Genesis - the Battle Within (Pillars of Creation Book 1) by David Tucker Page A

the planet but will do as you command for now sir.”
    The captain’s voice took on a different tone, “Good, and I suppose … well done, you’ve all played your role in a much larger part than any of you could begin to understand. No matter what happens here today, the SED are finally too late, we , for once – we the true saviours of humanity – are a step ahead of them. It has begun, as was foretold; our way has been reopened by our blessed benefactor, and once more we will be whole again. Viva Operation Revolution.”
    A chorus of voices repeated the last three words of the captain in a cheer—
    Unexpectedly, from the bridge below Genesis, there was a bright flash of light that lit up even his concealed dark corner within the vent, soon followed by a strange electrical buzz. Genesis scrambled backwards as a guttural sound cut through all the voices. All else fell silent on the bridge, but his eyes widened in amazement and his breathing quickened as he comprehended what he heard … It couldn’t be, in the name of the Sacred – both his personalities said together – it was a —
    A huge stream of data appeared on his internal HUD. An override kicked in on his suit sending a compressed priority-one message millions of kilometres back to the SINAI on Earth before he could even react.
    Apparently his amazement was shared by the SINAI, to which the sound Genesis had heard was being relayed to. Within seconds a new mission order appeared on his HUD, confirming his fears. His eyes skimmed the order three times before the words sunk in.
    : High Command : direct order from SINAI facility> PRIORITY ONE MESSAGE>> Exterminate all within the bridge: Above all mission directives, exterminate the Tel’nagara traitor :
    Uncommon to his training, Genesis paused, the enormity of what was taking place only now taking hold. Genesis knew a Tel’nagara had not been seen or heard of in over sixty years, and the six that had come to Earth, all those years ago, not only changed the entire history and advancement in human evolution and technology, they were the original conceivers of the SINAI’s construct!
    His mind raced. Genesis didn’t understand how this could be. They were all supposed to have been wiped out in the beginning of the Holy Wars when they aligned with the Skinks and Outer Rim planets. The Tel’nagara was deemed the SED’s greatest enemy and were meant to be all but extinct. The command even back then was that all who harbour or consult with them were punishable by death. Just the thought that one was below him was an absolutely incredible and surreal concept indeed.     
    Genesis felt a chill run down his spine, something he hadn’t felt in many years, not since he was a pupil. He realised this mission was no simple routine operation, he now had a very real task ahead of him, and from what little was known of the Tel’nagara, he had a worthy struggle ahead. For they too were legendary and rumoured to be unmatched in their Rieft and combat skills. Like his own religion, these Tel’nagara trained using the same battle concepts, yet even more rigorously, which they introduced to human society in their period of Re-forging. Genesis dwelled on this thoughtfully, figuring what steps he should take next.
    Genesis took a quiet breath and tried to clear his head from the initial shock of what was happening. Just before his second personality took over and, for the first time in many years, he felt he was about to meet a very worthy opponent, one that if not careful could send him back to a time like those very same years he’d just reflected upon, his wretched time of mortality …
    Ɦ
    Minutes earlier
     
    General Nero Salvador, Captain of the Class 2 military frigate, Star-Runner , sat back in awe, momentarily lapsing into himself despite the fact that his ship was well under attack. The space in front of him seemed to be sucked away into a point of infinity, the solar colours that flared from the portal,