Ôgiko: HELICA: Avenger Nadia, #3

By Scott Coleman

Every hero has an origin, a motivation, an aspiration. Sometimes the past comes back to meet us again and put us to the test. Nadia has come out much worse than she expected from her last experience with the rectifier and she needs the help of the deities. Lexa has a new task that will allow her to fulfill her dream. And one of her simplest missions as an Avenger, it will become the great opportunity that Nadia has been waiting for all along.

 

The content of this book hasn't been modified or censored.

 

 

Note: Avenger Nadia is in no way connected with Marvel or Disney and has her own copyright.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scott Coleman
• Release date: Jun 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223519379

Book preview

Ôgiko: HELICA

Avenger Nadia, Volume 3

Scott Coleman

Published by Scott Coleman, 2023.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

ÔGIKO: HELICA

First edition. June 5, 2023.

Copyright © 2023 Scott Coleman.

ISBN: 979-8223519379

Written by Scott Coleman.

Ôgiko: HELICA

Planet Berigo, also known as the cursed planet, was presently an uninhabited world where the Federations of Systems and Galaxies carried out all sorts of military tests and experiments. There were two space stations in the planet’s orbit and three floating airbases inside its atmosphere. Long ago, all the humans and other organic species on the planet had been expelled and relocated to other planets to make way for its current usage. That was why it was considered a cursed planet, a truly uninhabitable place where no one could live. On the surface there were now only a couple of large continents, though nature, indomitable as ever, persisted in its attempt to gain terra firma. As such, there were around a hundred submerged volcanoes in a constant state of eruption, creating small basalt islands with flat hexagonal stones and generating vast mists that spread across the planet’s entire surface.

The descendants of Berigo’s human population no longer had any relationship whatsoever with their planet. In a cruel and difficult decision, the Federations of Systems and Galaxies had wiped out an embryonic civilization. Assimilated into various colonies and planets, the population of just over two million who had been expelled from their home were now so integrated into and intermingled with the other human races that they had become just another phenotype.

Today was a sunny day on airbase BER01B, though it was surrounded by altocumulus due to its altitude. These types of hovering platforms possessed a particular structure, with two long corridors in the form of tubes that connected to every zone. These tubes were separated by the central structure, situated next to the rear engines. This structure could be considered a sort of keep, the place where the entire logistical infrastructure for the base was located. The airbase had three hangars: the central and largest of the three was home to the unmanned vessels while the two lateral ones were anchored to the main corridors and had the capacity to berth a frigate. Hanging from the lower part of BER01B were various backup telecoms antennae whereas the primary ones were located with due protection in the centre of the airbase, along with the force systems that kept the base steady in the atmospheric air. Lastly, the main thrust engine was behind the main tower, occupying a zone protected by a special force field.

The control room was equipped with a system of holographic screens arranged in a circle around the space assigned to the high command, where Admiral Nonnoru stood wearing his dark formal uniform. The technicians occupied their monitoring posts and the soldiers were preparing their weapons, situating themselves in the control zones. The airbase’s second officer was receiving the guests as they reached the meeting room, which had been duly prepared for the fifteen or so visitors.

A second lieutenant was walking hurriedly down one of the many corridors with metal grille floors. The man was late; he had been caught up in the task of relocating the unmanned fighters. The tests for the new prototype were to be carried out in the main hangar and he had been clearing the landing zone, reducing the number of operatives. As soon as he approached the door, the soldiers pointed their laser rifles at his head. Security measures had been tightened to the extreme and the soldiers were wearing their light combat armour.

DNA scanner, one of them asked him in a robotic voice.

The brown-haired second lieutenant smiled apologetically and raised his hands while one of the three soldiers scanned him with a microcomputer in the shape of a card.

You are unarmed, Second Lieutenant Bare, said the woman who had just scanned him through her helmet’s voicebox. It was clearly stated that this was going to be a combat situation and you aren’t wearing combat gear or carrying regulation weapons.

I’m going to receive the guests and we’ll be in the command post alongside the admiral. I’m exempt from that directive, the man replied.

Here. The woman slammed a sheathed pistol into his chest. And I won’t take no for an answer. You are part of the guests’ security, I only hope you don’t need to use it.

The man took the weapon, which was still resting against his chest, and the soldiers moved aside from the entrance to the command post so that the doors opened and the second lieutenant could access the east hangar, where the latest transport from space station BER01A was about to land.

The ship was a private-class transport, the category assigned to vehicles that were built for non-military purposes. In this case, it was a ship with a squared-off V shape and motor discs on the vertices that shone like lights.

The doors to the aircraft opened just as Second Lieutenant Bare was putting the holster and pistol onto one side of his uniform, attaching it to his belt and then sliding it around to the back until it sat just above his backside. Down the exit ramp came a couple of families dressed in spacesuits and they began removing their helmets. The commander of the airbase greeted the first of the adults by raising an open hand to his chest, to which the brown-skinned man with black hair responded in kind. Next, the commander greeted the man’s wife, a blond woman with fair skin, then glanced at the daughter for a few moments before greeting the woman who headed the other family.

The little girl was busy looking at her helmet, which she thought was very pretty. The space helmets were oval with a flattened upper part, a large glass visor at the front and one white reinforcement panel at the back of the head and another grey one on the neck.

Come on, Nadia, said her father.

The visitors took off their spacesuits and left them in a large sterilization drawer, which applied the first wash using ultraviolet rays and centrifugal systems. Beneath the suits they were wearing white uniforms loaned to them on space station BER01A. Only Nadia, who had on a black t-shirt with a white line drawing on it, and another child, in a red jacket, were wearing different clothes.

Once they had all removed their spacesuits and been given the standard medical scans, the top military authority of the humans from the planets Hera, Tenia and Nadia entered the hangar. The woman with short chestnut hair, blue eyes and a simple scar just below the left side of her neck stood in front of the guests, powerfully escorted by eight soldiers in combat gear. This was Military Senator Dhetia and the guests greeted her from a distance, raising an open hand to their chests. Nobody had permission to approach her. The woman was wearing dark assault gear, identical to that of the soldiers accompanying her except for one small detail: the command symbol hidden on her back, on the lower left side of her armour.

Dhetia had not reached her position because of her fighting skills; she had risen through the ranks because of her tactical and analytical capabilities. All of those involved in the prototype that was about to be presented were very grateful for the opportunity she had given them.

Welcome, the military senator greeted them.

The audience waited expectantly for a speech, but Dhetia just smiled. A few seconds later the woman gave a signal with a nod of her head and two of the soldiers began to lead the way towards the central tower of airbase BER01B.

So then, said Nadia’s mother, it’s true that she doesn’t like speaking in public.

I told you, replied her first husband and Nadia’s father. Come on.

The guests moved along, escorted by the soldiers. Second Lieutenant Bare walked next to Nadia at the back of the group, followed by four of the escorts. The inside of the base was quite austere and depressing: the hollow and empty structures were dimly lit, dripped in places and had floors assembled from metal grilles. Everything looked very old.

The first security control they reached required everyone’s identification again before they could access the central tower. The room that had been designated to showcase the prototype was in fact the backup command room, which was only used in the event of an emergency and usually served as a warehouse or makeshift dining room. Once they had been cleared for entry, the visitors climbed some stairs to join some other guests who had arrived earlier. Admiral Nonnoru left his command post to his second officer then turned to go down the stairs to the level below and meet all the guests, escorted by a couple of soldiers. When he was standing opposite them, Dhetia announced his presence and the guests’ chatter died away. When everyone had fallen silent, the admiral addressed them in a friendly tone.

We will begin the test monitoring shortly, he said. For now, I can tell you that security measures are at 99 to 1 and the telecoms for BER01B have been shut down.

A small screen was projected on one of the walls in the room, showing the image of the second officer.

Admiral, Avenger Obleg has just reached the west hangar, announced Second Officer Thareg.

While the Wind Warrior of the North passes through the security controls, we shall begin the monitoring. Does that seem proper to you, Senator? Nonnoru asked her.

It isn’t improper, she replied in a disdainful tone.

The guests began talking amongst themselves again as one of the walls in the room turned into a gigantic screen showing the main hangar. In it, the entire landing area had been cleared. The operators were disassembling a vast metal box to reveal a huge combat fighter. It was so big that the wheels on its landing gear were as tall as a human. With the prototype now visible, Nadia’s father spoke to his daughter, who was sitting on one of the poufs set out for the public.

See how big it is? he pointed out to his daughter, who nodded in awe.

After giving her a brief explanation of why the fighter was so big, the man stood up and went back to the other guests.

Why have you brought your daughter? asked a Nanterilian with bright turquoise scales when he saw that the father and daughter had ended their conversation. I thought you would come to this boring presentation alone.

Well, he replied, Nadia wanted to meet the renowned Wind Warrior.

Ah, so it seems she’s not interested in your work.

I don’t know, I find it hard to talk to her, he admitted sadly. She is… very special.

The Nanterilian approached the girl to chat to her a little.

Are you bored? asked the force engineer.

No. Why would I be bored when I have my imagination? replied the girl.

Good answer, said the Nanterilian with an agreeable smile.

Nadia walked over to the admiral and asked, Don’t you have any plants?

Nonnoru stared at her, surprised at the girl’s initiative.

Of course we have plants, little girl, he answered haughtily, his hands clasped behind his back. We have a greenhouse and biolab, but they aren’t included in today’s visit. We are here to see your father’s excellent work.

The girl looked disappointed.

Nadia! cautioned her mother, walking towards the girl and the admiral. Come with me. Your father wants you next to him during the demonstration.

The admiral accompanied the girl and her mother as the giant screen showed the officer in the hangar. Dressed in combat gear, he could be seen shouting out an order before turning towards the monitor and switching on a small white light signal on his right shoulder.

Now they just had to wait for Avenger Obleg to arrive.

Your daughter asked me about the plants, Nonnoru said to Nadia’s mother. It surprised me.

Yes, nodded Namisakba, known to everyone as Nami, she loves ecosystems. She has three at home. She loves observing them, studying them and changing them.

Well I never. Quite the little bioengineer.

I don’t know about that, replied Nami, without taking her eyes off her daughter, but for now she shows a great deal of interest in everything related to plants and living organisms.

The doors to the backup control room opened and everyone turned expectantly to the entrance. A tall black man with a shaved head and a serious expression on his face entered the room, receiving obvious signs of admiration from all those present. The Wind Warrior of the North greeted them by raising his open hand to his chest and breaking into a smile. He was wearing the typical dark mesh suit worn by