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

which he’d spent the last few years trying to find and operate, were finally a reality and more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. The Temple fired its energy one final time as it became semi stable in structure.
    It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time, gasses and sprites of colour flared within the now distorted space in front of his ship. Lightning coursed throughout the edges of the perfectly spherical phenomenon known only to him from the stories of old; the time from when his beloved brethren had once made their journey across the stars and been betrayed by the treacherous SED. The portal beckoned to him, simultaneously warning of its terrible power. Like the oceans of Earth that he’d seen as a SED cadet, it seemed to call out with a sadness, or a secret. Maybe, he speculated, this is because of the thousands who’d unsuccessfully tried to cross or harness its massive expanse .
    Salvador stoked his beard deep in thought. Many had died for his operation to be fruitful today, and yet he knew many more to come would undoubtedly perish due to their accomplishment. He could finally sense the imminent reclamation of their own holy search … and still, he felt his thoughts curdling – much more would need to be sacrificed, even after today. He sorrowed for his fallen men, even on this day, a day that would go down in an entire galaxy’s history. The Archbishop had told him what their reverends had foreseen, and through the alien – Abad’don – they would achieve this, their even greater goal. The SED will pay for their ignorance, they will pay dearly, he thought with a dark smile.
    For many years his forces had been suppressed; so many had died in its wars, with not even a glimpse or hope at victory. And yet today, they’d begun the fight, the real war, setting themselves on the true path for humanity.
    They thought of themselves so highly, he ruminated, yet how little the Way of the Sacred really knew; it’s the Seekers of Truth that will lead them through the darkness. The universe is about knowledge, not weapons such as their petty cyborg pets, and soon they’ll learn this valuable lesson. Yes, he who holds knowledge, still needs wisdom for the perception to decipher this knowledge … the only true fate and path of men to ascend and the key that they so often overlooked.
    The bridge’s comm suddenly came back to life, first emitting loud static before clearing as the young officer’s voice broke through from the planet’s thick atmosphere. Salvador listened avidly.
    “General Salvador, the portal is at one hundred per cent sustainability and is holding strong, the artefact is being delivered and all ground units are standing by, ready for mobilisation.”
    “Well done Lieutenant,” Salvador replied, “you have all done well here today, the truth will now be told, and our seeking is finally over. Now order a full retreat, get back to your transports and meet up with Abad’don. He will deliver you safely back to base,” Salvador paused for the briefest second, “and one more thing Lieutenant … and I want you to listen very carefully to my next order; for the path of the Seekers you must obey it …” There was radio silence for a few seconds.
    “Um, sir … yes, sir?” The officer stammered uncertainly.
    “Before you retreat I want all your orbital disrupter weapons trained on this location; you are to utterly destroy my ship, immediately.”
    The young voice came back with even more uncertainty, “Sir? Are you sure sir?”
    Salvador kept his voice even, “Do as I say Lieutenant … immediately .”
    “Um, okay, affirmative sir. It’s been an honour ser—”
    Salvador never got to hear the lieutenant’s final words as the Immortal came tearing down from the rear bulkhead, rendering the nano-steel plating to shreds as he burst from the ventilation. His pistols were already drawn and blazing.

Chapter 7              Chain of Command
    Lieutenant Lyvon Mapia