Planet Moloch: Guild of Unrelenting Truth (Part II)

By J Ella

This is a story of Moloch's cultural evolution from dystopia to utopia. Corruption, oppression, cronyism, wars, coups, revolutions, destabilization, regime changes, greed, economic pillaging, financial chicanery and exploitation were the norm. People were weary and afraid. In democratic countries people were easily persuaded to approve the creation of a Global agency dedicated to the eradication of terrible conspiracies.
The Guild of Unrelenting Truth was born during this tumultuous period. As it collected more information the Guild membership realized that its purpose was being usurped. A revolution within the Guild occurred and its Directors became Clients.
The interrogations revealed the existence of Magog network. The subsequent purge of all Magog operatives from within the Guild left it free to follow its intended path.
Master of the Black Chapter, the Torturers - Zyrus Ziteguyst, becomes the De Facto leader of the Guild of Unrelenting Truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J Ella
• Release date: Nov 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301260416

J Ella

Born in the late 50's. I breezed through the Cold War and era of Mutually Assured Destruction with the oblivious mind of a child. When I emerged from the bubble I realized that both Einstein and Hendrix had passed away... Now that I am in my 50's I find that I must re-inhabit that oblivious space of my childhood. Only now I must carry on without the Friendly Giant to guide me.

Book preview

Planet Moloch:

The Guild of Unrelenting Truth: (Part II)

A novella by:

J. Ella

~~~~~

SMASHWORDS EDITION

~~~~~

Published by:

J. Ella on Smashwords

***

Planet Moloch (Part II):

The Guild of Unrelenting Truth

Copyright 2012  J. Ella

*****

Planet Moloch: Guild of Unrelenting Truth - Part II.

Chapter 1

Every generation needs a new revolution. T. Jefferson.

Elder Derex stepped off the dirigible to the mooring tower. The tower was composed of light gage hyper-alloy arrayed in a serpentine lattice pattern. It appeared as if you were walking through the clouds. He found it disconcerting yet remarkable. He was told the gantry was super strong, which was contrary to its wraith like appearance. The fractal lattice was designed to withstand high winds and ever present sand-grit. The cleric could feel the fine aggregates collecting in his saliva.

The metal used to construct the tower was an exotic nano-amalgamate. Yet another of the Faction's technological advances.

Due to sand, rain and wind, engineers designed an open structure. It was curvaceous and elliptic with no 90 degree corners to collect sand. The blowing wind was deflected and diffused by the pattern. Thirty two dirigibles could be moored and serviced by it.

Today was gloriously sunny with humidity just bordering on uncomfortable. It smelled like rain-to-be. Elder Derex was relieved. The flight to Tzouhalen crossed the inhospitable Northern desert. Large sections of dark red-ochre baked clay were lapped by a shimmering sea of dirty yellow sand. Heat splashed off in waves and carried a spray of dirty yellow sand high into the air. Nothing green could take root there. He shuddered at the thought of having to cross the desert on foot.

A narrow ribbon of road cut through the rock and disappeared into the yellow haze. Rare earth clays and metals, light and heavy metals plus numerous other minerals were bountiful under the harsh deserts. There was no shortage of desert around Tzouhalen. The Scarn and Northern deserts surrounded the city in an ocean of roasting sand. A constant stream of haulers could be seen poking through the barrier haze of dust.

He pulled his eyes from the Northern desert to the verdant green of the valley of life that stretched before him. Only a third of Jaresse's land mass was capable of supporting mammalian life. At the far end of the valley lay the Terranae Sea. It was an inland sea. Around the Terranae circled a band of lush green. This valley and the habitable band around the seashore was the sum of all the fragile terrain capable of supporting civilization.

The Scarn Desert, the Northern Desert, the Great Wasavi or any other desert on the planet frightened Elder Derex. Deserts were inhospitable and unforgiving.  ...and the Scarn was final resting place of the Ixtos.  A visit to his tomb was to be the climax of the Elder's pilgrimage.

Tzouhalen was a huge city. It was one of Jaresse's major transportation hubs. The population was cresting 14 million. Tzouhalen was the logistics base for the Space Elevator since mining and other heavy industries were incorporated within it.  He looked to the east and observed the giant silhouette of the Elevator base under construction. A haze of ochre-grey dust permeated the construction site. Sanitized tailings from countless mining operations were being put to use in its foundations.

The residential part of the city was imaginative and efficiently designed. There were no slums contrasted by grandiose villas. Yet imagination and color were unrestrained. Buildings taller than 10 stories were absent from the skyline -- the exceptions were airship mooring towers. Every home on a lot had a garden. Every rooftop balcony had the same...

He patiently shuffled along the gantry to the elevators with the other passengers. His forehead throbbed slightly and he brought his hand up to touch the brand spot. It felt like hardened scar tissue to the touch but could only be seen by him in a reflecting surface. He wondered if he would encounter the Jorn while on his pilgrimage and trembled at the possibility.

The elevator car filled to capacity, leaving a few people before him in the queue. While waiting for the next car Elder Derex thought back to his encounter with his superior concerning his desire for a sabbatical.

So Derex, you wish time-off and travel assistance for a visit to His final resting place? What has prompted your sudden need for piety my good signor, the Prelate's voice dripped with sarcasm. Derex was renown for his upscale following in his well appointed temples.

Elder Derex replied with deceitful candor, I have been having dreams of the Jorn sir. He admonishes me and tells me to do this pilgrimage. He says that I have grown fat with complacency.

The Prelate was surprised by the cleric's genuine piety. He quickly agreed to the pilgrimage and with a little haggling organized a thin wallet of Jaresse currency.

Derex spent weeks studying current Freedom Faction culture.

Jaresse was the largest of the Freedom Faction countries. Only recently was Jaresse allowing clergy in for pilgrimage. Hostels were built for pilgrims then handed over to the previously banished denominations. Elder Derex was traveling to a hospice which was located in the suburb of Coptiz.

The woman beside him started to move towards the elevator. She seemed anxious, in a hurry to get off the mooring tower. She bumped and pushed her way through the line of people. This elicited growls and terse commentary from those she jostled. No one attempted to physically halt her progress to the elevator. Back in Caremencia some indignant person would have attempted a physical intervention. The Jaresseans could see that she was not good with the walking-on-air environment of the mooring tower.

The elevator arrived and another load squeezed inside. Pilgrim Derex flowed into the car and ended up standing beside the apprehensive woman. She was strikingly attractive despite her constricted fear face. She smelled like a meadow full of wildflowers -- not a chemical mélange of combined synthetic fragrances. She was wearing Jaressee hot weather garments, a loose sari made of ochre red, light rose and bright fuchsia in swatches embellished with random colored striping. The sari cloth was woven from the spit of a genetically engineered bug of some sort. The material was dyed with organic compounds which were extracted from local plants and minerals.

Derex was in awe of what he