When Queen Nammu learned of the High Priestess's death, she immediately forbade anyone from entering the altar room. She herself returned to the sacred space, her heart heavy with the weight of what she would find. There, on the floor, lay the body of the Priestess. Her death could easily be explained by her old age, yet something felt off. Queen Nammu, unwilling to confront the Priestess’s distorted, lifeless face, turned away in disgust.

  But as she moved to leave, something caught her eye. On the altar, where the stones she threw had been the day before, were now only three stones placed side by side, close to each other. A cold shiver ran through her, but she quickly dismissed the thought. The High Priestess’s last breath had passed in silence, and Queen Nammu would never know what had truly happened in that moment. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that the old Priestess’s death was no mere coincidence, it might not be a bad omen after all. Perhaps the spirits were in need of a change, too.

  She ordered the funeral to take place as soon as possible. Then the Ziggurat would choose a new High Priestess. Hopefully the new High Priestess would be the Queen’s favorite. A new High Priestess who would support Queen Nammu through the Sumer revolution she was planning.

  Queen Nammu immediately ordered that the funeral take place as soon as possible. Once the rites were performed, the Ziggurat would choose a new High Priestess, hopefully one who would be loyal to her. The Queen had plans, ambitions far beyond the altar, and she needed a High Priestess who would serve her interests, especially with the Sumer revolution she was quietly orchestrating. She could already taste the power that a compliant High Priestess would bring to her cause, and her confidence began to swell.

  Her resolve was about to strengthen even further. As she made her way to the Palace, an unexpected messenger arrived. It was an invitation from General Urla, Head of the Sumer Space Agency, a man who stood out in the Sumer world, where women wielded power and influence. The Queen had heard of Urla’s work on new planet research, and now, it seemed, he was ready to share news of promising advancements. In a society where exceptional men like Urla were a rarity, his invitation was both an opportunity and a curiosity.

  Queen Nammu felt the same kind of excitement she had felt when the Agency first discovered Ars Pheria, a tiny planet in the same galaxy as Sumer, hosting intelligent life forms. The spy drones had soon made it safely back to Sumer with proof that there was a human civilization on it. Only when the Sumerians were sure that the Ars Pherian civilization could not be a threat to Sumer did they decide to communicate. Although Ars Pheria was a breakthrough for Sumer in their search for other abducted human civilizations, it was also a disappointment. It was clear that Ars Pheria had limited information and research about Earth or other planets with abducted civilizations. The Sumer research continued, still searching for new planets.

  General Urla greeted Queen Nammu with a respectful nod and escorted her into the expansive meeting room. The space was stark yet impressive, with sleek, glass-like monitors suspended in mid-air, slowly rotating in a rhythmic, almost hypnotic dance.

  At a long, obsidian table, three researchers sat in silence, each cloaked in light, flowing capes that swept the floor like shadows. Their faces were obscured behind shining masks. Queen Nammu took her seat at the head of the table, her piercing gaze fixed on the monitors.

  "General Urla," she began, her voice calm but commanding, "I appreciate the invitation, but there’s no need for pleasantries. Cut to the chase, tell me the good news."

  With a nod from Urla, the glass monitors hummed softly, their rotation accelerating until they were spinning rapidly. As the motion quickened, the monitors flickered to life, and three-dimensional images began to materialize, vivid and sharp, filling the space before her.

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  My Queen, the Agency is delighted to present not just one, but two thrilling developments,” General Urla said, his voice tinged with excitement. “We would like to begin with the more promising of the two.”

  “Please, go ahead,” Queen Nammu responded, her tone sharp yet expectant. Her gaze remained steady as the General spoke, her mind already calculating the potential of whatever news he was about to deliver.

  The Space Agency, founded centuries ago by Queen Aloya, was a testament to her vision, a forward-thinking leader who had stood against the conservative beliefs of the Ziggurat. Queen Aloya had been a pioneer, a futurist in an age when most of Sumer was still mired in the belief that the spirits controlled every aspect of life. The idea of searching for other planets, even other forms of life, was viewed with deep fear by the priestesses of the Ziggurat. To quell the growing anxiety, Queen Aloya had repurposed the Agency’s mission, changing it from a "Search for Other Worlds" to a “Search for Spirits.” In this way, she had cleverly soothed the fears of the public, while still secretly pushing forward with her own ambitions.

  As time passed, the Agency’s true purpose resurfaced. The Sumerians' advanced technology, which had once been used only for religious and governmental purposes, was now being harnessed to build spaceships capable of exploring the stars. Queen Aloya's legacy had paved the way for a new era of discovery, one that Queen Nammu was determined to continue, no matter the cost.

  “My Queen, this image shows a new planet in our neighboring Galaxy. It has almost same climate and air conditions as our Earth. There is high probability of life. We do not yet know if there is a civilization or not. We are ready to send spy drones upon your confirmation.”

  “How far is this new planet?” Queen Nammu asked, her voice cool but inquisitive. “Tell me, in comparison to Ars Pheria.”

  “This new planet is nearly twenty times farther than Ars Pheria,” General Urla replied, his tone measured. “It would take more than 90 days for even our spy drones to reach it.”

  Without hesitation, Queen Nammu’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t wait. Send the drones immediately.”

  General Urla paused for a moment, his gaze dropping beneath his mask before speaking again. “My Queen, you may want to hear about the second good news before confirming the drones.”

  Queen Nammu’s lips pressed into a thin line as she leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “Go ahead, please. This is getting even more exciting.”

  General Urla’s voice remained low and steady, his words emerging from the shadow of his mask. “It concerns our research into Ars Pherian underground resources. Our spies have detected a vast ocean of liquid metal beneath the planet’s surface.”

  Queen Nammu’s gaze sharpened. “Go on.”

  Urla continued, “The Ars Pherians are aware of this metal, but they seem to lack an understanding of its true potential. Their scientific advancements in nuclear technology are limited, so they’re focused on stabilizing the metal in solid form. They’ve been working with small samples, but they’re far from unlocking its true capabilities.”

  “And what is the significance of this metal to us?”

  “My Queen, this metal could replace the uranium we currently use in our spaceships, allowing for far greater speeds of travel through space.”

  “This is indeed a fortunate day!” Queen Nammu’s laughter echoed through the meeting room.

  “My Queen, the information we have, based on the spy drones, is still merely a presumption. We would need at least ten cubic meters of the liquid metal to properly study it and confirm our findings. We will also need to persuade the Ars Pherians and send a spaceship to retrieve the metal.”

  “That is a problem,” Queen Nammu replied coolly. “They are unaware of our surveillance. And the Ziggurat have no idea we monitor them either. How long will it take for our ships to reach Ars Pheria?”

  “It would take twenty days at full speed, assuming no fuel is reserved for the return journey.”

  “And how long if fuel is reserved for the return?”

  “Fifty days.”

  “Prepare the flagship for departure at once, and inform me once it is ready.”

  “Certainly, my Queen. And what is your decision regarding the new planet?”

  “Let’s wait for now.”

  Queen Nammu had never been more excited in her life. She knew she was destined for change and revolution, but she hadn’t anticipated such a powerful surge of momentum. Now, with the wind at her back, she would sail toward her destiny.