewhere in the universe. But to us, those that have been and forever will be, time is but a trivial matter, small and fleeting. We are The Eternals. We have seen all since the beginning of time. We are the beginning of time, the creators and destroyers, the watchers and recorders.

We, as a collective, have witnessed the rises and falls of Empires, Nations, Species, Peoples, and Planets. The births and deaths of leaders and heroes. But by far the greatest, out of all that we have seen and done, is the creation of a legend…

_____________________________________________________________

2.21.2100 EE

Aquaria: Kyral City

--- The sun rose and fell, but the natives rarely saw it. The planet overrun by storms and clouds, the cities being built to withstand those very storms, allowed little of the outside world to enter into the populated areas. This morning was like the rest. The sun rose, but did not penetrate into the vast metal structure known as Kyral City. And like any other day, morning turned into afternoon, whose solar transition was marked only by the few species of amphibious bird-like creatures that survived out in the elements. At exactly 1500 GST [Galactic Standardized Time], the lights in Kai So’s, a small cantina in the public district, turned on. The owner, Kai So, quickly set up his afternoon décor and opened the doors to the people.

A trickle of couples and small groups of friends passed through and left. Kai So served them at the bar or his daughter waited upon them at their tables. By and by, the cantina emptied again, and Kai So began to clean up the place and get ready to go home. As he was cleaning, three men walked into the establishment, conversing lowly among themselves. The evident leader of the trio motioned for a private booth and a bottle of Darnian Ale, a popular yet relatively inexpensive drink.

Kai So moved to comply, insisting upon payment in advanced, due to their suspicious nature and appearance. Leaving them alone to talk and drink, he continued cleaning and tallying the days earnings, which had been substantially increased by the bribe the stranger had given him.

One hour later, the three men shook hands and poured another round, sealing the deal they created. The Empire of Elron was in peril, its very sovereignty was at stake, challenged by a corrupt family tied to extremists out only for their own gain and glory…

_____________________________________________________________

2.22.2100 EE

Empyrea: Karys City

--- The five large tanks gleamed in the bluish-hazed artificial light. Cylindrical, made out of anti-septic material, they were artificial wombs. Floating, one in each tank, dissolved by the watery, green amniotic liquid, were nano-particles - nutrients and droids - designed to increase fertilization and facilitate superior growth, development, and endurance of the human cells, tissues and organs grown within it.

“They are perfect.” Crooned Lisa Sol as she admired the flawless craftsmanship of the artificial gestation chambers. “Exactly how long will the process take?” She asked of the technician.

“Depending on the stamina of the specimens and your own desire to continue the project, it will take approximately 6-7 months. Because of nature of our amniotic liquid, the development will take place faster, but still be superior to normal pregnancies. I am not supposed to pry, but may I ask the reason of your request?” Was the Medical Officer’s reply.

Lysa shifted from foot to foot, gliding around each tank staring into the capsule where her son would soon rest. As she passed around, two strong hands grasp her shoulders, rubbing her neck. She gasped, and then relaxed as her husband’s voice emerged from behind her.

“We have had trouble with natural means of birthing, and we want nothing more than to have children. Because of the very nature of your project, the Council of Rimílid decided to fund our children, upon the conditions that they be trained in martial combat and other such tasks, to follow in my footsteps as Militant Officers, defending our people, extending our culture and traditions as a warrior race.” General Jorin Sol of the Ánradh, a warrior culture that had produced the greatest fighters the galaxy had ever known, said to put an end to the Medic’s inquizitive nature. “Now then, may we carry on with the procedure?”

The medic led the couple to another room, this on containing only two chairs, a small cabinet, and a vaccuum tube for the specimens. The technician pointed them to the chairs, and strapped them in.
“This will take about half an hour of your time. Please sit tight and relax.”
And then darkness swallowed them...

Approximately Five Months Later

--- Jorin’s eyes opened to the harsh white walls and ceilings of the medically secured room. ‘Time, what time was it?’ He thought. ‘Where was Lisa?’ This was answered by a moan of awakening from beside him, as his wife regained consciousness. ‘What had gone wrong?’

“Ah, you have rejoined us. I thought we had lost you.” A kindly old nurse said. She had stood watch over them when they had not re-awakened from their drug induced slumber. It had happened before, but was a rare occurrence, rare enough to not be placed in their advertisements to the public or reports to the Council. “You apparently needed a good sleep.” She joked. “Please try not to move too fast, as you will only experience an extreme vertigo. But I am sure you would like to see your children, so please look up here.”

The nurse had gone through motherhood, and knew the feeling of seeing your children, feeling them move inside you. While Lisa would not experience the latter, she could at least see them, in a way few ever did.

The window screens opened, allowing a view into the gestation room. There, in the five tanks, were almost fully formed human fetuses, each identical to the other in all physical ways. Perfection was reached in the identical quintuplets, the saviors of their culture and race, warriors to be measured, to be weighed and to be found superior than all, even those that had measured and weighed them.

One Month Later

--- Having spent the next month in the Medical Center, being tested and examined for any lagging affects of the abnormally long slumber, Jorin and Lisa were allowed to view the births of their children. Each, named in turn as they were released from their amniotic chamber, was silent. It was not seen as strange, but rather as a strength, even at such a young age, they were attentive to detail, stealthy, wise, and perfect.

At exactly midday of the 22nd day of the 8th month of the 2,100th year since the creation of the Empire of Elron; Jarik, Kelvar, Devrin, Torin, and Carnor Sol were born, legends, each in his own right, to be tested, tried, and opposed…

Supreme Commander Alor

--- Almost six years have passed since the creation of the Heirs of the Ánradh. Jarik, Kelvar, Devrin, Torin, and Carnor Sol, like the ancient Warriors of Ánradh, were trained from the day they could walk in the art of warfare. But unlike the ancestors of their culture, they absorbed the same amount of information at a younger and younger age, proving their worth tenfold.

-2.22.2106 EE

--Empyrea: The Sol Estate in an Outlying Province

--- "Master Jarik, you may now begin the test. You have exactly 30 seconds for each question." Said the B3-Professor Droid. Faintly humanoid in shape, its bulbous head contained far more processors and memory banks than your normal Protocol Droid. The B3’s had been created to replace organic teachers that needed to be paid, given leave and sick time, and had gaps in their processes and methods. The B3’s were still only in the Beta Mode, but paired with the enhanced brains of the 5 Sol’s, they exceeded all previous design and performance expectations.

Jarik looked down at the data-pad that had been placed before him. The first few questions were about star ship designs, and he quickly answered them. The next, were harder, concerning ground combat decisions:

If you were faced with twenty adversaries, each carrying a Commando-Blade and KLR-19 Blaster pistol, while you had ten men also armed with KLR-19 blasters, what would your first move be? He read from the data-pad.

I would reconnoiter the situation. Depending on their forward scouts and time of deployment, I would try to get my men to form an arc around the enemy, handing to us the better firing angles and the ability to strike hard and fade away in many directions. Rendezvous points would be discussed beforehand and my men would regroup there. Jarik quickly wrote onto the screen, finishing with 15 seconds to spare.

Your first move was correct. Your additional information will be noted. The Professor sent back to him via a WC (Wireless Connection) that connected the data-pad to the droid.

This went on for two hours, through which Jarik answered each and every question with more than enough detail, proving, that even at this young age, he was a brilliant soldier. Jarik pushed back on the chair, and turned it to the right. Sliding out of it, as soon as his feet touched the polished floor, he was march-walking to his own private chambers.

-5.18.2116 EE

--Empyrea: The Sol Estate in an Outlying Province

--- Ten years later, Jarik Sol was doing the same thing once more, heading back to his own private chambers having spent 3 hours at lessons and 1 on security duty. On his way there, he was met by his father, Jorin Sol.

Jarik had seen very little of Jorin since his early days after birth. Being genetically enhanced, Jarik, and his four brothers Kelvar, Devrin, Torin, and Carnor, had fully developed brains and memories at their birth, and had recorded the event and events since with amazing clarity. They had been genetically created using his parents DNA and enhancing it. Jorin and Lisa Sol had tried for years to have children the natural way, but to no avail. It either ended in a miscarriage or no fertilization at all. So they approached the Council of Rimílid, asking for help. General Jorin Sol held weight with the Council, and they granted their request, so long as the children created were trained to be warriors and to restore the glory of the Ánradh.

Since their birth, Jorin Sol had been busy with his duties as the Grand General of the Ánradh, having recieved a promotion shortly after his sons’ births. He was now in charge of the entire Army of the Ánradh, its provisions, training, deployment tactics, attack strategies, Security Levels, and operations, and his new responsibilities taxed his time greatly.

“Jarik, my son, how were your lessons today?” Jorin began.
“Sir, they were flawless, sir.” Jarik replied, already with the formal Military system of addressing a superior ingrained into his mind and mannerisms.
“And the security detail?”
“Uneventful.” Was the reply.
“Are you ready?” Jorin asked, referring to an event that would make or break this project. Tonight, Jarik and his brothers would be presented before the Council of Rimílid, for the first time. They would be tested, measured, and weighed by the Elders and then the decision to continue or to stop the project would be made.
“Sir, I am ready.”
“Do you feel that your brothers are ready?” Jorin inquired.
“Sir, I have seen no evidence to form a negative conclusion. I feel that they are as ready as I am, Sir.” Jarik responded, defending his brothers’ honor, as well as affirming his bond with them to his father.
“That is good, soldier. The shuttle leaves at 1600 Alpha, be there or not be here when we get back.”
“Sir, yes Sir.” And they parted ways. Jorin longed to hug Jarik, his son, his own flesh and blood. He longed to show affection beyond the title my son, but knew he could not. Showing such affection now would only serve to confuse them, and they were not intended for compassionate thoughts or actions, but to be soldiers, tools and weapons of the Council of Rimílid, to restore the glory of the Ánradh. Jorin headed to his office, where reports on training waited for his oversight and approval. Whereas Jarik continued on to his quarters to further ready himself for the Council.

-5.18.2116 EE

--Empyrea: Karys City: Chamber of the Council of Rimílid

--- The Sol’s shuttle dutifully landed on the Shuttle-Pad onto the leeward face of the Council’s Chambers. The building was elegant in design, an ancient relic of the Ánradh’s past. It had been continuously renovated on the interior, but the facade had been relatively been left along, only upgrading security and defensive measures or repairing a crumbling wall. It stood a mere 10 stories, dwarfed by buildings elsewhere on the planet, but dominating the the landscape around it. The landscape hadn’t been developed since the Chambers had been built, leaving the structure to hold dominion over the 300 acres it possesed. Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, pastures, forests, and hills surrounded the building, all of which had been left to nature, untouched by the human hand. It was a paradise, a utopia, marred only by what nature herself did.

The six Sols marched in perfect unision from the shuttle to the entrance, the elder Sol boxed in by is five sons. Each now stood at his full height, 1.85 meters for Kelvar, Devrin, Torin, and Carnor, but a solid 2 meters for Jarik. No one knew why he had grown to be taller, perhaps it had been a miscalculation in the nano-nutrients he had received why floating in the amniotic fluid while developing, or just his body’s attempt to be different, unique, his own being. Jarik led the group, his parade form perfect, his feet marching in unison with his brothers. They came to a halt outside the doors of the Council’s Inner Chamber, their private domain and audience hall. Once announced, they entered the room marching right up to stand below the raised dais at which the Council sat. The five Council members were old, having watched over the Ánradh for nearly half a century now. They wasted no time in small talk or niceties, but struck right to the chase.

“Tell us,” Spoke Marius Vox, the wisest of the five, “What do you know of the history of the Ánradh?”

Jorin Sol stepped forward, joining the Council at the place provided for him. While the five Sols rearranged themselves into a straight line, each standing at attention, waiting to be addressed.

“Do they not speak?” Asked Marius of Jorin.
“They await upon you to dictate to whom the question was addressed. They will not speak out of turn, lest it create a negative impression of them.” Jorin gave him.
“You may speak freely.” Marius said to those who stood in front of him. “Let the best among you answer the question posed to you.” He added.

Jarik stepped forward, and began. “The Ánradh were once a great warrior race, conquering Empyrea before the notion of power and combat had even started on the other planets of their solar system. Their culture was based on combat prowess, honor, respect, and hard work. Bureaucrats and politicians were looked down upon, hated even, for their piggy-backing, dishonest, and stealing ways.” He finished, and stepped back as Kelvar stepped forward to continue.
“As time went on,” Kelvar started, “the Ánradh continued to dominate, growing outward to other planets when the means became available. At first their presence was hated, to an extreme that the natives rebelled only to be quickly shot down by the superior training and technology of the Ánradh.”
“Then the natives began to recognize,” Devrin furthered, “the good the Ánradh presented, and the power they held. Then the Téarnamh struck; a terrible disease.”
Here Torin picked up, “Three out of every five of the Ánradh, it stole, wreaking havoc among the armies and guardians among the peoples and planets. The Ánradh retreated back to Empyrea, little by little, pulling out of rebellions on almost every planet they had once held. Until its once great presence was down to five planetary bodies and a few moons.”
As Carnor finished with, “All of this took place nearly 4,000 years ago. During which time, the Elrons were gathering strength and power. They possessed the political mindset which the Ánradh did not. They created an Empire, 2,100 years ago which has stood ever since, capable of processing the senatorial debates and demands presented to it. When the Ánradh were weakened, the Elrons approached us and offered their help, if we would train their armies and navies. An agreement was made, The Ánradh would protect the Empire in anyways they it could, where the Elrons would present aid and support to the Ánradh when they needed it.”

The Council was impressed. The Sols had been able to, without communicating at all, decide upon who would speak when, upon what, and in which order and that they would all speak. Marius’ comment had implied that the best among them would speak. The Sols’ tactic said that all five were the best, and so each had spoken.

The questioning continued into the night, along with combat tests and reactions to situations. Until the Council had no choice but to continue the project. The Sols had left no room for doubt, performing perfectly in every way. They truly were the Heirs of the Ánradh, the saviors of their culture...