Arelis Complex

Noticing this, Marik grew more comfortable. Drakh`s posture was an indication that their conversation would not be brief. He moved halfway back in his seat, trying to keep the appearance of complete attentiveness without becoming relaxed. His mind wandered, thinking about the man before him.

Drakh was not the imposing man Marik had expected, nor was he as formal. The clothes he wore were casual as was his manner. Marik had never beheld him in anything but a uniform. All of the parades and public functions he could recollect displayed him in uniform, and all the stories told at the university represented him as a towering man. Although he`d attended many of the parades, Marik had never beheld him so close. In fact, Marik thought, it had been some time since he could remember a public appearance as the defenders had not been called upon for quite some time.

Still, the man before him had a commanding presence. His dark hair and eyes were set within a face that had a firm jaw and broad forehead. His beard was neatly trimmed as were the nails on his hand. His voice was deep and sure, the voice of a commander.

"Please, tell me what you know about the generations of exploration," Drakh asked.

"Well, I am only fifteen hundred years old. Most of it was before my time," he replied.

"Yes, but what do they teach you at that university?"

"Well, over twenty-three thousand years ago our civilization was beginning to explore the space around us. I believe it`s recorded that it took another ten thousand years before we began deep exploration. On a fateful day, we were attacked by a species previously unknown to us and much younger than ours with shorter life spans. They wiped out three off-planet colonies before we had a chance to take action. In the five-hundred-year war, we prevailed thanks to the heroics of two young defenders, Tyrr Dunn and yourself."

Drakh smiled at this acknowledgment. It had been so long ago that this happened and talking about it brought back many memories. He wished he had time to tell this youngster some of his stories. Marik continued.

"It was after the war that the explorations began in earnest. Before that time, there had been no structure in space travel. The leaders of our world decided it was unacceptable to allow an unknown race to attack us again. So they sent out mission after mission of explorers to chart all life forms in the surrounding systems.

"Most of the life forms found were cataloged and routinely inspected to make sure they posed no threat. I believe we contacted only those worlds that started developing technology for space travel, and tried to establish peace. If they were not peaceful, a biological agent was introduced to wipe out only the life-form that threatened, but not the planet`s ecosystem entirely."

"You are partly right," Drakh interrupted. "What I am about to tell you is one of the darkest secrets in our planet`s history, and I must swear you to silence."

"I will tell no one," Marik replied waving his hand palm out in front of his face.

"There were many worlds we destroyed completely just for having life regardless of the actual threat to us. Those closest to our planet were the first destroyed. Please continue."

Marik continued though he was disturbed by Drakh`s recent comment. Billions of life forms would have been annihilated completely if Drakh were telling the truth.

"After a time, it was decided that even this plan was not the best. Many explorers perished on their journeys. Space travel was treacherous and took them away from their families. So the defense net was built and space travel was all but discontinued."

Drakh was impressed by the youngster`s knowledge. "Do you know how the net works?"