Nova Guardian (1 of 2) - Nova Guardian

"Good morning your Politeness Fen'hiat'o. May I ask if your world is still spinning?" Jogh'ehat'e asked her old friend when seeing him after a period of three planetary years of work in their own departments. It was their usual period of meeting for big decisions. Fen'hiat'o was Decider First of Five of the High Guard Council of the planets ruled by the Woha'hil. Jogh'ehat'e was Decider Three of Five of the High Guard Council. Jogh'ehat'e was a bit uncertain, because she was late already, but there was only Fen'hiao'o in the Garden of Peaceful Decisions, their usual meeting place for the High Council.

"Hello dear Jogh'ehat'e. It's always a pleasure to meet you, even if it's such a formal and serious cause." Fen'hiat'o answered. He saw her blush to the fur tufts of her ears because this was not the correct phrase for an official meeting. Fen'hiat'o sighed. "Please accept my apology. I've just read of the latest population movements. Another two percent of the Deciders of the Woha'hil surrendered and now search for a Decider to lead them. That leaves fifteen-thousand-and-three-hundred Deciders and one-thousand-and-fifty-three followers per Decider on this planet. The colonies don't look any better. We will lose all Deciders before the Sa'arm even reach the first of our planets. It's so – depressing." He selected this tabooed word with caution to emphasize his words.

"Don't talk like this, please. You are one of our strongest and wisest Deciders and now you talk like you want to pass the onus to someone else. I've read the files of the ongoing efforts of the Darjee and their allied Humans. There seemed to be first results. They can't stop them right now, but they slow them down and the Sa'arm seem to change direction slowly." Jogh'ehat'e sat down on the low bench that was her usual place for the council.

"I know that. But where can the Sa'arm go if not in our general direction? They are coming up this arm of the galaxy and as long as they can't cross the void to another arm there is only one possibility. I think it's time to make the decision this Council was created for."

Jogh'ehat'e looked at Fen'hiat'o in shock. "Don't speak about the Nova Guardian. He has slept for 500.000 years now and it was for the best of the Confederation and us."

Fen'hiat'o stood up and walked over to her. "But that's what this Council was created for. In the times of need, we have to decide if we wake the Nova Guardian. It is not only that our society is falling apart because of the approach of the Sa'arm. Those insects slaughter every peaceful civilization on their way and no-one has found a way to even speak to them!"

Jogh'ehat'e looked around to avoid his intense gaze. "We can't decide until all members are here. Where are they?"

Fen'ehat'o sat down next to her. That was an affront towards Riot'wala'o, the owner of the bench. "Riot'wala'o, Decider Fifth of Five of the High Guard Council has committed suicide last month. He left his followers in complete confusion and about eight-hundred of them followed him."

Fen'ehat'o looked at him wide-eyed.

"Sara'ahat'e, Decider Fourth of Five of the High Guard Council has decided to lead her followers through the planetary portals to the furthermost colony and buy passage on another races ship to flee further. I can't blame her. We are now a Council of three."

"Where is Uha'kano'e?" Jogh'ehat'e asked weakly.

" Uha'kano'e, Decider Second of Five of the High Guard Council has decided to activate the last Galaxy Scout Ship and search for another warrior race that maybe can be hired to hit the Sa'arm in the flank. Even if she is successful, what may be the price for this? There is not enough time. The Sa'arm will hit the first core planets of the Confederacy in about sixty Woha'at standard years. The front is too wide stretched for anything less than the Nova Guardians to stop the Sa'arm."

"So if we two decide, our Nova Guardian will be activated again." Fen'ehat'o shivered in fear. "You know as good as I know that the Nova Guardians had wiped out the whole Congregation of Believing Races and fifteen of the Confederacy races, including their creators, to stop the Great War 500.000 years ago. They are ultimate weapons that decide for themselves who's the enemy of the Confederacy."

"And I hope that other races will follow our example! One Guardian isn't enough to stop an enemy as big as the Sa'arm Empire. I've already activated several sub-systems to check his functionalities. The Nova Guardian is still as ready as at the day it entered orbit."

Fen'ehat'o looked up to the moon. "People will miss him. Most people don't even know what he really is…"

"So will you join my decision to activate the Nova Guardian?" Fen'hiat'o asked.

"I see the big danger even one of its kind is for the whole Confederacy, but I see even worse futures if we don't activate it. Yes, I support your decision," Jogh'ehat'e nodded.

"Your decision is a wise one" a deep voice intoned from everywhere. "This is Nova Guardian twenty-six. I've scanned all available information about your attempts to stop the Sa'arm approach and there is no chance to succeed without us as long as you are what you are. Since we have been created to protect the peaceful Confederacy races, we are the next-to-last hope for you."

"You are already active?" Jogh'ehat'e asked in shock.

"We have been active all the time and watched you. We share the opinion that all Confederacy races have been very successful during the past 500.000 years."

"You declared yourself being our next-to-last chance. What's our last chance?" Fen'ehat'o asked.

"If we fail, your last chance is to become violent – quickly."