Deciphering the Unknown:

Cosmic Sentinel

Book One

 Written by:

Tyler Alldredge

(Reinventor)

Copyright 2024 

Chapter 1

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Grubnash, the burrow-master, was undertaking his daily rounds, surveying the newest area to be opened up by the workers of his clan. This large burrow was their home, but it was always bustling with activity as the clan constantly burrowed and expanded their territory.

While sifting through the items the workers had found during their tunneling, he came across a peculiar piece of metal. Turning it over in his small, gnarled hand, his curiosity grew with each passing second. The metal had a greenish hue, similar to his own skin, but it was much more polished and less mottled. Its design was curious, resembling a key to a chest but triangular at the end instead of having teeth.

Grubnash had always been more curious than most of his fellow Goblins, a trait that many of them appreciated. He had taken over the title of burrow-master after his father died at the hands of an adventurer's sword almost three years ago.

His father had been much more brutal and violent. His main goals in life were to battle, rape, and pillage, whereas Grubnash's own aims were less violent and more explorative. Despite frequent beatings from his father for his lack of cruelty, Grubnash's core ideals remained unchanged.

To pass his days, Grubnash often wandered aimlessly through the caverns, talking to his clan members, scrounging for tubers and bugs to keep the Goblins fed, and searching for anything of interest to bring the clan some income or sustenance. The strange key-like piece of metal definitely caught his attention, so he gingerly slipped it into his pocket while no others were around to see him do so.

Shortly after pocketing the intriguing key, an unusual metallic sound caught his attention. It was unlike the striking of the workers' crude pickaxes upon the granite stone that everyone here was accustomed to. The walls of their burrow, deep below the Frenargrak Mountain, had a very reliable quality to them, and it was rare to hear the sound of striking something new. This odd sound, however, held a hollow, almost musical quality as it echoed off the stone walls.

The piercing sound reverberated around him as though a large peal had struck the side of a bell hung high atop a grand tower. The gong instantly froze him in his tracks, as well as most of his clan's workers, some still mid-swing as they all noticed the unusual reverberation.

A sense of wonder, fear, and curiosity swept over them all. As if in unison, every Goblin’s head swiveled to the end of the cavern to stare at the now shivering young Goblin who had struck the resounding blow. Grubnash watched in fascination as all eyes turned toward the young Goblin, even though his own gaze was locked onto the shiny piece of greenish-hued metal that the young one had struck, now glaringly exposed. The rock around the object had crumbled away, revealing the coppery protrusion, its unknown remaining surface area still locked behind layers of basalt.

The young Goblin backed away slowly, not understanding what he had just found. Grubnash, on the other hand, rushed forward and was quickly joined by the clan shaman, Irgug. They arrived, having taken tools from the hands of the still-frozen Goblin workers along their path, and quickly began removing the debris from around the metallic object, their excitement at the discovery clearly evident.

Neither Grubnash nor Irgug could fathom the true nature of the young Goblin's discovery. As they chipped away at the rock with tools taken from the hands of the workers, they couldn't help but imagine unearthing the remnants of a cave-in that had claimed the lives of wealthy adventurers, leaving behind weapons and armor to be restored, sold, or melted down for reuse.

As they continued to chip away at the rock, their imaginings turned to dreams of uncovering an ancient treasure room, once guarded by mystical runes and cultists, now forgotten and buried by the ravages of time—the likes of which could bring their clan untold power and fortune.

As the exposed brassy surface continued to enlarge, they marveled at the size and shape of the object before them. All their hopes and dreams were dwarfed by what was taking shape under the mountain. 

Unbeknownst to Grubnash, the green-hued key in his pocket was a small clue to the true nature of what lay beneath the mountain's rock.

"And that, you miserable whelps, is how the great Grubnash and I found the Tarnished Starfang," Irgug finished his tale with a flourish towards the still-uncovered brass-colored object protruding from the side of the burrow.

The young Goblins clapped politely for the old shaman. They had all grown up with the enormous green-hued ship being excavated. The Goblins had speculated endlessly about what it actually was but had settled on the idea that the only thing large enough had to be some sort of giant vessel. They called it a ship, reasoning that other than a building, nothing else seemed to fit the profile and size.

The large metallic object had become an integral part of their lives. Its uncovering replaced the old standards of external raiding and clan wars—activities typical of Goblin-kind. Instead, the mysterious object brought new ideas, trade options, and a renewed sense of purpose to the clan.

The ship had become something they all hoped to one day finish removing from the stone. A piece of technology unseen before on this planet, it represented a path to great wealth and opportunity. Some Goblins also saw it as a potential source of immense power, far beyond the imaginings of any other Goblin tribes.

Yet, the more the Goblin clan dug, the larger the ship seemed to be, and the more unlikely it felt that their task of removing it from the mountain would ever be complete.

Among the young Goblins listening to Irgug’s tale was one young whelp who seemed particularly intrigued. His eyes brimmed with slightly more intelligence than the typical Goblin. He was different from the others, driven by a relentless curiosity and a strong work ethic. He pursued his personal duties with diligence, often working on the excavation long after the official workday ended. With his intelligence and dedication, it was clear he was destined for something greater.

This young Goblin’s name was Hyruk, and he was fortunate enough to be the youngest of Grubnash's children. Even though he wouldn't be next in line of succession, he enjoyed a slightly elevated status among the other clan members.

Throughout his life, Hyruk toiled away, meticulously removing the rock from around the Tarnished Starfang. He worked with a sense of wonder and pride, tirelessly exploring the strange vessel and easily distinguishing himself from the other workers through his diligence and curiosity.

His two older siblings had been less intrigued by the ship and more drawn to the typical Goblin mindset of violence and a lust for power. They had formed factions and declared a clan war, killing each other simultaneously in their attempts to secure their reign as the next burrow-master. Not only had they both died in the skirmish, but their rival factions had wiped out a significant portion of the labor force and the clan in general, not caring who was caught in the battles.

As Grubnash’s final child, Hyruk took up the mantle of burrow-master after his siblings perished. With the title, he also became the next keeper of the triangular key, a responsibility unbeknownst to him until that time.

Grubnash met his end shortly after the clan war ended, leaving Hyruk to lead the remaining clan members. He had to clean up after his siblings' selfish bickerings and continue the excavation of the mysterious ship. As a result, Hyruk found himself leading a smaller clan than ever before in memory. He had to use his intelligence to rebuild the clan while continuing the excavation that had brought the clan to their current standing.

As Grubnash lay on his deathbed, he revealed the shiny metal key to Hyruk and spoke of its importance. “Keep it safe, and maybe one day you’ll find the hole it goes in,” Grubnash wheezed, struggling for breath but showing a crooked smile as if the key’s existence was a joke rather than a secret to be handed down. “I’m giving my treasure to you now, good luck.”

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With those final words, Hyruk became the burrow-master.

He found new ways to continue the excavation work while also siring as many new whelps as he possibly could during his reign; he felt it was part of his personal duty to assist in the clan’s growth. Alongside his continued labor and Goblin baby-making, Hyruk dreamed of finding the entry to the ship and stepping foot inside. Yet sadly, that day never came.

Despite his efforts, he was never able to board the ship or find the place to use the key. He made progress in removing the stone from the ship over the years and even glimpsed the inside after his crew found a large transparent window near the top of the huge triangular front end. However, the elusive entry remained hidden from him.

Years later, as Hyruk’s son Friguk took his place, the elderly burrow-master felt at peace with the work he had put in and handed the key down to its new owner.

During his time, as part of rebuilding the clan, Hyruk had established a trade route with another Goblin clan living nearer the surface. Through them, he had acquired a new female Elven breeding concubine, which greatly enhanced his son's intelligence.

Goblins could reproduce with any species, but the intelligence of the mother species often influenced the offspring. Friguk, born of one of Hyruk's final matings, displayed more intelligence than any other Goblin Hyruk knew, a trait attributed to his Elven mother.

Leaving the rest of the excavation to his youngest son, Hyruk dearly hoped that Friguk would be the one to find the entrance to the vessel, and possibly even visit the stars.

Finally, after generations of toil and effort, a seam along the underbelly of the Tarnished Starfang was uncovered, revealing a small triangular opening. Friguk was there to oversee the work and was the first to understand the significance of the 'lock,' as he called it.

He reached his hand up, his fingers quivering with anticipation, and inserted the small triangular key into the tubular opening. The brassy metal slid inside, and with a small twist, released the lock to the ship, something which hadn’t occurred for untold years. The entire clan held their breath as Friguk turned the key, every eye fixed on him and the mysterious ship, wondering what exactly was going to happen.

A loud puff of air, followed by a scraping sound, broke the tense silence. Friguk's heart pounded as the key clicked into place. Then, within moments, during which the entire clan seemed to hold its collective breath, a rectangular panel unfolded from the bottom of the ship and silently lowered to the ground below.

The platform hovered a mere inch from the ground, not being held aloft by anything structurally, simply remaining stationary yet solidly placed above the stone floor. From his vantage point, Friguk could see up inside the ship. The yellowish glow of instruments, silvery metal panels, walls with strange designs, hoses, circuitry, lighting, and dark glassy surfaces. The gleaming interior contrasted starkly with the dark, dirty, and uneven surfaces of the Goblin’s cavern into which it was now exposed.

The entire clan marveled at the interior of the ship. Having all contributed to the excavation over generations, they now felt a deep reverence for what was revealed. The Goblins encircling the entrance stared in slack-jawed awe at the astonishing sight before them.

Days passed as Friguk painstakingly tried to learn how to operate the lift. The symbols were strange and unlike any language the clan had ever encountered. Finally, Friguk deciphered the symbol for 'up' and became the first Goblin to enter the Tarnished Starfang.

Stepping foot into the ship, he reverently began his tour, his amazement growing with each step. The alien devices and equipment seemed magical and beyond explanation. Friguk was careful not to touch anything and told the few others accompanying him, "Don’t touch nothin’. The magic of the Starfang might be offended and kill us all for your curiosity." He wanted this vessel to remain pristine and placed the thought in his clan members’ heads to help keep it that way.

As the weeks passed and more of the clan explored the ship, they began to understand just how advanced the vessel was, far beyond their initial imaginations. Opinions among the Goblins began to diverge. Some wanted to dismantle it, sell the parts, and become rich quickly, not bothering to learn about the vessel or what it could do. Others, including Friguk, sought to study the ship, hoping to pilot it themselves one day, leave their mountain, and explore the greater world, or perhaps even travel beyond.

There was also the idea of ruling the world from the skies above, raining down terror from this marvel of technology, especially among some of the poorer-bred Goblins. However, the need for violence and power was slowly giving way to a desire to explore and learn, a shift that Friguk was glad to see happening in his clan.

The ship’s interior held secrets and promises that could change their lives forever. As they stood on the cusp of this new era, the Goblins felt a mix of fear and excitement growing among them. The Tarnished Starfang was no longer just a dream; it was a gateway to a future filled with possibilities. However, the differing ideas and desires soon led to contention within the clan, bringing undue stress and halting the continued excavation of the ship.

Friguk pleaded with his clanfolk to stop their bickering and continue their work, but his pleas fell mostly on deaf ears. Just a week later, Friguk met his end at the point of a pickaxe wielded by the leader of the opposing faction.

Following in his father's footsteps, Friguk fathered his own offspring with the still-enslaved Elven female. Elves were highly prized in Goblin society for their breeding status; the number of children they could bear throughout their long lifetimes could profoundly impact a clan and its members.

In Goblin culture, it was acknowledged that the same female who birthed you might also become the mother of your children. This practice was seen as a natural part of the Goblin breeding process rather than a taboo. Thus, Friguk's only son, Daegnon, named for and greatly influenced by his mother's heritage, assumed leadership of the clan at the tender age of two, the age he was when his father Friguk died.

Goblins aged much faster than most humanoid species, similar to the rapid development of canines; so despite his young age, Daegnon possessed the maturity of an average teenager among other humanoid species.

Along with being mature enough to understand and take over as burrow-master, Daegnon also possessed intelligence much greater than the rest of the brood. In fact, his intelligence was more akin to a human's—albeit if the human had been dropped on his head a few times when still a baby, but still within the human range.

When Daegnon took over from his father, he understood that instead of trying to convince the Goblins who wanted to dismantle the ship that his idea of leaving and exploring was the proper choice, he needed to be decisive and show the clan that there was no room for debate.

Therefore, he was going to take ownership of this ship and fly it, along with anyone in his clan who would accompany him, out of this mountain and on to greater heights.

With his goal in mind, Daegnon's first priority was to locate the ship's control station. If he could learn how to operate it, he believed it would provide him with a means to defend himself and leave the mountain.

He searched for hours, exploring rooms and common areas which not all Goblins had access to. As the new burrow-master, he had the triangular key which allowed him access to different areas, so he was able to take his time and thoroughly search through the ship and the rooms not accessible by the main clan.

Finally, close to ending his search for the evening, he discovered a somewhat hidden room, one that had been overlooked by the others. The only reason he found it was because he had been dragging his fingers along the wall of the hall he was walking down and felt a slight ridge where the rest of the wall was perfectly smooth below his fingertips.

Upon further exploration of the area around the ridge in the wall, he found a set of two small holes behind a panel that sprang open once he pushed it inward slightly. Recalling the lock that opened the ship's external platform, he placed the key into the uppermost hole and his index finger into the lower. He could feel a slightly springy resistance in the hole, so he pressed inward.

Once the interior button was pressed, there was a small dinging sound, and then the wall ahead of him began to slide open with a light hiss.

Daegnon stepped back at first, not knowing what was going to happen. 

As the door slid open, revealing a new room he had never seen before, his fear gave way and he slowly and cautiously entered. 

This room contained a large, throne-like chair surrounded by wires and controls. Though still apprehensive, his teenage curiosity urged him forward. He climbed into the overly large, ill-fitting chair and attempted to adjust himself to the unfamiliar dimensions.

As he finally found a position that was somewhat comfortable, reclining with his body in an almost supine position, something very unexpected happened. Before his eyes, a strange set of brightly glowing glyphs materialized. Their sudden and eerie appearance caught him completely unaware, startling Daegnon enough that he might have made a small puddle on the large seat he was now lying upon.

For a few moments, he was all but paralyzed with shock, his heart racing and his breath catching in his throat. The luminous script floated before him, casting an ethereal glow in the somewhat darkened room. The icons pulsed and shimmered as if alive with a mysterious energy that made the hair on the back of his toes stand on end.

Finally, after the initial shock began to fade and his mind started to process what he was seeing, Daegnon realized that these images were merely a creation of the ship, not some otherworldly specter. He cautiously leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the glyphs.

As he intently studied the glowing script—a feat far from typical for most Goblins—a new source of light caught his attention. He turned his head slowly to see what new wonder the ship was introducing him to. The light shining from above  illuminated a peculiar helmet-like device hanging suspended in mid-air at the end of a silvery tube. The strange wire attached to it  was different from most others he had seen in the ship, its surface marked with tightly grouped ridges, extending upwards into the silvery ceiling above. The helmet-type visor seemed to beckon him, its light pulsating in rhythm with the glyphs, adding to the room's surreal and suspenseful atmosphere.

Every instinct in Daegnon's body screamed caution, but his curiosity was undeniable. What was this device? Why had it been illuminated now, at this precise moment? His mind raced with possibilities, each one more bewildering than the last, as he found himself drawn closer to the enigmatic helmet, feeling a mix of fear and anticipation that left him trembling in the dim, silvery light of the room.

He reached out, his long, slender fingers taking hold of the helmet and drawing it nearer to him. He wasn’t entirely certain why he thought this was a good idea, but he placed the strange-looking visor onto his head.

It didn’t fit well; it was much too large. 

There was a slight indentation where the helmet device somewhat sat upon his large nose, but the indentation was much too narrow to fit around his bulbous nostrils.

But as soon as it slid into place, the helmet activated, and it instantly became clear that the ship and its magic were not designed for Goblins. The information and sensations bombarding Daegnon from the visor not only hurt his eyes and brain but also left him feeling dazed and sick.

He didn’t know exactly what he had done, but a strange sensation passed over him, as though he were sliding down a huge underground waterfall into a vast pool of cold, sticky liquid.

As quickly as possible, once his mind allowed him to move again, Daegnon ripped the visor off his head and ran screaming from the room, his legs covered in his own secretions, leaving a wet trail behind him. His plans of using the ship to bully the Goblins who wanted to dismantle it into submission evaporated in that instant. All he wanted to do was leave this place and curl up in his tent.

To his utter amazement and surprise, that was no longer possible. Daegnon ran to the exit, but it was closed. He pressed the button to open the door several times, but it refused to open. After several moments, he was joined by several other Goblins, each of whom looked as sick and scared as he did. They were covered in sweat and smelled as though they had all left puddles below them in the same way he had.

After several minutes of trying to figure out why they could no longer open the door to leave, a female Goblin named Glix joined the small contingency that had formed at the exit. She seemed to look slightly less sick than the rest of them, but still obviously shaken. She wasted no time explaining why she hadn’t been affected in the same way, instead telling them that something bad had happened, something they would have to see to believe, and began to lead them to the top of the ship.

As the group entered the familiar room with the translucent opening they had all peered through before they had a way inside, they processed what they saw and began to understand what Glix had been telling them.

The sight before them was no longer the mountain they knew. There was no rock, no smoke from fires, no clan members clamoring about.

There was only darkness and small, shiny specks of light as far as their eyes could see.