---
The warrior looked around the premises once more. There was no one around them, except perhaps mountains of bodies. Communication was completely blocked, both radio-space and telepathic. It was impossible to do anything, not even send a simple mental signal to other psionics. Zabergan gradually turned into a blank isolation zone. Telepathic capabilities were simply useless here.
Taking a deep breath, Iilfan began her story, for which she could be condemned in the Farrukh Empire. After all, now she was handing over extremely important information to a person who did not have any access to its content.
- His appearance was recorded by Elfurr, - the warrior said almost in a whisper, - For the first time in the distant sectors of the Tao-Te galaxy. He destroyed the civilization of ligushkasars living there, erect amphibians. It was a hundred years ago. The Elfurrian adepts have informed us of this. I was not yet born ... But when I entered the Emperor's secret police, I received all the necessary information about it.
Yuri remembered with surprise that Hyperborea had once sent reconnaissance probes to that distant galaxy, but they found only lifeless volcanic worlds. No intelligent forms were found there.
“He destroyed their planets, evaporated the atmospheric shields,” continued Iilfan. “Then he appeared in our domain. He began to spread an unknown religion. He took the form of a man…. A mysterious old man. I went to different villages and preached. He called his god Cerberum the Primordial.
At the mention of the mysterious deity, Ernal'tsev's amulet flashed for a moment and even burned the skin. Yuri flinched from an unexpected attack of pain, but nevertheless did not remove the amulet. He clearly knew that he should not do this.
- Our enemy tried to split the domain of Farrukh. Having created Adharma and unleashed a war, he planned to inflict tangible damage on my empire. But we figured it out and, with the help of our elfurr allies, drove it out of our lands. Adharma was destroyed. But the cults planted by the sorcerer continued to operate. They exist even now ... And the secret police of Farrukh are actively fighting them.
- Why did he attack Hyperborea? And why are we cockroaches for him? - Yuri exclaimed, - Our empire is no worse than yours. And even Azis does not dare to threaten us. Here we are talking about some dashing, who is clearly not himself!
“He’s not dashing,” Iilfan replied, who turned noticeably pale, “He…. Demon. For him, the concept of "race" or "species" does not exist. Just like life or death. He is outside of it. He…. A representative of a different nature.
Yuri felt the amulet start to flare up again. He once again burned the adept's skin. More and more, Ernal'tsev wanted to remove the amulet and throw it out the nearest window. But he tried to drive away such thoughts. I tried to keep them out of my mind, even if at times to no avail.
- Demon? - said the psionic in surprise, - But ... they do not exist.
“Internally, you know that you are wrong,” Iilfan said. “If there are Gods, if there is a Creator in whom you believe ... That is, there is a downside.
- Why would he threaten Hyperborea? - Yuri asked again, - Even if he…. Demon ... or someone else .... Why did he need to attack Zabergan?
“Zabergan was just the beginning, and I just realized that,” the agent replied sadly, “Now everything has become clear. In addition to the Aranguto incident, something else happened. Before the operation, Farrukh was intercepted with a strange audiogram. One of the agents of our enemy named Phantom-7 spoke to…. Him. They were discussing the use of some kind of superintelligence. A perfect and modernized computer mind. Monstrously complex and powerful, capable of enslaving planetary grids in minutes. They said they would use it to create a machine riot. Machines will revolt across the galaxy. Then the recording was cut off. That is why I came here to Zabergan. He clearly said that everything will start here. And it will end ... ..
Iilfan fell silent. Her eyes were seized with great terror. She clearly remembered what Marfur-Nirari had said when speaking with her trusted attendant. And this ominous plan was already beginning to come true.
- Will it end with what? Ernalltsev muttered barely audibly.
“By enslaving the known universe,” Iilfan squeezed out of herself with difficulty, “By the establishment of Machine Peace in the entire galaxy. And this is already happening…. Phantom 7 mentioned Nicomedia. He said something about Kuahtemok and about the plan related to the unstable zone…. We tried to contact Kuakhtemok, but he did not answer. Chow used all of his experts…. The Nicomedians reported that they would report everything to the ruler. But apparently, it didn’t happen…. The Nicomedian fleet was captured by the superintelligence ... Or Marfur-Nirari and there were agents who simply gave the robots an entire armada.
The agent forgot herself and nevertheless uttered the name of the sorcerer. She did it rather out of excitement, and did not even notice her irreparable mistake.
- So this is why the Nikomedians did not answer ... .. - Ernalltsev finally guessed, - Our enemy had his own people there .... It was they who gave the ships to Tulotron. Perhaps they also blocked the connection, and therefore it was not possible to contact Nicomedia.
- Now you understand what's the matter, Yuri? - With a frightened look, the warrior said, - I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier.
- No, don't blame yourself! - the adept immediately snapped, - You were not allowed. An order is an order.
Yuri did not feel a bit of anger towards the Farrukh maiden. Rather, he was angry with Elfurr, who once again chose to keep everything important in secret. Because of their eternal secrets, innocent peoples have suffered more than once. And this time, they effectively endangered an entire galaxy.
“That's right,” Iilfan nodded, “Farrukh agreed with Elfurr and the Drask empire that they would not give this information to anyone until the hour" H ".
- Wait! - Ernalltsev suddenly perked up, - And where are the demons here? Why would they need to use an army of machines?
This question made the warrior look even more pale.
- In order to destroy the life bestowed by the Creator, - the beautiful foreign woman said with fear, - Our enemy is here for this. They will destroy all old life forms with machines. And then it will enable Cerberum to start all over again .... Build a new universe. In his image and likeness. In the image and likeness of demons. This universe will forever plunge into Darkness. And it will be eternal.
- So they exist? Demons?
- Yes, there are. They tried to do this many millennia ago. They were known about even millions of years before our birth. And now they are about to prevail!
At the last words, Iilfan almost burst into tears. With horror, she realized that much of Marfur-Nirari's sinister plan had already been completed. The machines have already begun a total takeover. It could not be ruled out that Zabergan was far from the only planet where Tulotron won. And the lack of communication with the allies spoke volumes.
Yuri tried in vain to get through to the space fleet hovering in orbit. But he could not even imagine that the armada could have long ago passed under enemy control, and with it everyone who was there.
- But if Tulotron enslaves the worlds ... .. - the Ernallets moaned beside himself with great horror, - In a matter of minutes ... .. Then .... What if …… if… ..
- If he has already done everything? - repeated the thoughts of Yuri Iilfan, - Yes ... .. It could have happened. There is no connection with anyone. Truth? Chances are, everyone in orbit is already dead. And you and I are the last of the remaining organic forms on this cursed planet.
- God ... ... Is this all reality?
For a moment it seemed to Ernal'tsev that he was just sleeping. But then he looked around again and clearly understood that everything around him was that very reality, that evil and terrible truth, which it was better not to know at all. He even regretted that he got to the bottom of the truth. It would have been better if he hadn't asked Iilfan anything at all.
- Yes, Yuri, this is reality, - answered the Farrukh maiden, - But we still have a chance. I feel…. First you have to at least get out of here.
-
---
Star system of Mensei Guapalamo.
Border sector with the Farrukh Empire.
“Ten ships of Tulotron play the role of carriers,” Colonel Jian Le reported to General Chow Chupalorkhorn. “They are easy to handle. The transport workers don't have that heavy protection.
Tall and stately, Commander Farrukh pointed with a clawed glove at the holographic images of pyramids hovering in Guapalamo space. Despite the fact that the same fear was read in her eyes, she tried to speak in a confident voice.
“Kaiju transporters contain thousands of combat drones and automatons,” the other woman explained, without taking her eyes off the pictures hanging in the air. “They are not so dangerous when they are sealed inside a hefty vessel. And the system of energy shields of these ships is not as strong as that of the "Black Corruptors".
Here, another farrukh, a white-haired man named Guanxi, intervened in the conversation. He was a fairly well-known commander among all his race and won many battles in his time. On his account there were many victories over the pirates of Zuhra. But he hated demons and their machine beasts more than pirate rats.
- Yes, it certainly inspires, - said Guanxi, - But the trouble is that the transport workers are guarded by five "Black Molesters". And three more Gomorrah-class cruisers and, finally, two Frigate of Nightmares. These ships are heavily armored. In addition, Gomorrah can use non-substance warheads. Their use can be disastrous. We're going to have to work hard, gentlemen. The fight will not be easy. Very difficult.
Farrukh commanders constantly talked among themselves, while looking at many holo-images. So far, the Empire's battle fleet has not yet engaged in open combat with Tulotron's forces. But still, the armada continued its movement straight to the intended goal. The main task was to save the inhabitants of the doomed system.
“There is another aircraft carrier,” said Captain Mitsumone's voice, “Bleeding Class. Flying fortress full of drones. They are capable of smashing entire ships to pieces in one raid. Among the host of machines, there is one of these. Closes the entire formation of her ships.
- Yeah, - said the voice of another officer, - It was much easier to fight with Zukhra. It's even interesting. Kill dirty and unwashed corsairs. But here is a different story ... You are not mortals here. This is much worse than those pathetic scoundrels.
“It’s lucky that we even know about the structures of their ships,” said the communications lieutenant, who stood out with bright purple hair. “Thanks for that Elfurr for getting information about these kaiju.
Shouting voices and growls echoed throughout the control room. The officers and generals intensely discussed their next steps. They could not even imagine that they would meet so many enemy ships here. They believed that the battle would take place much sooner. If the commanders had learned earlier about such a powerful flotilla that entered the system, they would have brought in much more ships. But retreating was simply impossible. Leaving all the unfortunate people living on the planet without protection was a terrible crime for Farrukh. The Empire simply could not afford such an act.
General Chupalorkhorn decided to interrupt the conversation and raised his shining officer's baton above his head. Most of the officers in the room immediately stopped their conversations. As one, they looked at the Supreme Commander and froze in anticipation of his words. They expected a reasonable decision from him.
- We will go into battle anyway! - Chou said menacingly, lowering his staff down, - After all, Farrukh entered the war with the machines! All these 'Mechs must be destroyed! We cannot leave the inhabitants of the system in trouble. We cannot afford it, and if we do it, then Karma will fall upon us with all its fury. We are the universe's only hope for salvation. Machines have penetrated too deeply into these worlds, and we must drive them out. At least somehow help Hyperborea and all other powers that were under attack! Yes, I must confess that we have few good ships. But we will not leave these people to their fate!
At the last word, the general raised his voice noticeably. He spoke too lofty and pathetic, but his speeches reached his subordinates like never before. Many are now lost in thought and did not even move. Officers and generals, who until recently intensely discussed the strategy of war, turned into a kind of wax statues.
- If the superintelligence continues to invade, then everything will be over! - The commander repeated the same words again, - And we will not retreat! We will go into battle and use all our firepower! Today we will die or prevail! There is no third!
“What a pity that we don't get to Zabergan yet,” Chou said inwardly, recalling his cousin Iilfan, “May all the Gods that are there keep you there.”
-----