Transfer

13 months before Talassar's arrest

Hall of the Archons

Delphi

Talassar strode through the corridors of the Hall of Archons, mind churning at the cryptic summons from Arch-Favoured Niobys. The old Psion was always erratic, his brilliant mind lost in researching some aspect of their divine gifts or the unpredictable sciences, but even for him, the terse message demanding Talassar's immediate attendance was out of character.

With a frown on his face, Guardsmen and Acolytes alike sprang out of Talassar's way, bowing at the glowing symbol of the Guardians emblazoned on his coat, but Talassar had no time or energy to spend on their fawning expressions. Nonetheless, his gloved hand reached up to brush the symbol, heart thumping at the faint whisper of the Guardian's benediction winding through his mind at the touch. It was always took conscious effort to withstand the temptation of losing himself in the divine presence.

His wrist comm buzzed continuously with messages from Niobys, the old man demanding he hurry. For the fourteenth time Talassar replied that he was 'on the way', pressing on the screen so hard it rippled with colour. Frustrated, he took a deep breath and tapped the screen of his comm to verify his route. Reaching Niobys' secure research facility was an arduous task. The lab was buried underneath the Hall, constantly shifting position within the foundations in an esoteric pattern to hide it from foreign powers and spies. Essentially, Talassar had to get through the static parts of the Hall and then board the final lift tube, whose entrance changed several times a day. His irritation mounted as he made his way into the depths of the labyrinthine Hall, passing innumerable security mechanisms, from physical and genetic all the way through psionic imprints. He growled under his breath at the unfortunate Acolyte stationed at the lift before crawling into a cramped capsule. The Acolyte was left pale-faced and shaking, terror rolling off her in waves and Talassar smiled at a similar memory of himself on guard years ago facing an irritated Favoured. [I get why they were so cranky now. The Hall is confusing enough as it is and scaring fresh meat is surprisingly… delightful.]

The capsule shot through the tube and in short order Talassar squirmed out of his seat into Niobys' lab with a sigh of relief. Without any knowledge of psionic technology, Niobys' lab would appear lacklustre. A random assemblage of crystals, exposed semiconductors and a few screens with indecipherable formulae, the entire chamber reeked of a hobbyists workshop, not the birthplace of some of the most dangerous weapons ever placed in the hands of the Theocracy's Psions.

"It took you long enough to get here." Niobys wobbled out of his recliner and approached him. At the sound of the exasperated voice Talassar sprang to attention, retracting the walls around his emotions just enough to allow Niobys to sense his innocence. In the face of an Arch-Favoured you either lowered your guard, or it was lowered for you.

Forcefully.

Even the most relaxed Arch-Favoured like Niobys were paranoid individuals who constantly scanned everyone in their presence to prepare for threats. For good reason. Being on the forefront of the Theocracies fight against the heretics and heathens led to an uncountable number of enemies. [At the rate I'm going, I should have a list as long as Niobys does by the end of the year.]

"Of course you'll have as many as I do." Niobys didn't bother to hide his prying.

"It's considered bad form to dig into anyone's mind Arch-Favoured, especially when I've opened myself to you." Scowling at the old man Talassar snapped the emotional blocks back in place and stalked to one of the old man's experiments which had caught his eye the last time he was here.

"I was going to say no need for so much formality, but as always you can't even bother to maintain the facade for more than a minute."

He shrugged, picking up the displacer and snapping it open to study the power cell. "If the Guardians wanted an obedient mouse, they wouldn't have blessed me with my gifts."

"Your arrogance will be the death of you Tal." Niobys sighed and Talassar turned to face him. "But this is big and I need your help. Whether or not it kills you."

"What's big?" Talassar frowned and put the displacer back onto the table, not bothering to reassemble it. The Arch-Favoured's admonishment wasn't new, but he rarely called on Talassar to do anything truly life-threatening. He left that to the Synod and Archons.

Instead of answering, Niobys waved his hand to summon a tablet into his hands, tapping at the screen with trembling fingers. [Even the greatest Psions can't beat age. Although he's doing well for his 1500 years.] A dozen projectors descended from the ceiling, whining faintly as they powered up. Talassar stepped back as a faint glowing ring was projected onto the ground to mark the extent of the projection, crossing his arms as a distended ellipsoid appeared before him. The hologram flickered as the projectors activated in sequence, adding weapons emplacements, carrier decks and innumerable details he couldn't recognise.

After a few minutes Niobys stopped the playback and tapped once more on the screen to change the mode of the projection from pure light to solid, streams of nanomachines forming a thin layer under the light to give the rendering a simulated texture. The old man stood in front of the hologram, eyes glassing over in that familiar way Talassar knew meant his mind was churning over some problem.

"Fancy ship." He raised his voice and tapped on Niobys' shoulder to bring him back to their conversation. "But I don't see what this has to do with me."

Rather than argue, Niobys launched into a detailed explanation. "Officially, this will be the first in a new line of dreadnoughts the Synod has ordered constructed."

"Officially?" [There's obviously more to this than a prototype, irrespective of its power.]

"Don't interrupt Tal. These dreadnoughts will be bigger and better armed than anything we've ever built. Ton for Ton it can outgun anything the unbelievers put in front of us by a large margin. This particular prototype is a real brute, overloaded in every aspect from power generation to entertainment. It will require a crew of almost 3000." Niobys paused for a moment and studied the ship with pursed lips." A mixed crew of Psions and believers Tal." He manipulated the tablet and a series of specifications appeared above the ship model.

A soft whistle escaped Talassar's lips at the details and he moved closer to the projection, intrigued. "Impressive Niobys. Truly so. Nonetheless mixed crews have been the norm for almost two decades and..." Talassar spread his arms wide open and trailed off.

"You still don't see where you come in." The old man finished his statement and nodded. "It's true you wouldn't be involved in such a project normally. Your theoretical abilities are lacking and your technical skills leave a lot to be desired, but we need trusted Favoured for the crew."

Talassar ignored the insults and focussed on the key point. "Wait. It's ready?" He hadn't even heard of such a project amongst the most outlandish rumours and keeping a secret within the Hall of the Favoured was almost impossible. Being able to read minds and emotions made the effort pointless.

"Yes Tal. It's ready. Trials are scheduled 3 months from now and I've already cut your transfer orders." Niobys showed him the approved document on his tablet. "As for your earlier question. Officially what I've told you is the 'truth'." They both chuckled at Niobys' sarcastic rendition of the word. "Unofficially, it's ready for trials and the crew is being assembled from unassigned talents like yourself." Niobys coughed lightly and waved Talassar closer. His eyes sparkled with such intensity Talassar held his breath, heart lurching at the excitement rolling from the old man in waves. Arch-Favoured rarely lost control of their emotions for even a flash to come through, let alone to the extent of broadcasting across the psionic spectrum. With shaking fingers, Niobys paged through a series of security keys, even laying a psionic weave of unprecedented complexity into a sensor on the tablet before waving at the rapidly warping projection. "In reality, this is what was built."

Talassar gaped at the deadly warship in the hologram. It was almost ten times the size of the prototype from before, the specifications so far off the charts... "This isn't ours." He breathed.

"I'll take it from here." A faint mechanical voice filled the room and Talassar dropped to his knees without thought, twisting to bring his forehead to the floor in the direction of the rapidly materialising Messenger, his psionic defences dissolving in its presence.

"Greetings holy Messenger. Glory to the Guardians." His heart began to race as the benediction from the Guardians filled his Essence in the presence of Their Messengers. Only twice before was he lucky enough to be blessed like this.

"I thought you wouldn't involve yourself until the trials." Niobys snorted at the Messenger and Talassar groaned within his mind, worried the old man's flippant attitude would bring Holy Retribution down upon them.

"He must be briefed..." The Messenger began but Niobys growled and raised his voice.

"A task entrusted to me by Lady Thrallax herself."

"There are... changes in our plan Arch-Favoured."

Talassar shut his eyes tightly, the sudden silence grating on his mind. It felt like he was back in training, hiding from beasts as they fought each other.

"Fine." Niobys snorted.

"Rise my child." The Messenger brushed Talassar's mind with a small weave and his emotions stabilised, the fear and reverence dissipating under the psionic technique. "We have little time and must be on our way to the Invincible shortly. The great defender of humanity, Lady Thrallax, herself has seen fit to summon you for this holy journey."

"I am honoured by her favour." Talassar raised his head but his voice caught at the sight of the holy being, The benediction from the symbol of the Guardians rose in time with the Messengers voice, filling him with contentment and peace.

"As you should be child." The Messenger settled onto its hind legs, tail twitching above its head. Weaves spun "You are named Talassar? Your abilities are passable. Prepare well, She awaits you on the ship."

"A Guardian is on the ship?"

["More than one."] Niobys' message confirmed the Messenger's words and Talassar stared at the old man in shock. [None of this makes sense.]

"I sense your confusion but it is not so rare for the lesser races to accompany the great Guardians on their endeavours. Prepare quickly. Your skills and knowledge are required." The Messenger dissipated, vanishing into the ether and leaving behind even more questions.

"Typical Messenger." Niobys grumbled. "Says it has a message and doesn't actually give any information. Just wants to show off and test us."

"The divine work in mysterious ways."

"Don't feed me lines from the Book Tal." Niobys slumped into his recliner and fixed Talassar with a dark glare. "But there really isn't much to add if I'm honest. Serve the Lady well and you'll be fine."

"Oh. But I don't understand. Why me?"

Niobys hesitated, a small flash of uneasiness leaking from behind his walls. "Two reasons that I know of. First, you've been to the Black Sun."

"The Guardian wants to go to that cursed land?"

"So you haven't become dumb." Niobys nodded. "The trial run will take you there. As for Her actual purpose there, I don't know. Second reason is even simpler. You're the strongest Favoured still here on Delphi."

"Why would that matter?"

"So you have become dumb." The old man shook his head sadly. "This is the greatest secret of the Synod and even the great Guardians themselves. The less interaction with the outside world, the better, so it should be obvious. We built Invincible on... or I should say underneath, Delphi."