The Last Guardians : The Blood Of The Archibald

Volume 1/ Chapter 1 : The Star Threat

A meeting at the hour of the wolf

Professor Patrick Archibald received a call at the hour of the wolf, even as he was about to go to bed. It was Under Secretary of Defense Phil Armus whom he had met once.

The latter begged him to get ready, because a vehicle had to pick him up.

At the appointed time, a sedan is parked in front of the entrance. The driver opened the back door and sat down while the rear door closed on his questions.

What then happened that his presence was required at this hour? He had to leave his cell phone at home, an express request from the undersecretary, he had to ask Colleen his friend not to talk to anyone about his release.

Councilman Archibald is taken to the basement of a building that he could not identify.

At once a bodyguard opens the door and leads him inside an elevator all of imposing, opulent and modern forged wood. Direction at least three.

The elevator opens, then he goes up a corridor always flanked by this man with austere and pressed air.

The door opens to a room that appears to be a private and secure meeting room. Imperial President Markus Price. Under-Secretary of Defense Phil Armus and Secretary of State John Carmichael sat around a large, dark wooden table with an impassive face.

Archibald, dressed formally, entered the room. They rose when he arrived.

Surprised and intimidated, he shook his hands and sat down on one of the long leather seats that he was pointed at around the table. The curtains were drawn and there was a gloomy and gloomy atmosphere.

There were four folders on the table with the «top secret» logo that Undersecretary Armus invited him to enter and which he briefly went through.

It was a transcript of an event that took place over fifty-seven years ago, at the last great intergalactic meeting.

That day, two prominent diplomats of the Balantine and Orléa systems were discussing in the hemicycle on "Prime Beetles" believing their microphone cut.

The representative of Orléa was part of the faction of incarnate.

"To give you a quick update," said Phil Armus.

"The Orleos are a people who have found a balance and who alternate politically the management of their empire. Also, every 500 years or so, the incarnates and cobalt exchange the leadership of their empire, which is the 9th, in terms of population, the most massive of our intergalactic confederal organization. Also the political systems change, because the cobalt base their political system on an elective monarchy. While the Incarnate rule in an expansionist military empire. So there are about 145 years left before the Incarnates regain the direction of the Orleos."

On the other hand; the Balantines are the dominant force thanks to their mining power and their population.

It alone represents 11% of the total population of the Intergalactic Confederation. As you already know, their society is based on the industrious mass of slaves who work for its elite. Also they have the largest army that can be mobilized and although little advanced technologically, they have the mass for them and this is how they manage to overwhelm their opponents and win the victory.

"I now let you continue your reading," concluded the undersecretary for defence. He sank into his seat and drank a good sip of bourbon, before making a slight grimace.

Professor Archibald refocused on his case.

A/ «We are getting to the point and we only have a few details to settle»

B/ «When your masters, the Orleos incarnate, take back the direction of your planet we can move to the final phase of their extermination»

A/ «Vulgar insects, pretentious from here to 140 cycles at most, they will be annihilated and the cosmic order will be restored. Their very origin is a real threat to the stability of the Confederation: if humanity were to do as their ancestors did, they would rule and conquer all known universes."

B/ "It will be necessary to manage the Alweens, certainly, but put to the wall, their Queen, will not dare to oppose alone to our coalition and will thus have to accept the situation. Such a seed cannot be allowed to germinate again and certainly destabilize our Alliance"

Patrick quickly straightened his head, as if to look in the eyes of his interlocutors for an explanation of what he had just read.

It therefore appears, resumed the undersecretary for the defense that the alweens and their queen Kahina are not aware of this plot which means that one has potentially an ally. For the last 60 years the Imperial Government has been working to develop the most modern weapons in secret, however, your decisive advances in electro magnetic research can save our program several hundred years if what you claim is accurate.

Then he was silent, The silence that reigned afterwards was heavy and Professor Patrick Archibald, at that moment, felt all the weight of this situation.

Then there was a beating of the throat and the President spoke.

'Professor, know that I have the greatest respect for your research, at present your ability to understand the electromagnetic phenomenon, as well as its civil and military implications is, without a doubt, our best bulwark against extinction.

Also, I will put you at the head of our advanced weapons project: you will have an overview of our strategic situation and all the full financial support of the government, thus opening you access to unlimited credits.

However, to avoid any risk, you will have to work in the shadows and your company will be managed in partnership with this cell here established. You will report only to the President of the Imperium and your interlocutors will be those present in this room and their possible successors.

The patents will be in the name of your company, and, the Imperium will take a stake as well as the blocking minority at 25%, for the form and to prevent the event that you are no longer able to lead this project and that it is necessary to appoint a successor. Of course, we want all this to happen for the better, you are young and we hope you have time and resources to work on our project.

The president was silent.

Professor Patrick felt the weight of the audience's gaze on him and, recovering, spoke.

"That's fine, Mr. Speaker, but in order to carry out this titanic and complex project, I need full powers."

"You will be appointed special adviser to the Undersecretary for Defence and you are already at the head of the "swallow" project," said the president, rising and shaking the hand of the doctor. Then everyone got up and the president left the room after he had left.

Archibald remained silent for a moment, reflecting on the gravity of the situation. He knew he had to act quickly to save the Imperium. By agreeing to lead a top-secret defense council.

So there was hope. They knew they now had a chance to save the Imperium with Archibald's expertise. The meeting ended on a positive note. But the challenges ahead remained enormous.

From that moment, the Dr would devote all his time to this race against the clock which he had just integrated with almost 60 years of delay, he hoped that it would not be too late for humanity and henceforth everything else in his life would pass in the background this mission he embraced with strength and determination.