Novels2Search
Secret of the Raganrog
Chapter 1 – Skeletons of Society

Chapter 1 – Skeletons of Society

My enhanced transport pod lands on the continent of Asgard.

I survey the capital after exiting the pod.

The skies are blanketed in gray clouds stuck in a perpetual state of near torrential downpour.

My gaze is then set at the decimated remains of the tall buildings of the once proud civilization.

The logs state this was one of the most advanced civilizations destroyed by The Raganrog.

While this is the smallest continent it housed a very large population.

It housed the center of the government and was represented by all the races of planet Midengard.

The continent was once connected by a multicolored bridge to Continent Midheim.

Those colors represented the other eight continents coming together to meet on Continent Asgard.

Once the representatives from each continent arrived, they would convene in the palace called Odin’ Court.

Named for the one who unified the races and created the system of government here.

This was the extent of the details that were contained in the logs pertaining to the continent of Asgard.

My first step is to locate the remains of Odin’s Court or whichever place that could house the majority of historical data.

From previous information with other civilizations’ placing value on buildings that represent prestige and connections to their past it would be correct to assume that Odin’s Court could follow a similar path.

I continue surveying the crumbled buildings while making my way toward the center of the continent.

The majority of the buildings belonged residents living spaces with some smaller government offices scattered seemingly at random.

At the center of the continent, I find the remains of what appears to be a palace with eight towers collapsed onto the main building.

I clear the rubble from the entrance and then enter.

Just past the doorway is a magnificent open area with hallways leading to each of the fallen towers with the center hallway leading to what is called “Hall of the Allfather.”

I see what appears to be an information console.

My first two fingers extend out to the console and provides a little bit of energy to the console and it begins to come to life.

A robed female holographic figure with shoulder length yellowish hair manifests itself in front of the console.

“Glory to the Allfather, visitor and welcome to Odin’s Court. How may I be of assistance?”

“I would like to know in which facility your historical records are maintained.”

“Are you requesting those pertaining to the current Allfather or those pertaining to previous Allfathers?”

“I would like to have access to both.”

“Those records are maintained in separate places. The records pertaining to the current Allfather are maintained on the Verthandi System stationed in the Allfather’s Chambers located behind the Allfather’s Throne. Once a new Allfather is installed the records of the outgoing Allfather are ceremoniously transferred to the Hall of Urthr where the previous Allfather’s records are added to the historical counts of our glorious planet’s history.”

“Understood, please provide me the location of The Hall of Urthr.”

“The Hall of Urthr is located here.”

The hologram of the speaker changes into that of a model of the area surrounding Odin’s Court with a line marking the pathway to The Hall of Urthr.”

I retrieve the power from the console and make my way to The Hall of the Allfather.

After pushing the large ornate doors open, I make my way along the crimson-colored carpet walkway leading to the gilded throne.

Behind the throne is a set of curtains that once moved reveals another set of large ornate doors.

I push those doors open and behind them is a large room with a desk and multiple pieces of furniture.

Toward the back of the room is the desk and in the middle of the room is an oval shaped table with four chairs on each side of the long edges and one ornate chair at the small edge facing the desk.

On the walls flanking the furniture are pieces of art portraying some unknown historical events.

I make my way to the desk and look for access to the Verthandi System.

My fingers again extend out to provide a small burst of power to the desk.

A holographic display appears on the desk with a corresponding holographic keyboard.

“Hail to you Allfather. How may I serve you?” a voice proclaims from the desk.

“Verthandi System, I would like to obtain a copy of your current historical data.”

“It would be my honor, Allfather. Please input your passcode.”

This will not do.

I place my hand on to the keyboard.

“Computer, break into the Verthandi System and obtain all data within.”

“Command confirmed, master. Infiltrating Verthandi System and attempting to extract all data contained within.”

A slight amount of time later I receive a reply.

“Master, data extraction is complete.”

“Retain a copy for our use and then send the data on to central command.”

“Command confirmed, master.”

“Understood. I will now proceed to the Hall of Urthr.”

“I will await your next command, master.”

Once my communication is over, I recall the remaining energy I supplied to the Verthandi System and then leave Odin’s Court.

I proceed along the route that was provided to me by the information console.

While traveling the Hall of Urthr, I have the computer relay to my visor the information contained on the Verthandi System.

The information in the beginning is rather mundane daily statecraft.

The final Allfather assumes leadership, spends a majority of his early time conducting business with the representative of each race and addressing petty disputes.

Toward the end days the response to the arrival of The Raganrog was no different that of many other advanced civilizations.

Initially they tried to prevent its arrival with attacks from five neutron missiles developed by an incarcerated scientist only referred to as Lækni X, or translated to Doctor X.

Stolen novel; please report.

When that plan failed, the decision was made to either continue creating neutron missiles or to devise an evacuation plan.

Because the initial neutron missiles failed the plan to make more was abandoned and the plan to build evacuation vessels was formed.

In quick succession the planet unified to create seventeen evacuation vessels.

As quickly as they were to build the evacuation vessels, seventeen was all that they could make before The Raganrog touched down.

The last entry is the Allfather leaving to ceremoniously see the seventeen evacuation vessels off as The Raganrog made its way toward the launch site.

Deduction would suggest that the logs obtained from central command are from some of the survivors.

My journey to the Hall of Urthr is complete and I stand before a building that takes the shape of a large ash tree.

Many of the branches have fallen and a couple have blocked the entrance.

I draw my weapon and fire several shots it at the fallen branches rending them into small piles and clearing the entrance.

Once inside I see display cases that once housed artifacts that once belonged to certain historical figures and items from historical events.

According to the logs on the Verthandi System, the last Allfather decreed that those artifacts be split among the evacuation vessels so that no matter what planet they inhabit their connection to the past and their home planet will be with them.

I make my way to a booth that houses a console and provide power to it like I did with the Verthandi System.

The console comes to life and a holographic robed figured similar to the information console in Odin’s Court.

“Glory to the Allfather. I bid you welcome to the Hall of Urthr. How may I be of assistance?”

“I need access to all historical records that belong to this planet.”

A panel opens up revealing a port that is utilized to transfer data.

“You can have access to general data for public consumption. Any further data will require Allfather’s approval.”

“Understood.”

I extend my two fingers out to the data port and make it conform to the shape of it.

“Computer, I am connected to the central database in the Hall of Urthr. Proceed with forced transfer of all data.”

“Yes, master. Transfer of data has commenced.”

While computer transfers data from the archives, I take note of the items that were once housed here.

“Master, my infiltration and retrieval of all data is complete. What is your next command?”

“Retain a copy for our use and send a copy to central command so they can have a complete historical account of planet Midengard.”

“Yes, master.”

I have completed documenting my findings of this continent.

“Computer, I will return to the enhanced transport pod to retrieve the repair assistance vehicle. Once I retrieve the repair assistance vehicle, I will move to Continent Midheim.”

“Understood, master. I will await your next command.”

I retrieve the remaining power and leave the Hall of Urthr and return back to the enhanced transport pod.

Once I make it back, I detach the enhancement portion of the pod setting it on the ground.

I press the button sequence to convert it into the repair assistance vehicle mode.

“Computer, you can retrieve the transport pod.”

“Command accepted. Retrieval commencing, master.”

While the ship recalls the transport pod, I mount the repair assistance vehicle and proceed toward a place on the edge of Continent Asgard called Regnbogabrúin or The Rainbow Bridge.

I arrive at the edge of Continent Asgard and there is a long device set up a good distance before the cliffs.

This must have been the device that created an energy bridge to Continent Midheim.

I stop near the device and dismount the repair assistance vehicle.

The device does not appear to be damaged.

It appears the device just has no power.

I look around the device and find an entrance to a service area.

The large metallic doors are still secured.

I draw my weapon and fire five shots at the middle seam creating a hole.

With the hole created, I reach in with both hands and force the doors open.

After the doors are opened, there is an elevator that appears to descend down a lengthy shaft.

I apply some power to the elevator and ride the elevator to the bottom.

The bottom is a dark area.

“Set visor to dark environment mode.”

It is a room with a large device in the middle with eight pipes protruding from it extending upward.

This should be the power room that provides power to the energy bridge.

“Computer, analyze the energy type used to power this device and create a copy in the repair assistance vehicle.”

“Yes, master. Analysis complete and copy created. You can retrieve it at the repair assistance vehicle.”

“Understood, I will retrieve the power source now.”

“I await your next command, master.”

I return to the repair assistance vehicle and it has already changed into its exosuit form with the hands holding the created power source.

Once I enter the exosuit form, I return to the power room and begin installing the power source.

After installing the power source, the room lights up and the rest of the machinery comes to life.

I return to the surface, exit the exosuit form and return it back to transport mode.

The energy bridge is illuminated ready to be utilized.

I take the repair assistance vehicle onto the bridge to its final destination on Midheim.

Retaining the bridge is important due the harsh edges of Continent Asgard.

“Computer, begin conversion of Continent Asgard however, retain the bridge mechanism.”

“Yes, master. The process will take some time due to the volume of materials on Continent Asgard.”

“Understood, commence conversion.”

“Yes, master. Conversion commencing.”

I dismount the repair assistance vehicle and watch as the ship begins its terraforming command.