CHAPTER 1

Finn’s heart was racing and his muscles ached as he broke into a dead sprint across the open ground. A geyser of dirt and flames exploded mere feet from him as a relentless shower of mortars rained down all around. The distinct bark of a grenade launcher was followed an instant later by the screaming howl of the approaching warhead. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as his eyes locked on the bulbous head of the RPG round as it grew steadily closer, a tail of smoke and flames trailing behind it.

Ahead of him, a stream of soldiers raced for the safety of a sandbagged bunker. Finn traced the smoke trail of the warhead and realized in a sickening moment of clarity that it was targeted directly at the bunker’s entrance. He waved his arms and called out at the top of his lungs, trying to get a warning to his soldiers, but his voice was drowned out in the roar of weapons fire and thunder of pounding explosions.

Finn dug deep, pouring on more speed as the RPG round quickly closed the distance. Through the dust and smoke he spotted two soldiers supporting a wounded comrade making their way through the bunkers entrance. His lungs burned in the acrid smoke, but still he cried out as loud as his lungs and voice would allow, his mind focused and reaching out, willing himself to be heard.

The RPG round passed over his shoulder so close that he could have reached out and touched it. The super-heated air from its exhaust momentarily blinded Finn as it passed by. Through blurred vision he saw the flash of the impact followed by the thump of the explosion. A secondary explosion followed a heartbeat later as ordinance inside the bunker cooked off.

Time slowed as the shock wave lifted Finn off his feet and propelled him backwards. He floated through the air as everything around him was suddenly filled with a mixture of flying dirt, smoke, flames and debris. His mind whirled as it tried to sort through the mosaic images swirling around him. Bits of shattered equipment, a chipped coffee mug missing its handle, the barrel of a machine gun doing summersaults, a pair of glasses bent at the nose pad and missing the left lens, a tattered Kevlar helmet with the chinstrap waving, a burning magazine that looked like it had wings, a single combat boot with a partial leg still attached, all soared by him. Following that wave of debris another cloud of detritus approached at breakneck speed. Finn’s stomach churned as he observed a severed head, detached arms and legs that surrounded the air around him. Next he felt the heat and pinpricks rippling across his body as he was peppered with shrapnel. The tearing, cutting, stabbing and burning sensations all blended with the horrific knowledge of dead comrades and soldiers under his command. These individuals who had entrusted him with their lives, now lay dead and in pieces. It was all too overwhelming and he cried out in a mix of agony and despair…

“Finn! Wake up! Finn, it’s okay! You’re alright.” Lauren called out as she gently shook him back into reality.

Finn’s pajamas were drenched in sweat as he sat up against the wooden headboard. He was wide-eyed and disoriented, struggling to make sense of his surroundings. “What the hell?” he stammered as his pulse pounded in his ears and rivulets of sweat dripped from his forehead.

“Everything’s fine. It was the dream again.” Lauren offered softly. Her soothing voice helping to ease him back into the here and now.

“Jesus that was so real.” Finn replied as he reached for a glass of water from the nightstand.

The bedroom window was standing wide open and a cool breeze fluttered through the curtains. He felt his pulse easing back to normal as he downed the glass of water and dabbed at his damp forehead with the back of his hand. The dreams were steadily increasing with their frequency in recent years. The nightmares were almost always the same, flashbacks to the war in Afghanistan. Despite the passage of so much time and everything that had happened in the interim, his subconscious mind always picked that particular event to relive over and over again in graphic detail.

“Breakfast is just about ready, why don’t you jump in the shower and wake up a little more.” Lauren said as she retreated from the bedroom, understanding that he needed a few more minutes to get those personal demons completely in check.

In the bathroom, Finn stood soaking a little longer than usual under the stream of hot water cascading from the shower head. Letting the hot water wash over him and loosen up his tense muscles felt really good which made it difficult to end the relaxing luxury of a hot shower. Thanks to the efforts from both Dutch and Marcela, the two finest engineers in the colony, enough solar sheeting had been fabricated to provide a heated water source for individual homes. While far from an unlimited supply, the wooden drums attached to each house provided ample water for bathing, cooking and other helpful household activities. He had long ago learned to get in and out of a shower as fast as possible, ensuring he almost always had enough hot water to do the trick. Lauren on the other hand was another story, she would often remain in the shower for too long, using every last drop of hot water only to find herself rushing at the end to rinse off in chillier temperatures. Wanting more hot water is one of the few things she ever offered a word of complaint about in their new home.

Finn wiped the misty fog from the small mirror and locked eyes with the man staring back at him. Aside from a few extra scars, a rich and healthy tan, and sharply toned muscles, it was hard to see any notable changes in his appearance since leaving their own planet and setting off across the galaxy all those years ago. The climate, atmosphere and limited radiation on Earth 2.0 was such that the entire aging process seemed to grind to a halt. From what they had learned since their arrival, it was conceivable that their lifespans would be nearly tripled in their new home.

Finn was 34 years old the day they departed Earth. Depending on how you looked at things now, he was either 44 or 61. With each Earth 2.0 year equaling the equivalent of 2.75 years from the world they left behind, tracking ones age could actually be a confusing prospect. However, the man in the mirror reminded him more of himself in his late twenties than someone already passing beyond middle age.

It was funny in some way that one of the greatest sources of contention within the colony came from trying to agree on a universal time keeping method. For the most part they were evenly split with one side wishing to continue following the old Earth calendar and the other half preferring the development of a new system that better matched the passage of time on Earth 2.0. A consensus had finally been reached that they would simply take the old calendar and add the appropriate number of days to each month. What that gave them was the familiar twelve month system albeit with days added to each month to accommodate the longer year.

Dressing in his weathered and worn utility uniform, Finn was grateful that his allotted period for replacement clothing was coming soon. Once a year everyone was provided with new work uniforms, boots and outerwear. The dates were staggered to keep stress on their clothing fabricators to a minimum, but as hard as most of them were on those outfits, it was like a 2nd Christmas when their resupply day finally rolled around.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sausage carried through their small home and Finn’s stomach growled in eager anticipation. Lauren had prepared the table on the screened in front porch with juice, coffee, toast, eggs and sausage. They both enjoyed taking their meals on the porch when the weather permitted. The sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding community was a welcome atmosphere.

Lauren was focused on putting the jelly and butter on the table to finish getting the breakfast table ready, when Finn snuck up behind her and reached out to give her a playful smack across her rear end catching her by surprise and causing her to jump.

“You ass!” She exclaimed as she turned to face him with a lighthearted punch to his shoulder.

“No my dear. That was YOUR ass.” Finn replied with a devilish grin as he ducked backwards to avoid her follow up swing.

Lauren had been up for some time already, as was her habit in recent years. She was already showered and dressed in a set of green surgical scrubs, her typical workday outfit. This particular set of scrubs had been customized with an elastic waistband to help accommodate her swelling abdomen. Approaching the three month mark of her pregnancy, her belly seemed to grow on a daily basis, a fact that Finn was careful to avoid mentioning.

Dr. Lauren Epperson was the Chief Medical Officer chosen for the mission to come to Earth 2.0 to lead all the medical teams necessary for a new colony. Her expertise had proven to be invaluable and saved countless lives, including Finn’s best friend Tayte. The chemistry between Lauren and Finn was very strong from the beginning, so it was natural for them to become a pair and settle down to start a family together.

They sat together at the wooden picnic table arranged on their small porch. Their two story, two bedroom bungalow style home was a cookie cutter facsimile of the surrounding houses. One of three neighborhoods constructed within the boundaries of Fort Redding, family housing varied from bungalow style, to cottage or smaller ranch models. Each housing area was artfully arranged to include wooded parks, walking paths, gardens as well as shared community facilities for parties, meetings or social activities, along with recreation and support structures. A centralized nondenominational house of worship, gymnasium and playgrounds were available for all. All in all it provided them with a comfortable and peaceful existence.

The squeal of playing children laughing and having fun rang out across the landscaped grounds outside the front of their home. Both Finn and Lauren found themselves watching with warmed hearts as a group of school aged children darted between trees and bushes immersed in a game of tag. The next generation of colonists was already well established as many of the original settlers from the Resolute had paired off and started families in the last several years.

“I’ll never understand how it works.” Finn mused as he watched the children playing while enjoying his breakfast. “While adults are aging at a glacial pace, the children continue growing like little weeds.”

Lauren stifled a laugh as she helped herself to a hearty scoop of scrambled eggs. “Trust me, I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around it too. We may never truly understand how it all works. The best I can say is that our internal physiology in terms of growth and maturity is not impacted by the factors on this planet that slow aging later in life. I imagine it is a hereditary condition that will continue being passed down for generations to come. At some point future generations may lose those protections. For now, we can simply count it as a blessing.” Absently running her hand across her swelling belly she continued, “I supposed we can count ourselves lucky in that regard. I really couldn't imagine extended pregnancies and all those extra years caring for an infant.”

Scraping his plate clean, Finn leaned back in his chair with his coffee in hand, and sipping slowly from his mug, he asked. “So, what’s on the schedule for today?”

Lauren sighed as she contemplated the day ahead, “there’s a council meeting later this afternoon, after which I have a training session scheduled for our new nursing staff at the medical center.”

Finn scoffed at the mention of the council, “You know, the council is really turning into a political shit show. I’m starting to run into red tape for the smallest things, it’s becoming a real pain in the ass.”

“You’re never happy are you?” Lauren teased, “I remember you bitching and complaining about the lack of civilian government straining your resources. Now, once we finally have a functional system, you’re upset when its doing the job you originally wanted it to do. There’s just no satisfying you, is there?”

Finn shook his head and kept quiet, deep down he knew she was right and more importantly he knew that arguing with a pregnant woman was more dangerous than hand to hand combat with a pack of Raptors.

“First things first.” Lauren continued as she started clearing the dishes from the table, “You and I are heading out to the Groves, it’s time for the monthly check up.”

The ATV purred along quietly, the electric motor eliminating much of the noise typical of its fossil fuel guzzling predecessors. Finn steered them along a smoothed, dirt trail that cut a path through the back of the colony, into the surrounding forest and towards a secluded lake shimmering through the trees in the distance.

Fourteen identical log cabins, arranged in a neat cluster along the far banks of the lake comprised the secluded community they had all come to know simply as “the Groves”. The name derived from the ample covering of Paper birch, Douglas fir and Willow trees growing in dense groves along the surrounding shoreline.

The Groves served as home for the former crew members of the Resolute, the starship they’d all traveled on to eventually settle on Earth 2.0.

The thirty man crew had stayed awake during the fifteen year journey, their bodies suffering the ravages of time while their passengers spent the journey in cryo chambers where the aging process was entirely suspended. While it had never been intended to happen, a divide of sorts had formed between the crew and colonists. Whether it stemmed from an unspoken resentment from the crew that they’d aged while the others hadn’t or simply a natural division based on status was never fully understood. There remained a somewhat uncomfortable disassociation between crew members and colonists.

The crew had ultimately requested segregated housing where they could live out their golden years in peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the developing colony. As a reward for their dedicated service, the colonists had readily agreed.

They followed the path from the edge of the forest and through a split between corn fields and crops of potatoes. The lake was fed from streams in the sprawling hills to the north, the crystal clear waters were something that many of them had never experienced before. Pollution and climate change turning most waterways on Earth into a sickening toxic sludge where nothing could survive. Wooden docks were arranged along the shore and a handful of small sail boats and canoes were tied up alongside each.

Each cabin was home to a pair of crew members, the spacious two bedroom structures allowed for a comfortable and relaxing retirement. Of the original 30 crew members, only 19 remained alive to date. It was an unfortunate part of their lives to accept that suicide was the number one killer, not only in the Groves but within the population as a whole. Mental health issues were difficult to deal with and the only pair of professionals in the field had perished before they could set foot in their new home.

Once a month, Lauren scheduled time to visit each member of the crew. She conducted basic physical exams and spoke with them at length to gauge any changes in their mental health. As her pregnancy progressed, it was at Finn’s insistence that she not make the trip alone, and he volunteered as her chauffeur and aid for more recent visits.

Finn steered them towards one particular cabin, the home of Commander Brian Tilley, former captain of the Resolute and unofficial leader of the Groves community. They spotted the commander in the small field alongside his home. A picnic table was arranged under the shade of a towering oak tree with a computer tablet sitting on top of it. Commander Tilley had set up a Sky Watcher Telescope in the middle of the field that had cables running to the computer tablet where he controlled the telescope from.

Commander Tilley’s back was to them as they approached, his attention focused on the screen as he gingerly made incremental alterations to the telescope’s angle. He wore a tattered and weathered flight suit, one of a handful of identical uniforms from his meager wardrobe. Despite repeated offers to supply him with a wider assortment of clothing options, he’d insisted that his uniform was all he would ever need. Twice a year, Lauren snatched his spare uniforms, whisking them away to one of the several tailors in Fort Redding. The outfits had been patched and sewn so many times at this point, that it was unlikely a single stitch of the original fabric remained.

“She’s a beauty.” Commander Tilley called out without turning to face them, “even after all this time, clean lines, polished surfaces, a little wear and tear but otherwise in good shape, she just soldiers on like a true trooper.”

Finn eased into the picnic table next to him while Lauren began her exam. On the screen of the data pad a high gain image of the Resolute was displayed as the telescope tracked its orbit.

“She’s still a fine looking ship.” Finn marveled, “carried us all the way to our new home. We owe her a great deal.”

They’d left the ship as the last of its power drained away, leaving it a lifeless husk in high orbit where it would continue circling the planet for at least another century before eventually falling victim to orbital decay.

Glancing at Finn, Commander Tilley nodded toward the silver eagle pinned to his uniform collar and noted, “I see you’ve made full Colonel now. Congratulations on the promotion.”

Finn and Lauren exchanged troubled looks. It had been a little over a year since his promotion to Colonel, and in that time he’d visited the Commander several times. On each of those visits he’d made the exact same observation while offering similar words of adulation. His memory and mental acuity were starting to slip.

“How have you been feeling?” Lauren asked as she continued with her exam. “Any trouble sleeping?”

“No, not at all. I get the standard 8 solid hours each and every night. Run three miles every morning followed by push-ups and crunches. I haven't missed a day in twenty years.” Commander Tilley replied proudly. “It’s more important than ever to keep in shape these days. Never know when the admiralty will issue sailing orders for the fleet.”

Lauren smiled warmly as she tapped some notes into her PDA, updating the commander’s medical records.

“Impressive.” Lauren said as she began putting her equipment away, “Fit as a fiddle, you’re just as healthy as a horse.”

Two hours later, Lauren wrapped up her exams with the last crew member on her list before they started to head out and make their way back to the colony.

“I’m really worried about Brian.” Lauren started, “physically he seems to be doing well, and even the arthritis appears to have stopped giving him problems.”

“He seems to be slipping in the mental department.” Finn completed her assessment for her as he steered them into the forest and back towards the colony.

“Exactly, we’re simply not equipped to deal with mental health issues. I’ve been studying up on all the available literature, trying to bring myself up to speed as fast as possible. The sad truth of the matter is, Brian and the rest of the crew are likely going to suffer long term ill effects well before I reach a point where I could hope to offer viable treatments.”

“Colonel.” A voice crackled over his wrist mounted data assistant. Finn recognized the voice of the day shift watch commander manning Fort Redding’s Operations Center. “We have a situation here sir.”

“Roger.” Finn replied sharply, “I’m on my way, ETA ten minutes.”

Finn steered them towards home where he would first drop off Lauren so she could grab some lunch and a short nap before she was due to meet with the council. Something in his gut told him that this was a little more than an average call from the Op center. If he were asked to explain that sensation later he would shrug his shoulders and simply state that his senses told him something was happening, something that would potentially impact all their lives. Twisting the handle a little harder, he squeezed a little extra speed from the ATV as Lauren wrapped her arms tighter around his waist and nuzzled her head protectively into his back.

The Operations Center had undergone significant changes over the years. Home to their most sensitive equipment, the facility housed their primary communications hub, satellite uplinks as well as drone control stations. The colony arms room and military/police supply center was situated in an outbuilding directly behind it.

The two-story building was a hardened facility of steel and concrete, the only such building within the colony. It featured an underground wing which could also serve as a fallout shelter in the event of a catastrophic incident.

A rotating guard force of a dozen men along with a staff of technicians, manned the center around the clock during normal, peacetime operations. For Finn, his modest office in the heart of the facility served as his home away from home.

Finn entered through the main entrance after passing a security checkpoint and down a wide corridor until he reached a second checkpoint outside the heavy door into the heart of the op center. The central area of the room was divided on each side by a narrow strip passing by five rows of workstations. A massive display screen on the far wall was surrounded by several smaller panels displaying a variety of telemetry and associated data. Weather patterns, ocean currents, orbital geological surveys and even animal migration were monitored by the small fleet of high orbit satellites.

To his left was a doorway leading to a large conference area, a wooden plaque over the door dubbed the space the ‘War Room’. On the right of the room was his office along with a few spare offices and rest rooms. The second floor contained storage areas, a barracks wing, full kitchen as well as shower facilities.

“Colonel.” The watch officer, a young Lieutenant, offered as soon as he entered the room.

“What’s the situation Lieutenant?” Finn asked as his eyes swept across the glowing monitors.

“A short time ago we monitored an unidentified vessel entering orbit. Telemetry indicates a surface landing within the next several minutes.” The Lieutenant reported.

Tapping the keys on a tablet, the officer fed the imagery to the main view screen. An instant later they were presented with a computerized rendition of the planet along with an overlay of radar data representing the unidentified craft, its course and projected landing zone.

“This is a new vessel? Not one that we were already tracking?” Finn asked as he studied the screen.

“Correct sir.” The Lieutenant said. “As soon as it was spotted I went back through the logs for the past six months. We’re currently tracking three inbound vessels, the closest is still eight months out, there’s another with an ETA of 3 Earth years and change, and one more that only recently entered the sector from the dimensional gateway, ETA, 11 Earth years. This one simply appeared on our scopes as it entered orbit.”

They had long ago learned that Earth 2.0 was an attractive planet for ships originating from a countless number of alternative versions of their home world. Despite the destruction of the signal device used by the Creators to draw humans to this place, the planet continued to serve as a beacon of hope for humanity in all its forms. In most cases those visitors included refugees desperately in search of a new home, the same reason they’d traveled across the stars themselves. Explorers simply interested in visiting new worlds were also not uncommon.

For the most part visitors were welcomed with open arms. Over the years their population had grown fivefold simply from integrating colonists from those alternate worlds. They introduced a diverse skill set, backgrounds and rich cultural experiences that were readily integrated into their growing community.

Not all newcomers were interested in joining them however, some had preferred to strike out on their own. As such, the planet was now home to several independently developing populations. For the most part they lived in peace leaving each other to live as they will, sink or swim.

“We’re sure it’s not a glitch? Some kind of atmospheric echo?” Finn asked as he continued studying the readouts.

“Positive Sir. It’s definitely a ship of some kind. Judging by the angle of atmospheric entry, it approached the planet on a course that would line up with the Sol System back home. I can’t explain how we missed it until now.” The Lieutenant replied.

The ship was already progressing into the lower atmosphere and beginning to slow. Three satellites were tracking its progress with the telemetry fed directly into the computers in the Op Center.

“It’s cloaked.” A familiar voice offered from the back of the room, “completely invisible to all forms of electronic surveillance”.

Finn turned to see Dutch rushing into the room and jumping into a seat at an unoccupied computer station. The young, somewhat brutish engineer had proved herself time and time again to be the subject matter expert on every system at their disposal. Her brilliant mind could always be counted on to come up with a new and creative solution to any problem that arose. Along with her partner, Marcela, they had successfully cracked the code of many systems acquired from the Creators. The pair of women were the only civilians to earn Finn’s complete and unwavering trust with full access to their most sensitive equipment.

“I’ve been trying to figure it out since we first spotted it.” Dutch explained with a nod towards the screen as her fingers danced expertly across a keyboard, “that imagery is from the super-heated gases of atmospheric entry. It’s the only reason we’re seeing it now. Our systems can’t see the actual ship.”

A moment later the screen adjusted to show a thermal view of the approaching object. Finn gasped in surprise when he noted what appeared to be a hollow shape surrounded by glowing swirls of oranges, yellows and reds.

“Ok, that’s not something you see every day.” Finn exclaimed, “can you tell where it’s going to land?”

Based on a number of factors, including speed of the object, atmospheric conditions, angle of entry and a myriad of rapidly changing variables, the computer projected the most probable landing zone and displayed it on the screen. Dutch centered the view screen and overlaid a map of the surface. Though the projections weren't exact as conditions were likely to change as the ship progressed closer to the surface, they were presented with a potential landing zone covering a fifty square mile stretch of open sea over a thousand miles south of Fort Redding.

“Oh shit.” Dutch said as she studied the readings, “an ocean landing. That’s not good.”

“Lucky for them that’s right in Tayte’s backyard.” Finn replied, “Even so, we need to get down there as soon as possible. How long until the shuttle can be ready for launch?”

“Ummm, that’s a bit of a problem.” Dutch murmured cautiously.

Turning to face her, Finn raised an eyebrow as he waited for her to continue.

“The engine on the number two shuttle is in pieces at the moment.” Dutch replied, “it’s that regulator again. I’ve completely overhauled it four times now. It comes down to metal fatigue, the components are breaking down and I don’t have the parts to replace them.”

“What about the fabricators?” Finn asked, “you’ve integrated a lot of the systems we recovered from the Creators, can’t you fabricate those parts?”

Dutch sighed as she rubbed her palm across her forehead, “I wish it was as simple as that. Those upgrades have given us a wealth of new capabilities to be sure, however, this is a little different. The engine components for the shuttles are constructed from a titanium based alloy. While we have access to plentiful sources of titanium here, it’s the specific manufacturing process that I’m having trouble duplicating. Each component in those engines are designed to specifications I simply can’t recreate and if they’re off by so much as a few micrometers, the whole thing could simply blow up once it reaches its max temperature.”

“Ok, so what about shuttle one?” Finn was getting impatient.

Dutch’s eyes swept across the room in contemplation, clearly uncomfortable with the answer she was about to give, “Dr. Hughes received council permission to take the shuttle on an expedition to the North. They aren’t due back for another six days. Phoenix, Linc, Rune and a small security force are with him.”

Finn felt a familiar throbbing in his temple as his blood pressure rapidly rose. Shuttle use had been an ongoing source of contention between himself and council. With only two shuttles at their disposal, he insisted their use be limited to military and medical necessities. The council tended to think otherwise. Exploration and scientific expeditions were considered of the utmost priority and more often than not they were prone to approve such outings without his knowledge.

“The Unidentified craft is now in the lower atmosphere.” The watch commander reported. “It’s slowing but its course remains unchanged. ETA, thirty minutes to touchdown.”

“How long to get shuttle two up and running?” Finn asked as he watched the computer generated object steadily approaching the sea far to the south.

“Forty eight hours.” Dutch replied.

Finn knew it would take at least that long to recall shuttle one from its present location. Allowing for another twelve hours to recharge its systems and prep for another trip, there simply wasn't another option.

“Get on it.” He ordered, “In the meantime, I’ve got a call to make. They won’t last long in the open ocean. Tayte’s not going to be happy with this one.”

CHAPTER 2

“Left! Keep coming left!” Tayte called out as he knelt over the bow of the craft peering into the shallows at ragged stumps, small boulders and other obstructions hidden just under the water line. “There you go. A little more.” He yelled over his shoulder before raising his fist and shouting, “Hold that. Right there. Drop anchor here.”

Standing in the covered wheelhouse, Bew reached down and removed a wooden dowel releasing a pair of large rocks attached to the deck and tied off on either side of the boat with lengths of rope. Tayte liked to call them a poor man’s anchor, nothing fancy or pretty but it did the job.

The small wooden ship itself was far from fancy or pretty, but it was solidly constructed and served its purpose well. Based on a pontoon design, two lengths of balsa wood tree trunks were hollowed out and fitted under wooden planks and the little wheelhouse. By fitting curved sections of stretched and fire treated bark along each side and layering them until they reached waist height, the craft was perfect for fishing or as a hunting platform up and down the banks of the river. A mast could easily be raised or lowered to provide sailing power, but most of the time they simply made use of long cane poles to nudge the boat along with the current.

Tayte felt the anchors take hold as the boat ground to a halt. Opening a storage door along the outside of the wheelhouse, he withdrew a pair of handcrafted fishing rods. Artfully carved from high quality Tonkin Bamboo, the poles were sturdy and capable of handling even the largest freshwater monsters the river had to offer. With hooks carved from animal bones the bait of choice was small chunks of hog intestines. They’d found that the noxious odor of the meat was a preferred delicacy of most aquatic life.

“Ahh” Tayte sighed as he cast his line and relaxed on a fur lined stool. “This is exactly how I always dreamed my retirement would play out.”

His ‘retirement’ was a running joke between Bew and himself. The wounds he’d suffered years ago now put limits on his physical activity. Even though Finn and the council had offered him promotions and promises of a relaxed work schedule, Tayte had known it was time to step down from military life. When the time came to settle a new colony far to the south of Fort Redding, the council offered Tayte the chance to serve as interim Mayor to help develop the new settlement from the ground up. He’d jumped at the chance. Now, many years later he was beginning his third and final term in office after winning successive democratic elections.

Plopping down beside him, Bew offered him a worn mug of a homemade grog, a heavy hitting alcoholic beverage that took a little getting used to, but overtime he’d developed a taste for it. Bew was a native of the planet, coming from a race called the Revati. During the war with the Creators, Bew was a nurse who was helping tend to the wounded and Tayte was one of her patients that had been critically wounded. During Tayte’s long recovery, Bew couldn’t resist his charms and flirtatious nature.

“You always dreamed of slopping grog on the shoreline of an alien world with a cave woman at your side?” She teased.

Tayte gave her a playful slap on the thigh as he laughed, “My dear, I couldn't have asked for it to turn out any better than that!”

A splash in the reeds near the shoreline caught their attention. Tayte’s hand dropped automatically to his pistol belt and rested on the butt of the ever-present pulse pistol. While the inland waterways provided a wonderful distraction for fishing and exploring the rich wildlife of the southern hemisphere, it also harbored dangerous creatures who excelled at ambush attack.

They spied a ribbed and circular dome slipping into the choppy water under a thick tree trunk and then disappearing into the brackish swirls. Tayte relaxed as he realized it was only a sea turtle, or Archelon if he wanted to be scientific about it. Docile creatures that they were, their huge size made it impractical to hunt from a craft as small as theirs. Tipping the scales at 3 to 4 tons for a run of the mill adult, a larger vessel with at least ten crew were necessary to successfully land one.

Tayte was grateful it was just a turtle. The backwaters, rivers, streams and lakes of the region were also home to some truly terrifying demons. It was the prehistoric cousins of the modern crocodile that worried him the most. Known by their nickname, River Boss, the colossal predators grew to lengths of 40 to 50 feet with a mass of 6 tons or more. While sightings of the beasts were rare, the ruined carcasses of immense land animals occasionally floated downstream bearing their telltale teeth marks and served as a reminder that no waterways were truly safe from danger.

His line grew taut and there was a splash several feet off the bow, Tayte jerked back on the rod and felt the hook set and the satisfying weight of a hefty fish dipping the tip of his rod downwards.

“Oh baby I’ve got dinner on the line!” Tayte whooped with excitement.

With the fish firmly hooked, Tayte settled the base of the rod into a holder between his feet and readied himself for the coming fight. As it flailed and broke the surface with a fountaining splash, he got his first good look at his prize, a powerful Sturgeon. At close to thirty pounds and at least four feet in length, it was smaller than average for the river, but would still provide them with plenty of meat. The fish slapped back into the water and headed deep trying every trick in its arsenal to regain its freedom.

“Cut it loose!” Bew suddenly shouted from across the deck as she jumped to her feet and hurriedly reeled in her own empty line.

Still focused on the heated battle between man and beast, Tayte’s attention remained locked on the swirls of the water’s surface where his wiggling line was now spooling back out as the fish made a desperate dash towards deeper waters.

“The hell you talking about woman?” Tayte sneered, giving a quick glance over his shoulder towards Bew, but keeping his attention focused on his thrilling catch. “I’ve almost got this beauty!”

Tayte felt the planks under his feet rattle as Bew charged across the deck. When she crossed by his peripheral vision he saw her drawing the large knife from its sheath on her belt, and with a swift decisive swipe of the blade, she cut the line.

“Wh…” The question stuck in his throat as the boat rocked and shuddered against a sudden onslaught of underwater impacts. Tayte lost his balance and dropped to his knees as Bew flung herself backwards clear of the boats railings. A flash of silver flew through the space Bew had occupied an instant earlier. Tayte both saw and heard the vicious snapping of rows of razor-sharp teeth as the flat bodied fish sailed over his head slamming with a resounding thunk against the wall of the wheelhouse.

Realization hit him like a brick and he rapidly jumped to his feet pulling his own knife from its sheath in one swift motion. Tayte scrambled towards the glowering and thrashing fish, trying to keep his balance and footing on the way by anticipating the ships movement. He drove the long, sharp blade down into its narrow head. Keeping with the momentum, Tayte stabbed repeatedly in a vicious ferocity until it was reduced to nothing more than a pulverized bloody mess.

“Flashers?!” Tayte exclaimed, as he barely took a moment to catch his breath stepping away from the dead fish. He instinctively jerked his head back to confirm that Bew was ok, and he saw that she was already racing across the deck to the anchor mounts.

“Yes, many Flasher fish! We must leave, now!” Bew called back as she hurriedly cut both anchor lines and then immediately made her way towards the wheelhouse.

The deck under their feet was bouncing angrily now, and Tayte risked peering over the side of the boat to see a cloudy silver mass of squirming bodies rapidly closing in on them from upstream. The handful of piranha-like fish attacking the underside of the boat was nothing more than a small advance element that typically stayed a minute or two ahead of the main body of fish searching out targets for the swarm to descend upon in mass.

Known as flasher fish by the Revati, they stood as one of the greatest threats on inland waterways across the planet. A mass of flashers could number in the thousands and with their bony bodies and rows of razor-sharp teeth they are capable of tearing through even the most well-crafted wood of a sturdy sailing ship if caught idling in the midst of the swarm. These ancestors of modern day Piranha are larger and much more aggressive than their predecessors. Moving in tightly packed swarms they prowl through the waterways in search of any food source unlucky enough to cross their path. Stories were told of T-Rex’s unsuspectingly wading into a mass of flashers and then stripped of all their meat leaving behind nothing but bones in only a few short minutes. While their boat wouldn't make an attractive meal, it was an obstacle and the flashers would lash out against anything in their path.

While Bew began working the wheel and rudders, Tayte unhooked the mast with the sail wrapped carefully around it and quickly set it into position in the center of the deck. Releasing the lengths of rope holding the fabric in place, he gripped it by the bottom corner and pulled hard to unfurl it exposing it to an easterly breeze. The sail fluttered and then caught in the wind as Bew steered them into an agonizingly slow turn away from the swarming mass of death and destruction. The drumming under their feet grew to an alarming crescendo and the first spouts of water became visible at their feet as flashers tore through the decking.

“We’re not going to make it.” Tayte cried as he watched the looming swarm drawing perilously close. Racing through their available options he realized they had one chance, a long shot to say the least, but it was their only one, “Turn us upstream!” He shouted as he frantically pulled hard against the boom adjusting the sail to catch the best part of the winds.

Bew stared back at him slack-jawed and confused with his instruction to actually turn towards the approaching danger. Over the years they’d built a bond of mutual trust that allowed her to push aside any misgivings and believe in him without question. Bew turned her attention back to the wheel and with a firm grip she spun it and held fast as the boat responded and its bow turned upstream. At the same moment the ship turned, the sails billowed and flapped as they adjusted to catch a stronger breeze which rapidly increased their speed and carried them into deeper waters further away from the shore. Clear of the underwater obstructions and attaining faster speeds gave them a greater range of maneuverability. Tayte called out minor adjustments over his shoulder while Bew made the necessary changes and steered them closer to the leading edge of the swarm. Seconds later they entered the swarm and the pounding from under the deck reached a teeth chattering level that threatened to tear them apart at any moment.

Tayte dashed to the leather sack hanging on the front of the wheel house and began scooping out handfuls of animal remains and heaving them overboard. The intestines, internal organs, scraps of meat and coagulated blood formed a distracting cloud of chum which attracted the attention of the killer fish and drew them away from the boat. Tayte completely emptied the leather sack of chum, and he hoped that would be enough for them to get through the swarm and keep the boat from sinking. The jarring ride continued with the unrelenting flasher fish thrashing and beating against the boat, generating leak after leak from various splits and gashes in the wood decking at their feet. With the added speed, and Bew making effective and rapid course adjustments, they finally passed through the swarm and into the open and clear waters beyond. Since flasher fish were opportunistic they ignored the fleeing boat, and focused their attention on other prey in their path.

“Holy shit! That was crazy.” Tayte cried out as he watched the pack of frenzied fish continue on their way downstream.

“You are a brave, but stupid, old man!” Bew scoffed at him, “Never have I known anyone willingly move into the path of flashers.”

“You know me. I love to live dangerously!” Tayte replied with a wide grin as he cast his gaze back to the fading shoreline, and then down at his feet where he was standing in ankle deep water that was still rising from the numerous leaks. “However, this might be a good time to turn around and head for home. I don’t think I’m brave enough to try swimming to shore if this thing sinks.”

Bew turned the wheel directing the boat back downstream towards the headwaters where distant tendrils of rising smoke marked their home. Just then, a booming crack echoed loudly across the surrounding valley causing them both to turn and stare skyward.

“Not thunder.” Bew announced, “no storms anywhere near here.”

“No, not thunder.” Tayte offered as he gestured skyward, “A ship entering the atmosphere.”

It was only a speck at that point, a small black pinprick followed by a rapidly expanding trail of flame and smoke.

“Not one of ours either.” Tayte said, “Its coming into the atmosphere at a much steeper angle than our own shuttles would ever try.” As they rounded a bend and the docks came into view he added, “I’m going to have to call this one in. Unless Finn forgot to mention that we should be expecting guests, this is something he needs to know.”

Tayte watched as the craft continued its descent, after several minutes he felt a knot forming in the back of his throat as he realized where it was heading and where it was most likely to set down.

“Oh shit, its heading out to sea.” He cursed. “Why did I think this day was far from over.”

At that, his PDA buzzed with an incoming priority message directly from the Operation Center at Fort Redding.

Rubbing his hands together, he waved them near the glow of a small electric heater and relished in the warmth washing over his frigid limbs. Folded neatly on the collapsible cot next to him he offered a silent word of gratitude to the skilled seamstresses back in Fort Redding for the pile of thick animal furs hand crafted into a full body jump suit and plush blankets.

Dr. Burton Hughes, an academic scholar and highly acclaimed scientist in several different fields such as botany and paleontology, was no stranger to frigid climates. Back home on Earth, he’d been part of several expeditions into the arctic where he had a chance to study some of the most exclusive wildlife known to man. On Earth 2.0, the northern climate was more intense than anything he’d experienced before. After dark it wasn't unusual to see temperatures dip to 80 below or colder. Exposed human flesh would freeze and die within moments in such extremes. Oxygen masks were sometimes required to prevent lungs from freezing.

Although the shuttle offered them a secure and fairly comfortable place to bed down, power constraints only allowed them to run the internal heaters a few hours each evening. For the most part, they relied on their heavy-duty sleeping bags, a handful of portable heaters and arctic survival gear for warmth.

Dr. Hughes had selected a sheltered rock outcropping that rose slightly over the vast frozen tundra stretching out to the horizon and beyond for their encampment. The location offered two points of interest, the first being the surrounding tundra itself and the diverse wildlife they had been treated to since arriving. The second and most compelling reason he had chosen that particular location was the neighboring volcano. Geological surveys from orbiting satellites put the ancient volcano at somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to ten billion years old. He suspected it was likely one of the first active volcano’s on the surface after the planet was formed. This meant that there was a good chance the earliest chemical building blocks of life may have emerged nearby.

Since evidence now existed that life on their own planet may have actually originated right here on Earth 2.0, there was a chance what he was searching for was actually the first indicators of life in the known solar system. The thought of such a discovery made him as giddy as a school boy on Christmas morning.

There was another reason Dr. Hughes was anxious to investigate the volcano, one that he had kept to himself. It stemmed from a theory he’d developed in the last few years. From observations of the solar cycle in their system he had found what he considered to be a potentially disturbing trend. While he hoped it was a simple error in calculations on his part, deep down he knew his math was correct. If this expedition into the depths of the ancient volcano revealed the evidence he thought it may, he would soon find himself standing before the council presenting findings that would crush all their hopes for a long and fruitful existence on the planet.

“Doctor!” Phoenix Zimmermann exclaimed excitedly from the open hatch on the side of the shuttle, “you’ve got to see this.”

Whenever the good doctor decided he wanted to head out on an adventure, it was Phoenix who would be assigned to ‘babysit’ the good Doctor, and try to keep him safe and out of trouble. Head of security is one of Phoenix’s primary jobs and responsibilities for the colony, along with head of construction. His crew was phenomenal with rebuilding the colony when they first arrived on the planet.

Dr. Hughes hurried and pulled on the fur lined overalls, immediately relishing the soothing warmth and comfort of the outfit. The morning sun was just peeking over the distant horizon as he stepped from the shuttle’s cargo compartment, and stretched his tired muscles. His PDA showed the morning temperatures hovering a few degrees below 0, bitterly cold, but luckily there was no wind or lingering clouds to drive the daytime temps even lower. All signs pointed to a beautiful day and the perfect opportunity for some exploration.

Phoenix was standing on a rise of boulders overlooking the sprawling fields of tundra below. Following his excited gaze, Dr. Hughes found himself staring down on an extensive herd of the famed Woolly Mammoths. The sheer size of each colossal beast eclipsed only by their majestic grace as they grazed peacefully on scrub jutting up from the frozen ground at their feet. Their renowned ivory tusks curling outward a good six feet from the sides of the heads. A quick estimate numbered the herd somewhere in the 500 range, but it was hard to get an accurate count as the mass of each creature blocked the view for some distance behind it.

“That’s truly a sight to behold.” Dr. Hughes proclaimed. “Museums and computer animations never did justice to such impressive creatures.” Glancing back to a handful of tents several yards behind him he said, “Someone should wake Linc and Rune, they’ll be eager to get out there and do some hunting.”

“Ha.” Phoenix snorted as he gestured off towards a patch of thick brush near the front of the herd and passed along a pair of spotting glasses, “I think they were up and heading out well before sun up, they’ve already got the perfect spot.”

Pressing the glasses to his face, Dr. Hughes focused on the brush where Phoenix had indicated. It took several moments of concentration but he eventually picked out a figure pressed tightly into a crevice between two rocks, a bow clutched in his hands, drawn and tracking a nearby mammoth.

Linc and Rune were natives to the planet and belonged to the Revati tribe. They were paired and coupled according to their tribal beliefs. During such pairings, couples often worked together in a single primary field, and they were both part of the tribe’s warrior and hunter faction.

Linc stood as still as a statue, only his eyes moved as he waited for the perfect moment to strike. On the far side of the same rock, Rune was on one knee, her bow up and ready as she waited for Linc to pick their target and fire off the initial shot. The mammoths were so huge they had to concentrate their fire on a single beast for them to stand any chance of taking one down.

The mammoth picked its head up from the grass and sniffed cautiously at the air, it was the moment Linc was waiting for, the saucer sized eyeball now looking directly at him. He loosed his arrow from a range of 60 yards. The wooden missile hissed through the air covering the distance in barely a second. With a sickening smack, it pierced the eye, the razor sharp tip tearing through muscle, nerves and layers of fat until it lodged into the brain of the mighty beast. Rune’s shot followed a heartbeat later, her arrow also flying true and finding purchase slightly above Linc’s, penetrating deep and causing additional traumatic damage to the brain.

The great beast shook its head from side to side and roared in fury and anguish, its bellows echoing across the valley for miles all around. Taking several staggering steps forward, the mammoth wavered and then collapsed with a thunderous crash as its legs gave out. On its side it shuddered and quaked for several long moments as the few remaining electrical impulses from its dying brain fired off confused instructions to the rest of its body.

As the body of their comrade settled to the ground and lay still, the rest of the herd looked on in idle confusion. They had noted no predators making an attack and the cries of the dying mammoth had relayed no threat other than the desperate moans of impending death. The herd paused their grazing for a few brief seconds and then continued slowly passing along on their way through the valley.

“Ok, let’s get those ATV’s and trailers unloaded. Get geared up and head out to help Linc and Rune.” Phoenix called out to the support crew, as the last of the herd cleared the valley and disappeared into the distance. “It’s going to take the better part of the day to skin that thing and prep several tons of meat for transport. Let’s get it done!” Turning to Dr. Hughes he added, “I’ve got an ATV ready and waiting for us whenever you’re ready to go. We should leave soon though, don’t want to be caught out after dark with how fast the nighttime temperatures drop.”

Dr. Hughes watched as a pair of ATV’s raced across the tundra to join with Linc and Rune. The pair of Revati had already started the grim task of disemboweling their trophy. Even with the extra hands, he had to agree it would take hours and several trips back and forth to secure the meat, tusks and treasured hide of the mammoth. Their plan was to take at least one a day as the herd returned each morning to graze along the plains, the shuttle could handle the remains of at least half a dozen of the great beasts in its cargo holds.

Hefting his pack over his shoulder Dr. Hughes eagerly clambered into the back of the waiting ATV. Their destination was a ventral cave shaft on the near side of the volcanic caldera. With luck, he hoped to reach the central core of the ancient volcano well before the bitter cold of nightfall, which would force them back to the shuttle for shelter.

“Passing the outer marker now sir.” The helmsman reported.

“Steady on course.” Tayte replied working to keep some small measure of confidence in his voice even if he didn't feel it himself.

He felt his stomach tighten as he gazed off the starboard edge of the ship watching as the docks faded slowly from view. They’d christened the ship the Enterprise, a nod to the long standing tradition of the name dating back to the mid 1700’s. It was ironic in a way, the ship he was now commanding was a close match to that earliest of designs. Designated as a Braque class sailing ship, the 640-ton, triple mast vessel was crewed by a compliment of 40 men and women. With three lower decks and a pair of spacious cargo holds, there was ample space to provide a comfortable living and working environment for several weeks at a time out to sea.

A hundred yards off the stern, an identical vessel, the Cabot, named in honor of the famed 15th century Italian explorer John Cabot, kept steady pace with them. Tayte could see crew members rushing to and fro standing to their duties and all lookout stations manned and ready. At the ship’s midsection, the outer doors for all five cannon ports were open and the barrels of each of the 24-pound guns were poised and ready for action. He knew that his own ship was equally ready for trouble with gun crews manning their stations on both sides of the ships, all weapons armed and ready. With ten of the heavy guns each, five per side, the ships were capable of delivering a heavy blow to any threat that crossed their path. Even with that knowledge, Tayte remained leery of how well they would fare against some of the demons lurking in the deep, dark waters far from shore.

“You look nervous.” Major Jenna Conway commented as she eased up alongside him.

Following Tayte’s retirement from service, Jenna had stepped up to the plate as Finn’s second-in-command. Her background in the Marine Corps along with her experience as a drill instructor made her the perfect fit to help build an effective and efficient security force. She was offered a commission and earned her way steadily through the ranks.

“Great. I was kind of hoping it didn't show.” Tayte replied before glancing around to ensure none of the crew were within earshot, “we never anticipated sailing beyond the 10 mile outer marker. The drop off at the continental shelf at this point puts us in deep ocean water, several miles under our keel. I don’t want to even think about what kind of monsters are swimming under those waves.”

“How long you think it will take us to reach them?” Jenna asked as her eyes swept the lapping waves of the surrounding ocean. The receding shoreline now fading rapidly in their wake brought with it a foreboding sense of impending danger.

“With full sails and favorable winds we can maintain a steady eighteen to twenty knots. The spaceship came down fifty three miles to the south, so roughly three hours, give or take.” Tayte replied.

“Sir, we’ve got some unusual sonar readings closing in.” A crewman called out from the bridge enclosure.

“And here we go.” Tayte exclaimed as he pushed back from the railing and made his way to the bridge.

While the sailing ships had been modeled from the templates of vessels from long ago, modernized updates helped bring technology to their fingertips. The enclosed bridge was centrally situated at the highest point near the stern. The structure was manned at all times by three crewman, a navigator/helmsman, sonar/radar operator and an officer serving as the Chief of the Boat or COB.

“Show me.” Tayte breathed as he entered the bridge.

The sonar operator indicated a section of his screen showing a flashing return of bright white against a sea of darkness. With each sweep of the sonar bands the shroud of white grew closer.

“Three thousand meters to port and closing at twenty knots.” The sonar man reported.

“Port gun crews reporting manned and ready.” The COB offered as he continually checked in with every station around the ship.

“Very well, maintain course and speed.” Tayte replied.

Through the bridge window, Tayte caught sight of a lone figure darting from the below deck stairwell, charging across the open main deck making their way to the port side rails.

Marcela laid a metal container the size of a large shoebox on the deck at her feet and knelt beside it as she carefully attached one end of a long feeder line into a notch on the top of the box.

Tayte and Jenna made their way from the bridge and joined the young engineer as she continued attaching the line to the outside of the box.

“I would have liked some more time to test it. But given the circumstances, it either works or it doesn't.” Marcela explained without looking up as the pair approached her.

Joining their ranks from the handful of survivors from the Spaceship Discovery, Marcela had long ago proved herself a valuable asset as an engineer and computer wizard. Briefly held captive by the Creators, she still bore the telltale cybernetic implants that were once used to turn humans into unwitting slaves. Despite an incident where those cybernetics were remotely activated turning her into an unwitting spy for the Creators, she had earned the trust of her fellow colonists many times over throughout the years.

“What exactly is it?” Tayte asked and then immediately held up a hand, palm facing outward as he added, “and please feel free to dumb it down for this old man, no techno babble if you don’t mind.”

“It’s an idea I’ve been playing with for some time now.” Marcela explained as she finished hooking the lines to the outside of the box, stood and then dangled it over the edge and slowly started lowering it towards the water below. “The box emits an acoustic wave, kind of like a directed sonar blast, but several times the intensity. My theory is that underwater, that wave will act like a sonic weapon to marine life. If I’m right, it could be an effective deterrent from an underwater attack.”

“A thousand meters and closing sir!” The sonar man called out from the bridge wing, his voice crackling in fear, “multiple returns now on at least ten very large sea creatures.”

“Maintain course and speed.” Tayte replied confidently before lowering his voice and asking Marcela, “you sure it will work?”

“I suppose we’re about to find out.” She replied, “I only ran a few tests in shallow waters around the docks. It certainly seemed to work on the fish that hang out there. With the added depth, water salinity, our speed and the size of the fish out here, it’s a shot in the dark.”

“Well, here’s hoping.” Tayte replied. “But just in case.” He tapped a key on his PDA and said, “gun crews make ready, targets approaching along the port side. Weapons free for visual sightings only.”

“Six hundred meters and closing fast.” The sonar man reported.

From the port railings they could just make out a swirling mass of dark grey, cutting a knife edge along the surface of the smooth sea heading directly for them. It wasn't like the movies of old, with a menacing dorsal fin slicing its way across the water. Instead, they could only discern several indistinct shapes racing towards them. The only thing that was clear was that each of the shapes was massive in size, the smallest nearly half the length of their ship and the largest several meters longer than the Enterprise.

Marcela glanced back and forth from the approaching danger to the tablet computer in her hand. She mentally calculated distance and speed and entered the data into the computer. At 300 meters, she pressed a button on the screen. They could feel a vibration through the deck plating, almost a faint electrical buzz. Otherwise, there was no indication the weapon had fired.

A moment later the surface of the ocean came alive in a violent frothing mass as the creatures were overwhelmed with the sound pulse. They swirled in place for several seconds, splashing at the surface, an occasional fin or unidentified appendage breaking free and slapping at the air as their sensitive sound receptors were assaulted with the piercing noise. Seconds later the shapes disappeared from view as they made a desperate dive for deeper waters.

“Targets withdrawing!” The sonar man shouted and a collective round of cheers and applause carried across the water as the crews of both ships expressed a sudden rush of gratitude for their salvation.

“Remind me to buy you a beer as soon as we get home.” Tayte offered as he watched Marcela retrieve the magical device from the waters below. “That was incredible.”

“Isn't science wonderful?” Marcela beamed proudly.

Two and half hours later, following another three underwater attacks which were easily repulsed by their new sonic weapon, the stealth ship came into view some distance directly off the bow of the Enterprise.

“Spill wind! Slow to one third.” Tayte called out with the order for the deck crews to ease off the sails and allow their speed to slow as they approached the craft.

“You’re really getting the hang of the whole ship’s captain thing, aren’t you?” Jenna quipped as she stood along the bow plane with both Tayte and Marcela staring out at the strange craft bobbing helplessly in the gentle ocean waves.

“Yeah, I’m a regular Black Beard pirate.” Tayte fired back as he studied the floundering craft through a pair of high gain binoculars. “Strange looking thing. It’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Roughly oval in shape, hull looks like a dull brown metal of some type. No visible hatchways or ports above the waterline.”

The metal hull was sleek with a swept back design from the front where he imagined the control room likely resided. Two engine cowlings rose several feet above the water tapering gently off into a wide and flat body with six ridged projection points running along the back from stem to stern. Only a small portion of the ship was visible rocking in the waves, but from what he could see, Tayte had the unmistakable feeling he was looking at a ship designed for battle. It presented a menacing feel even from a distance and as they drew closer the outline of numerous recessed ports became visible.

“I don’t know for sure, but I’d swear those hatches are concealing missile tubes or some other type of weapon. She’s a predator, a warship.” Tayte said. He had mixed reviews of the spaceship. He was in awe of its beauty and design, and yet, at the same time he was vastly concerned about what kind of power it held beneath its structure. Not to mention, the concern of who or what was piloting the spaceship, and were they friendly or foe.

“Sonar returns show five more decks under the surface.” Marcela replied pairing her data tablet with the bridge equipment and studying the returns, “It’s a big bastard. I bet it could hold at least a thousand personnel, maybe even twice that.”

“I’m not really sure what I was expecting. Maybe the crew sitting out on the roof, an open hatchway. It’s just sitting there bobbing on the waves looking so helpless, can’t even tell if anyone’s inside.” Jenna observed skeptically.

“It’s not going to be sitting there for long.” Marcela offered, “There’s nothing to indicate a hull breach or leaks of any kind. No air bubbles or popping sounds on sonar, but it’s definitely settling in the water, aft heavy. The weight isn't distributed to remain buoyant for long. I doubt it was designed with a water landing in mind. It’s likely to sink below the waves in another hour or so.”

“Sir, submerged contact approaching rapidly from the starboard. Three large returns, 2500 meters and closing.” The sonar man called out.

Tayte and Marcela’s eyes met and she relayed the disturbing news, “I can’t use the sonic weapon this close to the alien ship. There’s a good chance the submerged portion of the ship’s hull would amplify the signal inside the ship. It could be harmful, even fatal to anyone on board.”

“Shit!” Tayte exclaimed as his mind whirled through their options. With limited options remaining he called out his orders, “Ok. Helmsman. Pull us along the port side of the ship and have the deck crew ready tow lines. Signal the Cabot to come along on the starboard side and do the same. Gun crews for both ships stand by, fire as targets bear.”

The Enterprise eased up alongside the floundering spaceship and crewman dropped down ladders onto the ship’s hull dragging thick tow lines along with them. Their first break of the day came when they noted a variety of cleats and hard points scattered over the hull. Clearly the designers had anticipated the need for tying off to the outside of the ship and made it easy enough to do so. In minutes, crews from both ships had secured several tow lines at careful intervals along the vessels hull and were starting to scramble back aboard their ships when the first volley of cannon fire shattered the still air around them.

“Can you see it? What the hell is it?” Jenna shouted as her eyes tracked the splashes of cannon balls into the murky water around them.

“Don’t know what they are, but they’re twice the size of our ship. We need to get moving ASAP! We’re easy targets while sitting still.” Tayte replied as he watched the last of the deck crew scramble back over the rails and dart to their stations.

The shapes under the waves were different this time, more distinct and much larger than before. As they drew near, Tayte was able to discern long, slender bodies. They were propelled by a pair of paddle board size flippers giving them the grace and agility of an underwater ballet dancer along with the speed and maneuverability of an alpha predator. The head of each creature was mounted on a protracted snout with extended incisor teeth stretching close to a foot in length. They were a terrifying sight to behold and a cold shiver ran down his spine as he watched them racing in circles a short distance away.

“The cannons seem to be holding them back.” Jenna exclaimed as a volley of fire from the Cabot churned up the water around a pair of the beasts.

“I honestly don’t know why.” Tayte replied, “I doubt even a direct hit from one of those cannonballs would be more than a mosquito bite to those things.”

With the tow lines in place and the crews recovered, the sails were hoisted back in place and both ships began taking up the slack in the lines until they stretched taught. Everyone held their breath for a moment as the ships creaked and popped taking on the weight of the submerged spaceship. For several long seconds both the Enterprise and Cabot ground to a complete stop. On the bridge of both ships the respective COB’s called out for deck crews to release the last of the sails along with orders turning them to put the wind at their backs.

“Sailing ships weren’t made for this kind of shit.” Tayte muttered as a wave of helplessness washed over him while he could do nothing more than watch and wait.

After nearly a full minute the deck plating under their feet groaned slightly and both ships began sludging forward a few inches at a time. Fifteen minutes later they were underway making the best speed possible while weighed down with the alien ship in tow. Cannon’s continued firing salvo after salvo as the underwater leviathans swam tight circles around the trio of vessels. Tayte’s grip on the railing turned his knuckles white as he contemplated the long and stressful cruise back to port.

A surprising and powerful blow from one of the creatures striking the underside of the Enterprise caused Tayte to lose his grip on the railing and knock him hard to the deck floor. Across the entirety of the deck, the crew and equipment flailed about as the ship rocked violently under the impact. Clambering to his feet, Tayte caught a glimpse of the creatures’ thick tail curling away into the depths of the water as it passed between the Enterprise and Cabot. A moment later the Cabot jumped as though it had hit a speed bump, sending the crew into the air and then falling back down to the deck. A knot of acid formed in the pit of his stomach as he watched one unfortunate crew member launched from his perch on the topmast. Spiraling head over heels, the crewman’s screams were cut short as his head crashed into the port side railing, giving a sound similar to a baseball bat smacking a baseball into a homerun. The body rained a sickening shower of blood as it fell the rest of the way down to the water. It struck the waves with a hard splash, and even before the disturbance of the water’s surface dissipated, something flashed by under the waves and the body vanished, leaving an expanding cloud of red in its wake.

Tayte was still reeling from the jolt of the impact and the loss of a crewman with the image and sound now forever imprinted in his brain, when the Enterprise was once again struck from beneath the surface, this time from the opposite side. Tayte maintained his grip on the railing this time and kept his feet, but other crew members weren't as lucky as they were tossed about like rag dolls. When the ship started to steady itself, he heard the cries and moans of the injured from broken bones and bloody gashes created from the impacts with getting slammed into equipment and pitched across the deck.

Cannon fire from both ships continued to pound the waves, but the creatures were simply too nimble and fast, with each volley of the cannons they just splashed harmlessly into empty water. The crew scrambled across the deck all around him, struggling to keep their balance and footing while rushing to their duties as diligently as any commander could have expected. Tayte noted bloody wounds and several crewmen hobbling around with dislocated limbs, but still the crew set to their tasks without hesitation.

Tayte had a decision to make. They had a little over fifty miles of deep water to cover before reaching the shoals where the shallower water may convince the leviathans to give up the chase. At their current speed however, it would take most of the remaining day and well past nightfall before they reached that point. Tayte realized they simply wouldn’t make it, each successive hit from the creatures threatened to rupture their hull.

He made his decision and called out, “Cut us loose! Release the tow lines!”

“No! Wait. Belay that order!” Marcela cried out as she darted onto the deck from the bridge wing.

Tayte was stunned and dumbfounded. It was the first time that he could recall any of his directives being countermanded in such a way. With all their lives hanging in the balance he wasn't in the mood for any form of bullshit or insubordination, and he was about to lash out at the young engineer when she hurriedly offered an explanation.

“The alien ship is emitting an energy field. The creatures are staying well clear of it. If we close to within 100 feet of the ship we’ll be inside that barrier and likely protected!”

Marcela shoved a tablet into his view. The screen depicted a sonar view of the surrounding waters. Both the Enterprise and Cabot were clearly visible along with numerous large contacts racing about between them. The alien ship on the other hand was nowhere to be seen, its cloaking technology rendering it invisible to any electronic sensors. It showed up as a black hole in the center of the screen, but a computer rendered arc showed the boundary of the energy field Marcela had detected. The creatures would approach the edge of that field only to abruptly turn away before crossing the line.

A short distance away the Cabot bucked violently as another underwater impact slammed its hull. His confidence in his people was such that he made his decision without any further discussion.

“Helm! Get us within that hundred foot radius of the spaceship as quickly as possible.” Tayte ordered.

The lines from both ships were steadily pulled in until they were inside the boundary of the energy field, and all hands stood by at a nervous attention, keeping vigilant eyes staring off the rails and into the surrounding waters. For several long minutes everyone remained tense, watching, waiting, and anticipating another stunning blow from beneath, but none came. The waters around the ships remained clear and calm of any visible animal activity. Turning away from the rails, Tayte looked back at Marcela and asked. “Sonar?”

With a grin stretching from ear to ear she replied, “all clear! The contacts are moving off to the east and west.”

A wave of exhilaration mixed with exhaustion washed over him as the tension of the last hour faded away. “Thank god.” Tayte exclaimed, “There’s a damn good reason we don’t venture beyond those shoals and I hope to hell it never happens again.” Addressing the bridge crew, he continued, “steady ahead, maintain course and speed for home. Let’s get medical personnel on deck and get the wounded tended to ASAP!”

CHAPTER 3

Finn’s eyes flashed across the instrument panel as a sudden downdraft buffeted the shuttle and momentarily threatened to wrench the control stick from his hands. It was only his third solo flight since completing flight training and he was still building confidence in his abilities to manage the ship on his own. The draft died off as suddenly as it had started and he relaxed his grip on the stick. The instrument showed normal, no flashing red lights or warning tones to signal imminent disaster. He understood that learning to deal with the unpredictable thermal layers in the planet’s atmosphere were just part of taking to the skies on Earth 2.0.

“How far out Colonel?” Dutch asked as she climbed into the cockpit and plopped down in the empty crew chief seat directly behind him.

“Not long, another fifteen minutes or so.” Finn replied, “How’s our VIP getting along back there?” Finn chuckled to himself as he listened to Dutch exhale an exaggerated breath and imagined the eye roll she must be displaying to the back of his head. “That bad?”

“You know exactly how I feel about him.” Dutch spit back not trying to hide the disgust in her voice. “It’s because of him that Marcela and I are forbidden from marrying. I mean really, how the hell does he pull so much weight with the council in the first place?”

Finn understood exactly how Dutch felt. Sinclair Porcher, the former French Mayor of the city of Montpellier, and now their current Governor of territories, and “outreach” ambassador to new arrivals. While Finn may not see eye to eye with some of the council’s decisions, he approached those disagreements with a degree of respect and professionalism. No such decorum existed between Finn and Sinclair. Finn considered the man pretentious, arrogant and power hungry.

While Finn understood the necessity of civilian government, even the appointment of a governor to pull their expanding territories together under a single umbrella, but Sinclair took his duties to a whole different level. Smooth talking and manipulative, the Frenchman came across as caring, compassionate and working hard for the common good. However, Finn saw through that outer facade and pegged him as a man solely concerned with his own self interests.

When it became known that Dutch and Marcela planned to marry, it had been Sinclair who had gone out of his way to interfere. Within their original charter, there was a provision that a colonists’ primary goal was to repopulate the human race, and although it didn't specifically address procreation in terms of same sex couples, there were however, alternative methods that were easily available for anyone who wished to get pregnant and start a family. What Sinclair did to block any official union between the pair, and any other couple who was seeking same sex marriage, was to cite that provision in a motion before the council. The end result was a conditional decree that for them to be legally wed within the colonies, they had to produce a child using any means available to them. Unfortunately, neither Dutch nor Marcela were ready to take the plunge into motherhood, leaving them stuck in limbo as to an officially sanctioned marriage.

Finn shook his head in understanding. “I know, I can’t stand the bastard myself. For what it’s worth, Lauren stood up for you in that council meeting. She fought for you to get married, but Sinclair is a twisted snake oil salesman and charmed enough votes his way. He’s a true politician, he can talk the talk and pile on the bullshit too high to see the truth beyond it.”

The navigational computer chirped out a message and Finn glanced down to see that they were approaching their destination. Banking the ship towards the coast, he adjusted their approach to follow the shoreline to the designated landing zone and began bleeding off altitude.

Below them they could see waves cresting onto rocky beaches, and in the distance the first glimpse of the white colored bluffs came into view. The colony of White Bluff was named from the picturesque bluffs. Rich salt deposits, the result of centuries of ocean waves crashing into the shoreline, are what added to the attractiveness to choose this location and expand their reach to build another colony. Along with the salt, the tropical climate provided a wealth of sought after crops to enrich their larders. Fields of sugarcane, citrus groves, tobacco, bamboo and rice were a few of the agricultural endeavors the citizens of White Bluff produced and shipped back to Fort Redding. With direct access to the Southern Ocean and the plentiful inland waterways spanning the greater continent, White Bluff had been their first colony to develop a sea port and introduced alternative means of transportation through a bustling ship building enterprise.

A short distance from the landing pad the alien ship came into view. The craft had been towed into the shallows of a sheltered cove just north of the colony. The tide was out allowing them a sweeping overview of the craft.

“Wow!” Dutch whistled in amazement as she studied the vessel, “what a wild design. I’ll bet anything those are plasma propulsion engines. I would love to get a look inside and see how it all connects.”

“Plasma propulsion?” Finn asked having never heard the expression before.

“Oh yeah. It was something the European space agency was once playing around with. It was theorized to be a wonderful method for high endurance, interstellar travel. Energy efficient while providing enormous propulsion potential from a gradual acceleration process. To my knowledge it never actually got off the drawing board though.” Gesturing towards a pair of angled grids between the engines Dutch added, “Those grates are probably for venting plasma exhaust. After the positive ions and electrons are injected into the engines, the resulting gas has to be vented to keep the entire thing from overheating.”

Thick heavy-duty lines ran from points on the top and sides of the ship to tree trunks along the beach securing it in place. A makeshift wooden bridge provided access from the shore to an open hatchway and as they flew past they could see a flurry of activity as people came and went from inside the ship.

As they passed beyond the beach, the landing pad came into view. While it was nothing more than a smooth patch of bare ground a hundred yards outside the colony, it was a secure location continuously cleared of foliage and native wildlife. Finn deftly worked the controls and eased the shuttle down to a gentle and picture perfect landing dead center on the pad. As he went through the system shutdown procedures a two-man ground crew rushed towards them with a recharging cable hooked to a small generator and plugged it into the external charging port readying the shuttle for the flight home. Finn stood and headed to the exit in the passenger compartment, when he saw a pair of familiar figures that caught his eye stepping into the clearing and waiting a short distance away.

“Never a dull moment around here is it old man?” Finn quipped as he accepted Tayte’s hand in a hearty shake.

“Just can’t leave me alone, can you? It was supposed to be my day off, I’d promised Bew a quiet and relaxing day of fishing. Instead, I find myself setting sail into waters teeming with some of the craziest creatures known to man to rescue an alien spaceship.” Tayte replied with a grin.

Finn turned to offer a word of greeting to Marcela, but before he could open his mouth a blur of movement rushed past him and a figure nearly tackled her to the ground. Dutch cackled and cooed over her love interest like a gushing school girl as she showered her with kisses and threatened to crush her in a bear hug.

“Oh hell.” Tayte whispered as he spied a lone figure stepping from the shuttle and making his way across the open field heading in their direction.

It was no secret that Tayte shared Finn’s distrust for the regional governor. As Mayor of White Bluff, he reported directly to Sinclair and the disagreements between the two of them were legendary in both colonies.

“Son of a bitch has actually put on weight since I saw him last. What a tub of useless shit.” Tayte spat.

Finn agreed but kept that opinion to himself. To a person, the colonists tended towards physical fitness and slender builds from a lifestyle requiring daily physical labor from all. Sinclair on the other hand saw himself as above any daily chore that would subject him to breaking a sweat or otherwise dirtying his hands. It was just one more reason to despise the man.

“Mayor Sheppard!” Sinclair exclaimed offering a hearty smile but keeping a notable distance and not offering a hand to shake. “So nice of you to greet us like this.”

“Governor.” Tayte replied offering the slightest nod of his head.

“Perhaps we could move somewhere out of this dreadful humidity and discuss the latest events?” Sinclair continued as he dabbed at the river of sweat cascading from his forehead with a handkerchief.

“This way.” Tayte offered as he turned and led them along a dirt path towards the outskirts of the colony.

“Injuries or damage?” Finn asked as Tayte recalled their harrowing experience beyond the breakwaters to rescue the alien ship

“Unfortunately, yes. We lost one overboard to those monsters and seven injured with a mix of broken bones, a few concussions and some lacerations. Both ships took a beating, but repairs are already underway. Our cannons were pretty much useless against those things, but we gave them a good show every time they ventured too close.” Tayte explained as he led the way to the White Bluff medical center.

Finn expressed remorse at the loss of life and injuries. To him, every member of each colony was part of an extended family and each loss carved a small piece from his soul.

“And our guests? What do we know about these new arrivals?” Finn asked as they gathered in the medical centers open foyer.

“Well, here’s where things get a little odd.” Tayte began, “once we got the ship secured on the beach, we spent nearly twelve hours crawling over it from top to bottom trying to find a way inside. Not surprising, the external hatches are all pressure sealed and secured with a complex locking mechanism. Marcela was eventually able to hack into the lock and get us inside a small berthing area. We discovered two passengers, both in cryogenic sleep. We were debating on how to wake them when the automated systems began the process for us.”

“I’m pretty sure we were scanned by onboard sensors as soon as we made entry and that started the wake process for them.” Marcela offered.

“Only two passengers? What about the crew?” Finn asked in surprise, “That’s a pretty damn big ship for only two people.”

“Exactly, and it gets even stranger. From what we can tell there was no crew on board, their entire journey was conducted by the shipboard computers. So far, we have only been able to access the bridge and forward berthing area. Most of the remaining ship is sealed up tight with a biometric locking system we simply can’t crack. The hull is constructed of some type of ultra-dense alloy that we can’t penetrate with drills or lasers.” Tayte said.

“Ok, so have you learned anything from those two passengers.” Finn asked.

“Not a great deal. They’re pretty defensive and suspicious of us. Guess I can’t say I blame them waking up and finding a group of total strangers on their ship. We sedated them and transported them here so Bew and her people could ensure they weren't suffering any ill effects from hibernation or the unexpected wake process.” Tayte opened the door and directed the group across the floor of the ward.

At the far end of the room, alongside the nurse’s station, two beds contained the sole occupants of the ward. Two nurses and an orderly buzzed about near each checking equipment and vital signs for their patients. As they drew near, Finn could see a man and a woman lying next to each other. Both were white, average height and build, with no remarkable features visible above the bed sheets which were drawn up to just under their necks. They both appeared relatively young, maybe early thirties and in seemingly good health despite the array of IV’s and medical equipment hooked to each of them. Fresh bandages on their arms indicated several locations where blood and tissue samples had been taken.

It had been nearly a year since Finn had last seen Bew, the tall, muscular Revati nurse was still the imposing figure he always remembered. She towered several inches over the rest of her staff but addressed them in the same, calm, soothing voice that he knew had first caught Tayte’s interest all those years ago. Seeing the group approach, Bew broke away and met them several steps before they reached the bedside of either patient.

“They are still groggy from the sedative and hibernation process.” She explained without preamble before quickly sweeping her eyes across the entire group and adding, “While they are in this medical center they are my patients and under my care. I will not condone any kind of interrogation or line of questioning that causes anxiety for either of them. Is that clear?”

The question hung there as her eyes raked back and forth stopping at each of them in turn. Finn knew that under Bew’s soft and demure exterior she was still every bit a Revati as any he had ever known. When her eyes met his he quickly and enthusiastically nodded in agreement. Out of the corner of his eye he was happy to see that even Sinclair was wise enough to follow his lead on this one.

Stepping to one side, Bew motioned for them to continue and Finn took the lead as he approached the male who appeared at least semi alert as he silently observed their interactions from a distance. The woman’s head lolled lazily from side to side as she appeared to be slowly coming around from sedation yet still remained visibly incoherent.

“Welcome to White Bluff and the planet we know as Earth 2.0.” Finn started as he silently cursed himself for not preparing a more elegant and noteworthy introduction for a first contact. “I’m Colonel Brian Finnegan, commander of our security apparatus.” He offered and then quickly made introductions for the whole group.

The man remained silent as he listened, following along with his eyes as Finn gestured to each person in turn. He seemed to be sizing them up one after the other. Several moments of awkward silence followed as Finn allowed the man time to absorb their presence and decide how he wanted to respond.

“Are we your prisoners Colonel?” The man finally asked. He spoke American English without any discernible accent.

Following the man’s gaze, Finn noted for the first time a pair of uniformed security guards stationed at the far end of the room doing their best to appear as non-threatening as possible. Nodding towards the guards he looked at Tayte and said, “Let’s have them step into the foyer, I’m sure Bew can let them know if they’re needed.” Returning his attention to the patient he continued, “Not in the least. The guards are simply out of an abundance of caution. We’ve had trouble in the past, I hope you can understand. You are both our guests and until you give us reason to think otherwise, will be treated accordingly.”

When the guards departed the man looked back at Finn and offered, “Fair enough, and yes, I do understand the need for caution. My name is Sky.” With a nod towards the woman next to him, “that’s Reality, my wife. Thank you for saving us. I understand our ship crashed some distance out to sea. Our auto navigation system must have malfunctioned during the journey, it should have adjusted our landing accordingly.”

Up to that point, both Dutch and Marcela had remained in the back of the group, keeping quietly to themselves and simply observing. At the mention of something related to the technology of the vessel, they couldn't help themselves from shouldering their way forward and bombarding Sky with a torrent of questions.

Holding out his hand with a grimace on his face Sky nearly begged the pair to stop as he said, “I’m sorry but I can’t help you. I don’t know anything about the ships systems. My wife knew enough to set the controls and get us underway, but nothing related to the overall functions I’m afraid.”

With a stern glare, Finn directed both Dutch and Marcela to retreat several steps and reserve further questions for a later time. While the unexpected response opened the door for follow up questions, he recognized this was neither the time nor the place to press those issues.

Sinclair stepped forward and asked pointedly, “we’ve been unable to access the majority of your ship and are anxious to reach the rest of the crew and passengers. Perhaps you can provide assistance in that regard?”

Sky shook his head and glanced at his wife who was still half in and out of consciousness as she slowly shook off the effects of the sedative. “I’m afraid there are no other passengers or crew aboard. It was just us.”

The response took them all by surprise. The sheer size of their vessel was one that could easily accommodate a large number of people, for it to travel across the vast reaches of space carrying only the two of them made little sense.

“No one else aboard? Just two passengers?” Sinclair parroted back, disappointment and suspicion evident in his voice. “That makes no sense.”

“I’m sorry but it’s true.” Sky replied, “we came here seeking sanctuary and asylum from an oppressive regime.”

Finn could see that Sinclair was already bored with the entire situation. He’d come along hoping to ingratiate himself to a much larger audience with hopes of selling himself as a magnanimous leader and host. With only two passengers and potential baggage from another world, there was simply nothing for him to gain.

Forcing a smile Sinclair went on, “Of course, welcome, welcome. I will present your request for asylum to our governing council. I am sure we can work something out.” Offering an overly dramatic gesture towards Finn and Tayte he continued, “in the meantime, Colonel Finnegan and Mayor Sheppard would be more than happy to see to your needs during your stay here.”

The monitor next to Sky began to chime and Bew stepped forward to examine the readings. “That’s enough for today.” She ordered, “His electrolytes are low, he needs further rest and hydration.”

As they left the medical center, Sinclair turned towards Finn and scoffed, “This was a waste of my time Colonel. Please arrange for my return to Fort Redding, there are more urgent matters that need my attention.”

Finn and Tayte stood quietly in the shade of a swaying palm tree watching as the shuttle disappeared into the distance carrying Sinclair and a load of fresh fruit and salt back to Fort Redding.

“Good riddance.” Tayte finally said after a few moments. “That guy brings absolutely nothing to the table.”

“Yeah, he’s a real piece of work. I’m really put off that he didn’t find the need to spend any further time with our guests once he realized there were only the two of them.” Finn said, “Anyway, I asked the pilot to return with the shuttle tomorrow afternoon. That should give me some time for an updated tour of your little slice of heaven out here, and hopefully allow Sky and his wife the chance to recover enough for a longer chat.”

Tayte turned and directed them away from the landing pad and towards the colonies western boundary where they climbed up a gentle rise providing a sweeping view of their surroundings. “Dutch and Marcela are back at our new friends’ ship. They are pouring over the systems and trying to crack the security protocols to gain access into the main compartments. If you ask me, something doesn't sit right with their story. I really want to hear more about this whole asylum deal and what it is they're running from. Something tells me we may have opened a can of worms we don’t want any dealings with by rescuing them and bringing them into the fold.”

“You may be right. But it’s simply not in our nature to turn away anyone who seeks our help. Our entire existence on this planet is based on help from the Revati. Can you imagine what would have become of us if we’d shown up here and they turned us away?” Finn countered, “the least we can do is extend them the benefit of the doubt and hear them out. Sinclair may have turned the other cheek because they don’t offer him any personal benefit, doesn't mean we have to do the same.”

They’d reached the top of the rise and made their way to the cliff face overlooking the cove and piers around White Bluff. The masts of three sailing ships rose majestically from their births along the piers. Several slips down the skeletal outline of a fourth ship was visible with work crews scrambling over it like an army of ants.

“You’ve really turned this place into quite a little paradise. I can’t believe how much progress you’ve made with ship building.” Finn exclaimed.

“Like I said from the first time I saw this place.” Tayte explained, “if we are truly going to make this world our home, we have to expand our horizons. That pair of shuttles we are counting on right now won’t be around forever. It’s going to take a mastery of the waterways around the planet to allow us to grow and keep the trade routes alive and strong.”

Gesturing towards the ongoing activity along the docks, Finn asked, “Looks like some of your ships took one hell of a pounding.”

Tayte nodded solemnly as he followed Finn’s gaze where both the Enterprise and Cabot were already undergoing repairs, “Yeah, we never really intended to try sailing beyond the shallows closer to shore. One thing we know for certain around here, the deeper the water the bigger the bastards under the waves. If we ever plan on reaching another continent by water, we’re going to need much larger steel ships. I really don’t want to be out there on a wooden sailing ship ever again.”

Finn nodded in agreement, it was food for thought and a discussion for another time. At the moment, expanding their settlements on a single continent several times larger than North America back home was already a slow and tedious process. Crossing the oceans would likely be an endeavor for some future generation.

Several feet to their left and stretching in an even line surrounding the colony Finn noted metal poles erected every fifteen or twenty feet and topped with a small enclosed cylinder. Gesturing to the nearest pole he asked, “so what’s with these? It looks like they go around the entire perimeter.”

Tayte beamed with pride as he nodded and said, “One of Marcela’s projects. You can see we don’t have the same towering fence-line surrounding us and keeping us safe like the one back in Fort Redding. To be honest, we don’t really need it hear, the predators in this climate aren’t the giant monsters you have to deal with back there. But we do have our share of issues. It’s an electric fence but without the fencing. Pretty ingenious is you ask me.” Holding up his wrist to show his PDA he explained, “the fence is calibrated to allow PDA wearers to pass through without triggering. Anything else crossing between the posts and they get a nice little jolt that sends them scurrying back into the trees.”

“Clever.” Finn replied, “but you’re right, it would take one hell of a jolt to stop a T-Rex or pack of Raptors like the ones we deal with up north.”

“No, but a damn Saber Tooth tiger or fifty foot long prehistoric crocodile could ruin your entire day.”

Finn smiled broadly as he offered his old friend a pat on the back, “it’s always a contest with you, isn’t it?”

CHAPTER 4

The beam of the flashlight reflected back at them off a sheer wall of twinkling crystals and smooth mirror like rock.

“It’s like a house of mirrors.” Phoenix marveled as he stared into the kaleidoscope like reflection of themselves.

“Volcanic glass.” Dr. Hughes offered as he knelt down and studied a rock formation at his feet, “obsidian, diamond and nickel. This is a gold mine of precious minerals.”

“It’s amazing how these tunnels are so perfectly formed, almost like someone carved them out by hand.” Phoenix observed.

“Lava tubes.” Dr. Hughes explained, always eager to impart his vast wisdom on any willing, or unwilling, audience. “These passages are likely millions of years old. Judging by the layers of sediment, mineral deposits and biological decomposition from plant life in the surrounding soil, I’d venture to guess this volcano is even older than we originally thought.”

His PDA chirped and he glanced down to verify they’d passed another programmed depth waypoint. From a side pocket on his pack he withdrew a small tool that resembled a hand trowel. Finding a patch of ground on the wall clear of mineral deposits he inserted the tool into the soil and pressed a button on the handle. An instant later a small cylinder on the tools handle filled with the soil sample. Withdrawing the sample, he added it to a growing collection in his pack and secured the trowel back in place.

“We’re now at the two mile mark.” Dr. Hughes remarked, “if my calculations are correct, we should reach the top of the main chamber after another mile.”

Phoenix wiped the back of his sleeve across his brow and unzipped his heavy down jacket. “It’s getting pretty warm in here.”

“Geology at work.” Dr. Hughes replied, “the deeper we go the warmer it will get. Luckily, we don’t have much further, so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable for us.”

They continued walking letting their flashlights illuminate the darkness in front of them. Anything beyond the rays of their flashlights remained pitch black, so they took their time picking their way through the tunnels. They would occasionally stop to give an interesting mineral formation a closer examination, or spend a little more time investigating fossils from a plant or animal that had caught the attention of Dr. Hughes. They’d covered nearly half a mile further into the tunnel when Phoenix tripped on something jutting out from the ground, causing him to fall on one knee.

“Shit! That hurt.” He exclaimed as he grasped his left ankle.

Dr. Hughes ignored the complaints of his friend, his interest lay solely on the dull, gray object Phoenix had stumbled over. “My god. This is manmade. It’s inconceivable for it to be here!” He exclaimed as he panned his light over the flat gray surface. The object was embedded into the ground at his feet and looked to be about eight inches long and curled backwards like a closed fist. Grasping it with one hand he tugged lightly, nothing. Getting both hands around it he added more force and he felt a slight give followed by a feint hissing sound and dirt shifting further along the path. A few more tugs and the object pulled loose, leaving behind a small shaft of splintered and heavily rotted wood still embedded in the ground.

“It’s a shovel! Carved from a piece of animal bone and lashed to a wooden pole.” Dr. Hughes exclaimed as he turned it this way and that under the glow of his flash light. “The design is incredibly rudimentary, this is an unbelievable find! It had to belong to one of the earliest tribes to inhabit the planet if it’s this far down. Probably well before the volcano finished forming and eventually erupted.”

“I’ll probably live.” Phoenix moaned sarcastically from several feet away, “thanks for asking though.”

Pulling himself into a seated position at the base of the nearest wall, Phoenix felt a familiar throbbing in his left ankle, he was no stranger to a sprain and knew better than to put too much weight on it all at once. Pressing his back firmly against the wall, and using the palm of his hands to ‘walk up’ the wall, he began slowly rising to his feet ensuring that most of his weight rested on his right side. Without warning, a shower of dirt and gravel started to rain down on him, catching him off guard he hobbled on one foot struggling to maintain balance from the sudden avalanche of dirt and gravel steadily coming down on him. He put his arm over his head trying to protect his face and eyes from the dust and dirt pouring down.

“Wait! Wait! Hold still, don’t move.” Dr. Hughes suddenly cautioned.

Phoenix wasn’t sure how the good Doctor thought he could stand still on one foot, in the dark, with a cascade of musty dirt and gravel pelting his head and body. Phoenix was a very large man who was built like a tank, he did not possess an ounce of agility in his bones. His skillset was more on the brute force side of things. He took a couple of small hops backward to find the wall and press the bulk of his weight into it. He hoped that would give him an anchor and he could regain his balance in order to become motionless. Almost instantly, Phoenix and Dr. Hughes heard a very low and deep rumble that seemed to come from the bowels of the volcano, and it grew louder with each passing second. The tremors could be felt all around them, with the walls vibrating, and the earth beneath their feet trembling as the dirt and pebbles danced with the vibrations. They could hear the rocks crumbling from the wall and then, a large portion of the earth under their feet abruptly gave way to an open chasm. With a gasp they found themselves plummeting blindly into a pitch-black void.

“Dr. Hughes! Phoenix! Can you hear me??” Linc’s voice echoed off the walls of the void and down into the darkness below.

Phoenix felt his head swimming in pain and disorientation. He was on his side having landed in a thick pile of something that felt spongy and soft. There was a smell of rot in the air mixed with dust and the rich scent of sulfur. Other than those senses there was little else, everything around him was pitch black, darker than the darkest night he could ever recall.

“Dr. Hughes! Phoenix! Can you hear me??” Linc yelled again, hoping his voice could be heard.

The voice echoed and bounced as it carried to Phoenix. It was distorted by both distance and the surfaces it was reverberating from. He allowed himself a moment to squeeze his eyes shut and concentrate. When the voice called out once again he recognized its owner.

“Linc! Here. I’m here! Can you hear me?” Phoenix shouted back.

“Yes, yes, we can hear you. Are you ok? Is Dr. Hughes with you?” Linc called back, hoping the two men were together.

Dr. Hughes! Phoenix thought in a panic. Reaching out to his side, he began feeling the ground around him in an ever widening arc. Satisfied that he appeared to be resting on solid ground. He began crawling on hands and knees in small concentric circles. It took several moments of blindly feeling around until his hand brushed against a soft material of a jacket. Gently probing forward he felt the cloth until he recognized it as a sleeve and then slowly grasped a little harder until he could feel an arm encased within.

“Dr. Hughes, can you hear me? Dr. Hughes?” He shook gently, mindful of possible injuries his companion may have suffered.

“Ugggh.” Dr. Hughes mumbled as he began to come around. “What happened?”

“We fell into a cavity of some kind. Linc is in the tunnel above us calling down to us but I can’t see from where.”

“Oh.” Dr. Hughes winced as he started to move around and assess his injuries, “My shoulder. Its dislocated, I can’t move my right arm.”

“Ok, sit still. I’ll see if they can rig something up to pull us out of here.” Phoenix said before calling out again, “Linc! Dr. Hughes has a dislocated shoulder and I’ve got an ankle injury. Can you get down here to us and help us back up into the tunnel?”

“You fell down a winding shaft, it appears to have some twists and turns on the way down.” Linc replied, “can you see my light?”

Doing his best to track the direction of Linc’s voice, Phoenix concentrated as hard as he could to see the slightest point of light through the thick, black nothing that surrounded them. “No, nothing at all. Its dark as ever down here. We lost our lights, can you try sending one down?”

Several moments passed and they could hear a soft slithering as a rope descended through the shaft in the ceiling above them. The bouncing, swaying beam of a powerful flashlight eventually broke through the darkness giving Phoenix a point of reference.

“Wait here.” He said to Dr. Hughes as he carefully picked his way through a layer of ash, dirt and brush that covered the ground around them.

Retrieving the light he played the beam around and studied their surroundings. They were in an open, naturally forming cavity inside the volcano. The area was fairly confined maybe forty feet across by twenty feet wide. The walls were rough, rocky and raw, not like the smooth surface of the volcanic glass in the tunnel above. Six feet over their heads was an opening in the ceiling. Pieces of jagged rock and displaced crystals outlined the entrance to a small connecting lava chute that must have given way under their weight, dropping them down below the tunnel system overhead.

Looking at the floor around them he found both their discarded flashlights and handed one to Dr. Hughes. With the lights they were able to brighten up the space enough to get a good feel for their surroundings. As he’d suspected, the floor was covered in an array of material. Dirt, ash and a spongy substance almost like moss. A section of the north facing wall was a tangled jumble of irregular boulders and shards of broken rock.

“Looks like a cave in.” Phoenix exclaimed as he hobbled carefully over and ran his light up and down the wall.

“It’s ancient. Centuries old.” Dr. Hughes murmured as he scooped up a handful of the ground material and studied it. “This is all decayed organic matter, I can see bits of wood and some plant material.”

Dr. Hughes continued picking through the debris along the ground commenting here and there on the likely source until his attention fell on what appeared to be a piece of wood approximately two feet long. “Oh my. If I’m not mistaken, this is a femur bone. A petrified human leg bone.”

Searching around they discovered dozens of similar remains buried within or under the detritus scattered over the cavern floor. All in all they estimated they had found the long forgotten bones of anywhere from fifteen to twenty individuals.

Stopping in the center of the room, Dr. Hughes poked gingerly at the ridge of a partially collapsed human skull. The wide brow, extended cheek bones and flat nasal cavity appearing both alien and eerily familiar at the same time, “My god! These are most likely ancient ancestors of the Revati, the first humanoids to inhabit this planet.”

CHAPTER 5

“I’ve never seen anything like it. Even the most basic systems are far ahead of our technology.” Dutch explained as they crowded together in the confined space of the crew’s hibernation stateroom. The room contained twelve empty sleep pods, lockers for personal storage and several computer stations. A simple visual inspection of the pods and the computer equipment was all Finn needed to realize it was all light years ahead of their own.

They’d entered the room down a short corridor leading to the outer hatchway. That external hatch and the one leading into the sleep chamber, were the only doors they had any success in opening. Both doors appeared to have been triggered automatically by the ships computer once they towed the vessel ashore. Two doors leading from the chamber further into the ship remained sealed and unyielding. On the outside of each door a recessed panel sat blankly on the wall. It was evident from the size and placement of the panels that a biometric locking system was in play, the doors would only open in response to the hand print of authorized personnel.

“The security settings for these doors are phenomenal.” Marcela added, “we’ve tried every known hacking method and nothing.”

“It’s not just the computer systems that are incredibly sophisticated.” Dutch continued rapping her bare knuckles at the doorway. “We’re not even sure what the ship is made of, but it’s the toughest material I’ve even encountered. We’ve had at these doors with laser torches, diamond head drills and pry bars, basically everything short of explosives and we can’t even scratch the paint.”

“Explosives are not an option.” Finn interjected, “we’re just going to have to convince our guests that it’s in their best interest to release the security systems.”

“And if they refuse?” Tayte countered.

“I’m not really sure yet.” Finn replied, “but I do know that I’m not completely comfortable with an alien ship parked right outside one of our colonies without us knowing a little more about it. The power systems, weapons, fuel, any number of things could pose a potential hazard.”

“There’s something else you may have noticed.” Dutch offered gesturing to a bank of overhead lights and the blinking lights of the computer terminals, “not only does the ship still have internal power, but we’ve been able to register the background energy output and its off the charts. Something powerful is continuing to run deep inside the ship.”

“Yeah, that’s a little disconcerting.” Tayte said, “last thing we need is a runaway nuclear reactor in our backyard. Any ideas why it needs so much power while it’s just parked idly on the beach?”

“We’ve been working on a few scenarios. The most obvious one is the cloaking technology the ship uses to avoid radar and sensors.” Dutch replied as she tapped away at the screen of her tablet. “This is actually pretty cool. I’ve got a drone on station, five hundred feet overhead. Watch the screen as I turn on the look down cameras.”

The screen of the tablet showed an overhead view of the beach and surrounding countryside. Where the alien ship should have appeared there was nothing but water and sand, no trace of the vessel was visible.

“Ummm, you sure that drone’s overhead and hasn't drifted off course a bit?” Tayte asked.

With a nod towards Marcela she replied, “keep watching as Marcela steps outside.”

As they watched the screen, Marcela appeared on the screen seemingly out of thin air as she looked skyward and offered an enthusiastic wave toward the hovering drone. Standing on the deck of the ship, she was several feet above the beach but viewed on the screen of the tablet it appeared as though she was floating on air with nothing but sand and surf some distance underneath her as she made a show of walking in several slow circles while continually moving her arms, waving and gesturing overhead.

“Now watch this.” Dutch said as she keyed in a set of commands. The screen shifted from full color to a landscape bathed in shades of fluorescent greens, yellows and reds. Sources generating heat were highlighted in the brightest of colors, with Marcela and a few small rodents moving around in the brush standing out from the surroundings in bright red and orange. Despite the considerable warmth of the ships exterior, it remained a void on the screen, not even an outline of the vessel was visible. Dialing through the entire range of sensors the results in each case were the same. While Marcela, marine, animal and plant life were readily visible, no trace of the alien ship could be detected.

“It’s the same with our satellite scans. The ship doesn't show up on any of our sensors.” Dutch explained as she motioned down the hallway for Marcela to join them again, “I believe it’s some form of optical camouflage.” Noting the blank looks staring back at her she explained, “It’s an advanced stealth technology. Last I heard the US military had been looking at something similar, but it was all purely theoretical, we simply weren't capable of practical applications. It appears that in the world where this ship originated, they not only figured out how to make it work but took it to a whole new level.”

“Damn!” Tayte replied, “that’s incredible. But I can only envision military applications for something like that. It’s as we suspected, this a warship of some type.”

“It’s a good bet. But I didn't get the impression that Sky or his wife had any military affiliations. There’s clearly a lot they aren’t telling us.” Finn replied.

“Bew says the preliminary exams show them in excellent health. She wants to hold them overnight for observation but in the morning they’ll be released from the med center. I’ve already assigned a housing unit for them and have a crew stocking the pantry and cleaning things up. Why don’t we let them get settled and then have another crack at them? Maybe they’ll let their guard down a little bit once it’s evident we’re rolling out the red carpet and mean them no harm.” Tayte offered.

“Well, Lauren’s not going to be pleased, but it looks like I’ll be hanging around for at least another few days.” Finn sighed, “Got a couch I can crash on?”

Tayte had done much better than a couch and set Finn up in a comfortable little bungalow at the edge of town with a magnificent view from the wooden front porch of the waterfront. They had decided to give both Sky and Reality a few days to acclimate, learn their way around and truly experience the full measure of their hospitality before approaching them for a heart to heart. In the meantime, Tayte had kept Finn occupied with an in depth overview of updates to White Bluff and plans for future expansions. They had taken an afternoon fishing excursion along a small tributary off the main river. Several hours later they returned with a healthy catch of fresh trout, bass and a native fish similar to salmon, but with a heartier meat and an extra set of fins that many believe helped it to better navigate the smaller streams further inland.

Dinner that evening had been a seafood delight washed down with a locally produced beer that Finn found surprisingly refreshing and planned on taking a case or two back home. A brief video chat with Lauren each evening kept him up to speed on goings on back at Fort Redding and helped him rest easy knowing that she was doing well with her pregnancy.

Sometime between breakfast and lunch on the fourth day of Finn’s visit, Tayte joined him on the brief stroll to Sky and Reality’s charming two-bedroom cottage home. Stepping up to the door, Tayte offered a curt knock and then stepped back. The door opened a moment later and Sky stared back at them offering a welcoming grin.

“I figured this meeting was due.” Sky offered as he stepped aside and ushered them in.

The cottage was comfortably appointed, the living room boasted a handmade wooden coffee table surrounded by a spacious couch and a pair of hand crafted wicker arm chairs. A pot of steaming coffee along with four mugs and an assortment of fresh fruits was already set out and waiting at the table. Reality strolled in from the kitchen carrying small containers of milk and sugar, which she set out on the table before greeting them with a warm and inviting smile. It was their first real encounter with the woman, the last time they’d seen her she was still semi-conscious and laid out on a bed in the med center. She offered an outwardly pleasant disposition before the first word ever escaped her mouth, a warmth and protective nature seemed to emanate in a cloud around her.

She wore her ash brown hair straight and unencumbered over her shoulders and part way down her back. She was a little plump, not overweight, but not exactly athletic in any way. Finn pegged her for an academic or scientist of some type, the pleasant thoughtfulness in her stunning blue eyes was traced with an intelligence that came from years of study and mastery of a set of skills. Like her husband, she appeared relatively young, early to mid-thirties at best.

“Before we get started.” Reality said as she motioned to the pair of arm chairs, “we’d both like to offer our sincerest gratitude for how well we’ve been treated. The people of White Bluff have gone above and beyond in making us feel welcome and ensuring we have everything we could possibly need.”

She spoke with a familiar Midwest American accent that was both soothing and comforting at the same time. Finn had noted a slight northern tinge in Sky’s accent, something he would expect to hear from someone from a New England state of their own home world. He immediately found himself curious how the pair of them ever found themselves together.

“Glad to hear it.” Tayte replied, “we pride ourselves on the home we’ve built here, and welcoming new comers into our growing family is part of what makes this place special.”

The gracious smile abruptly left Sky’s face as he said, “Now that the pleasantries are over. I suppose you have questions for us?” Locking eyes with Reality for a brief moment, they seemed to share an unspoken message before he breathed out a heavy sigh and continued, “Our home world, I guess you could say, our version of Earth was different from your own in many respects. First, I think it’s safe to say, our society was more technologically advanced than your own. I’m not a historian so I can’t say at what point our paths diverged so significantly, but from talking to the people here it wasn't hard to realize a great deal of differences did exist. We conquered space travel many years before your people first set foot on the moon. In fact, we had long ago developed colonies on the Earth’s moon, Mars and moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn.”

Finn and Tayte leaned forward in their chairs soaking in every word. It was a riveting tale and they yearned to learn more about the parallel world Sky and Reality called home. They had learned over time that while many of the existing versions of Earth were closely related to their own, some had taken a drastic turn at one point or another resulting in a distinctly dissimilar world.

Sky continued on, “Nearly fifty years ago, our world consolidated leadership under a single governing force. Regrettably, that led us down the path to a totalitarian society. Over time, that governing body began using military force to keep citizens in line. Life became a living hell for the average citizen. Fortunately, we lived and worked on one of the outlying moon outposts. In recent years the problems began spreading to the interstellar outposts. We saw it coming and made the decision to steal a ship and escape before it reached us.”

They continued discussing some of the basic details for the next several minutes, all the while Finn and Tayte sat by patiently, holding questions in reserve and allowing them the chance to lay it all out for them. When they finished, both Sky and Reality sat back and waited for them to respond.

“Well.” Finn began, “I can’t exactly say that’s something we haven't heard before. You are aware that over the years we’ve had visitors from a number of alternative time lines join us here. In several cases those people were desperate to escape some form of calamity, be it a natural disaster or manmade situation. The only reason we’re even here in the first place is because our own world was on the brink of an extinction level event. I guess what I’m really trying to say is that most of us here are only here because we were running away from one thing or another.”

“Granted your situation is a little different.” Tayte added, “Your ship for instance, it could easily have accommodated many others, but only the two of you made the journey. There’s also the question of your ship clearly being a combat vessel and how it fell under your control.” He did his best to keep any hint of suspicion out of his voice, but the questions themselves were enough to relay the cynicism behind it.

“The ship was simply a means to an end. We’re both scientists and the lab we worked in included a military research wing. This required a small detachment of armed forces at the facility along with a handful of ships. When we had our chance to leave we took the only vessel available. As for why it’s just the two of us. While we would have loved to include as many others as possible, our society was riddled with government informants, trust was a luxury no one could afford. It was simply too risky to try and bring anyone else into the fold with the idea of escaping.” Sky explained.

“Our engineers tell us that a large power source is still running aboard your ship. We’ve been unable to enter beyond the crew hibernation chambers. With the ship so close to this colony, we feel it’s only prudent to conduct an inspection and ensure its safe. With the understanding that it is in fact a warship, those concerns are amplified even further.” Finn added.

Sky shared another sideways glance at his wife, this time it was evident from the expression on both their faces that the conversation was now heading into a more precarious area. Even though Sky had been the one doing most of the talking up to that point, Reality was the one to offer a reply.

“The ship is controlled by an advanced artificial intelligence, it’s a complex system that requires a continual power source. That system houses all the collective knowledge from our world. While it may not be particularly useful to you, it’s something we consider priceless. The plasma drive that powers the ship can continue running for decades on its own. However, neither of us are familiar enough with the inner workings of that power plant to guarantee a restart if it were shut down. Not to be insulting to your people on this, but from what I understand, no one here would likely be able to help in that regard either.” She spoke these words slowly and deliberately, clearly choosing each one to help settle their curiosity as fully as possible without causing insult or adding to any possible suspicions. “While there are some weapon systems aboard, I can assure you, none of them are armed or in a state that would cause any danger to this colony.”

They continued the conversation for another twenty minutes, both Finn and Tayte probing delicately for details with each question carefully countered by a plausible if impossible to prove explanation. The conversation was starting to draw to a close when both Finn and Tayte’s PDA sounded simultaneously with a text request to report to the colony command center as soon as possible for an urgent video conference with Fort Redding.

Finn stood and offered both Sky and Reality a hearty handshake as he said. “I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and your openness on these issues. I’m sure you can understand the need to try and learn all we can about those we invite into our homes.”

“Of course. Think nothing of it. I certainly hope we’ve helped alleviate any suspicions or misgivings you may have had about us.” Sky replied warmly.

“You believe them?” Tayte asked as they walked briskly along the path towards the White Bluff Command Center.

“I believe some of it, but they’re holding back. That bullshit about protecting the ships computer system doesn't hold water with me. I want an armed detail standing guard on that ship 24/7, no one goes in but select personnel. Have Dutch and Marcela concentrate all their efforts on bypassing that security system. Something tells me we need to know exactly what they’re hiding.”

“What are your thoughts on detaining them or keeping them under guard until we get to the whole truth?” Tayte asked.

“It’s your town, it’s your call, but if it was me, I wouldn't do it. Let them roam freely and mingle with the locals. It might just take time for them to build enough trust to tell us everything. As long as the ship remains under guard, there’s not much they can get into to cause any problems on their own.”

They watched from the living room couch as Finn and Tayte briskly headed out down the path towards the heart of the colony.

“We need to trust them.” Reality groaned. “We’re in a bad way here and it’s just the two of us. Sooner or later we need to accept outside help.”

“You know as well as I what’s at stake. Are you really ready to trust the future of our entire race on a group of strangers?” Sky fired back.

“They’ll come for us. Sooner rather than later they will find us here. With the ship on the beach instead of safely at the bottom of the ocean it won’t take long for them to find us. We can’t fight them alone, we’re not soldiers.” Reality replied.

Sky continued watching as both Finn and Tayte disappeared from view as his mind raced through available options, “If we can somehow get back on the ship. Can you take off and get us back to the open sea?”

“You know I can’t!” Reality exclaimed, “it took overrides back home to program the original flight parameters. The AI simply won’t allow the ship to crash into the ocean. Even if I try manual override it will simply retake control the moment it detects our destination. We had one shot and it’s gone.”

“Shit!” Sky replied before asking, “ok, then what if we had access to the dimensional gateway controls. If we plotted a course back through the portal into a different time line, could you program the AI to fly us there?”

Reality considered that for a few moments before responding tentatively, “maybe, I really won’t know until I actually try. How are you planning on getting access to the gateway controls?”

“I’m not exactly sure yet. But if it comes down to our only chance, I’ll find a way even if I have to kill to get there.”

CHAPTER 6

The White Bluff command center was half the size of its counterpart back in Fort Redding, but well equipped and functional with real time satellite entry, giving them access to high resolution video conferencing around the clock.

Dutch, Marcela and Jenna were already seated around the conference table enjoying tankards of icy drinks making general small talk when Finn and Tayte strode into the room. On spotting Finn, Jenna immediately snapped to her feet at rigid attention.

“At ease Major.” Finn snapped as he grabbed a seat near the center of the table. “What’s the story here?”

“Not exactly sure, sir.” Jenna replied as she eased back into her chair. “Lauren called in a few minutes ago and asked for the meeting. She said something pressing has just come to light and knew you’d want to hear about it right away.”

“Ready?” Dutch asked as she hovered near the front of the room and the controls for the video system.

Tayte gave her a thumbs up as he settled back in his seat. The larger monitor blinked to life and after a moment of static, the conference room back in Fort Redding came into view. Lauren, Dr. Hughes, Phoenix and Linc all sat around the oval table on the other end.

“Hey everyone, thanks for coming together on short notice.” Lauren offered with a bright smile, her pregnancy genes causing her face to flush a glowing red.

Fighting the urge to offer a more personal greeting to his wife and future mother of his child, Finn simply nodded and asked, “everything ok out there?”

Staring back into the screen Lauren began, “Yes and no. For some quick background, you are all aware that Dr. Hughes has recently returned from an exploratory expedition in an arctic region. Studies of samples collected from that trip have unveiled two alarming pieces of information that we decided it was necessary to be discussed as soon as possible.”

Sitting directly behind Lauren, Dr. Hughes was on the edge of his seat and clearly itching to have his turn in the conversation. Lauren turned towards him and nodded for him to begin.

“Thank you.” Dr. Hughes started, “I’ve been asked to keep my remarks as concise as possible, so please feel free to interject if I start getting side tracked.” He glanced at Lauren who offered an approving smirk at this.

Finn had to give his wife credit. She knew how to use the pregnancy genes as a tactical tool to manipulate others to get her way. Dr. Hughes penchant for drolling on in long, endless speeches was notorious. Lauren had obviously had a talk with him about keeping things short and on point. Finn made a note to thank her later.

“To be blunt. The planet is on the verge of a new ice age.” Dr. Hughes exclaimed without preamble.

The revelation was followed by a period of uneasy silence, first at the claim of impending doom and secondly in surprise that he hadn't continued on with a further explanation. As the initial shock wore off, questions started coming at him so fast and furious it was impossible to determine who was even speaking.

“Enough!” Finn bellowed with his best command voice. “Everyone just take a breath. Dr. Hughes, using your best layman’s vocabulary, please explain.”

“I’ve spent some time studying the local animal life and a few questions kept coming to mind. Why are there no large birds and why aren’t there any of the largest species of dinosaurs?” Eyebrows around the rooms at both colonies were raised and comments were close to being vocalized as Dr. Hughes held up a hand and quickly pushed ahead with his statement, “Even those we have cataloged so far, despite their appearance are notably smaller than they really should be. Given the enormous land mass of this planet, the dinosaurs we’ve encountered here since they first evolved possibly billions of years ago, should be much, much larger than what we have now.”

“You know, doctor, I hate to burst your bubble, but some of the sea creatures we recently discovered may argue differently.” Tayte snorted.

Dr. Hughes had been provided with the data from sonar readings and visual sightings of the massive undersea life that the crews of both the Enterprise and Cabot had tangled with. True to form he had an explanation already at hand.

“Actually, that tends to support these findings more than dispute them.” He continued, “Even though we don’t have specific measurements, or preferably an actual specimen to study, based on the data I reviewed I learned two things. One, those were likely juveniles of the species, the larger, more mature population would be found much further out to sea. Secondly, during an ice age event, the oceans don’t freeze all the way through and such creatures won’t necessarily face the die off that land creatures would endure.”

“Ok doctor, assuming your findings are accurate, I thought an ice age was caused by a greenhouse effect from things like an asteroid strike, global nuclear war or pollution?” Finn asked.

“In truth, those three events result in the same outcome.” Dr. Hughes began, he stopped short when Lauren glanced in his direction with fire in her eyes and his condescending tone quickly reverted back to a more polite and informative flow. “You’re correct, Colonel, throughout our learned history, damage to the planet’s ozone layer has resulted in an ice age. However, there are other factors that can come into play. What we are looking at here is a temporary change in orbit around our sun. Even a variation of a few degrees is more than enough to result in substantial changes in surface temperatures.”

Dr. Hughes tapped commands into a tablet and displayed a computerized depiction of the planets in the surrounding system and the orbit each took around the central star. “You can see in this animation how the planet currently follows an elliptical orbit. Nothing unusual there, very similar to what we saw in the Sol system. However, there is one distinct variation in that orbit that seems to occur once every 15-20 million years.”

Typing in another set of commands, a new celestial body suddenly appeared on the screen. The object resembled the planet’s moon but only about half the size. Moving gradually across the screen, the celestial body entered the system from the deepest regions of space and followed a path that passed uncomfortably close to Earth 2.0.

“The best I can tell, this is a moon that was once in orbit around a distant planet in a neighboring galaxy. Sometime, long, long ago, it broke free from orbit and drifted into the gravitational pull of our own sun. It is my belief that this moon is now following a recurring path that has it traversing from a distant star beyond our scanning capability back into our system. In essence, it’s bouncing back and forth between two different star systems.”

The animation continued at rapid speed showing the stray moon moving through the solar system and taking up an orbit between Earth 2.0 and its sun.

“As it moves closer to Earth 2.0, it causes a gravitational shift in our own orbit. This shift basically nudges the planet a few degrees further from the sun. That small difference is more than enough to usher in a cataclysmic ice age. Now, please understand that some of this is supposition, but computer simulations support this theory with a high degree of accuracy.”

As the moon settled into position, the outline of Earth 2.0’s orbital path changed, moving the planet a few degrees further into space. Within moments of the orbital change, the brilliant greens, blues and yellows of the planet’s surface were replaced with barren whites, browns and lighter blues as the shallow parts of the planet’s oceans froze solid.

“You mean to say that you can tell all this based on how big a few dinosaurs are?” Jenna joined in.

“No, of course not.” Dr. Hughes went on, “the dinosaurs were only a single piece of a larger puzzle. After years of study I suddenly realized that they simply didn’t appear to have reached their full potential in terms of size, I came up with a hypothesis for further investigation.” With another click of his tablet the view changed to a graph of soil sample results. “By collecting a number of soil samples from the polar regions and at varying depths. I found concrete evidence that the planet has continually undergone dramatic temperature changes in a 15-20 million year cycle.” Another click of the tablet and the view changed to a ghostly pattern overlaying the outer star system. “Finally, I used two of our orbiting satellites to conduct radio graphic scans along the course I suspect the errant moon is following in and out of our solar system. While it’s still beyond our viewing capabilities, the returns on those radio scans indicate a planetary object approaching the outer reaches of our system along the predicted course.”

“So basically, you’re telling us we escaped one planetary disaster only to find ourselves directly in the path of another?” asked Dutch who had been absorbing the information while sharing quiet whispers back and forth with Marcela.

“I suppose that’s one way of looking at it. As simplified as that may be.” Dr. Hughes replied.

“Assuming this is all accurate. How long do we have until the climate starts changing?” Finn asked.

“Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to give an exact time line. It could be a few decades, it could be another century or two still. Once the moon reaches orbit, the transition into an ice age will occur rather quickly, I would suspect a matter of months if not weeks.”

“Lasting how long?” Tayte asked.

“Once again, this is only a guess. But I would say somewhere around a century at least.”

On screen Finn noted Lauren’s hand unconsciously drop to her swollen belly. He knew what she was thinking. This world was to have been a paradise for their children, a place for them to grow and be happy. If Dr. Hughes’ predictions were correct, and understanding the extended life capacity of living on Earth 2.0, it would be their children or their direct ancestors who were most directly impacted by this coming disaster.

“Ok, that’s quite a lot to take in.” Finn said. “Have you presented this to the council yet?”

“No, we have asked for a meeting and they are fitting us in later in the week.” Lauren replied.

“Well, then there isn’t a whole lot we can do at the moment. Clearly this needs more discussion and a council hearing to start looking at options.” Focusing on Dr. Hughes he continued, “in the meantime, it would be a good idea to focus your efforts on narrowing that time frame. The more warning we have, the better off we’ll be in the long run.”

Personnel from both settlements talked back and forth for several minutes discussing the potential of a coming ice age. Finn was about to suggest they break for the evening and wait to hear back after the council had a chance to digest the information when Lauren motioned for everyone’s attention.

“Before we break, there are a few additional items we need to discuss.” Lauren began. “Soil samples weren't the only discovery that Dr. Hughes returned with.”

The discovery of ancient human bones inside the volcano was already widely known and the source of conjecture and more than a few wild assumptions.

“I’ve run a detailed analysis on the ancient bones Dr. Hughes brought back, and I have made two very interesting discoveries.”

Now it was Lauren’s turn to take control of the video and she keyed up a slide that showed a side by side comparison of two different helix wrapped strands of DNA viewed at ultra-high magnification. Even without a background in the sciences, it was clear to a casual observer that the strands possessed many similarities along with a smaller number of differences.

“Without delving too deeply into the science behind this, it seems that we may have finally discovered the direct link between human kind and the Revati.”

Lauren’s voice betrayed her excitement at this news. While such anthropological dealings were completely outside her wheelhouse, since meeting the Revati she had taken a personal interest in learning more about not only their true origins, but those of mankind as well.

“When we first met the Revati, all those years ago. We were able to establish a distant but common link between both of us in our DNA. Unfortunately, the divide was so large that interbreeding was determined to be near impossible, but still, many similarities exist between us. Our early conclusions were that our races are directly linked. We just could never make the final leap in how that link may have looked. It now appears we have an answer to that mystery.”

The slide changed to include a third DNA strand. Bearing similar characteristics as the others, this one showed several differences that set it apart.

“This is where it gets interesting. The DNA I analyzed contains three distinct signatures. Human, Revati and a third, unidentified humanoid species. I believe we are looking at the true missing link in both human and Revati ancestry.”

There was a murmur of excitement on both ends of the video conference. In the wake of the news of a potential ice age, a discovery of this magnitude was a much needed moral boost.

“I have developed a theory that may further support those findings.” Dr. Hughes interjected.

“Of course, he did.” Dutch muttered.

“Hush it, I want to hear this.” Tayte chastised the young engineer.

Dr. Hughes continued, “I believe that a humanoid species once existed on this planet some hundreds of millions years ago. A species that was neither human nor Revati, something different all together. This species was likely caught up in an ice age as we have already discussed. Facing an extinction level event, they retreated into the lava tubes of what was at that time, a young and active volcano. It was very likely the only place they could stay warm enough to survive the rapid drop in temperature across the planet.”

Finn hated to admit it, but despite all his character flaws, Dr. Hughes was likely the most intelligent person he’d ever known. One of his theories was more often than not ten times more reliable than a statement of fact from many others he had known in his life. He found himself following along in fascination as Dr. Hughes forged ahead with his explanation.

“At some point the volcano erupted, obliterating these cave dwellers. Their remains were blown into orbit on a towering cloud of ash and flames. It’s my belief some of those particles of DNA eventually fell back to the planet’s surface to form the building block of the Revati race. At the same time, additional pieces of that genetic code drifted in space until they were eventually caught up in the cosmic soup that would one day form our own home world.”

“Is it possible that all carbon-based life from our own planet originated here in the same fashion?” Marcela asked.

“Not just possible, but very likely in fact. I have always marveled at the similarities of animal and plant life on our two worlds. The odds of such life spontaneously forming on worlds light years apart, are so incalculable that they are simply impossible.”

“That’s truly incredible.” Lauren mused, “But what about the missing link angle?”

“Unfortunately, that part we can only make assumptions about. Given what we know about the basic building blocks for life to develop; carbon, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and others, all released into space riding on a massive volcanic eruption. It stands to reason that somewhere in the galaxy another earth like planet may exist. Life there may very well have developed in a similar fashion to our own. Of course, it’s equally possible that those DNA molecules are still floating endlessly through the cosmos and never found a home.”

“But still, there’s at least the chance that another habitable world may exist somewhere out there?” Lauren asked.

“Exactly.” Dr. Hughes exclaimed, “up until now, all of our astronomical efforts have been oriented on learning more about the various worlds on the other side of the multidimensional gateway. It wouldn't hurt for us to start turning our attention further into our surrounding space and spend some time learning what’s really out there.”

As the sun began dipping into the distant horizon and the conference continued on, Finn had started noticing people on both ends fidgeting restlessly in their seats and heard the angry growl of more than one churning stomach as the dinner hour came and went. While they could have discussed these revelations for hours on end, it was growing late and most of them had a long work day starting in the morning.

“I think that’s enough for tonight.” Finn interrupted before anyone could fire off additional questions or comments. “Dr. Hughes, ensure you get all of this in front of the council as soon as possible. While I’m sure many of us have our own thoughts and ideas on these revelations, ultimately it will be a council decision on how they are addressed.”

As personnel at both colonies began packing up their notes and heading out, Lauren tapped a quick text into her PDA asking both Finn and Tayte to hang out for a few moments after everyone else had left.

A few moments later, with Lauren alone on her end and only Finn and Tayte remaining on the White Bluff side, Finn looked into the camera and asked, “How you doing? You look worn out. I’m guessing you’re going against your own medical advice and pushing yourself too hard again.”

"Missing you, but otherwise, I’m getting along. I still get a few hours rest every afternoon and Rune has started hounding me like a mother hen ensuring I eat right and don’t overdo things. I wouldn't be surprised if you find her moved in to our house by the time you get home. Any idea when you’re coming back?”

“At least a few more days.” Finn replied after a few moments consideration. “There are some things about our visitors that we still need to clear up.”

Lauren leaned back in her seat as she cast her eyes around the room checking to make sure that everyone had left before asking. “You both alone now?”

Both Finn and Tayte shared a look, it was out of character for Lauren to be so secretive and their curiosity was instantly peaked.

“Yeah, it’s just us. What’s up?” Finn asked.

“I haven’t shared this with anyone here, not Dr. Hughes and certainly no one on the council. Wanted to run it by you two first.”

“Ok, you have our attention.”

“During my examination of the remains Dr. Hughes recovered, I found traces of smallpox.”

That statement hung in the air for a few moments as they digested the implications. It had long been one of Lauren’s greatest concerns that such a disease, if introduced to both their population and the Revati could prove devastating. It was one area of medical science where her views and recommendations were constantly shot down by the council. Their hesitation centering on the need to actually culture, store and retain samples of some the most horrific diseases ever known to man.

“Oh shit!” Tayte exclaimed, “was anyone directly exposed?”

“No, it was dormant thank god. But even a dormant strain can eventually break out into the wild. It’s been decades since it was eradicated on our world, vaccines are no longer available. With all the newcomers from different versions of our own world, its truly a wonder there hasn't been some kind of outbreak already.”

“We already know the council is against any work to create vaccines.” Finn added, “so what’s your plan?”

“I’m going to go against council orders and create one anyway.” Lauren replied before explaining further. “That means I will have to culture and actually grow samples of smallpox. In fact, I have a list of similar diseases I plan to move forward with in the same fashion. The simple fact is, it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when, one or more of these bugs is reintroduced into our population. Smallpox alone has the potential to decimate the Revati population and kill a large percentage of our people.”

“I’ve got nothing but confidence in you.” Finn replied, “if you think that’s a step that needs to be taken, you have my full support.”

“Same.” Said Tayte, “I suspect the council’s reservations are being influenced by Sinclair and his personal agenda. Laying the groundwork to protect our people should be a top priority and if they can’t see it, then screw ‘em.”

Sinclair held the curtains apart just enough to give him a view of the comings and goings throughout the colony. His second story bedroom window provided the perfect vantage point to observe the reclusive building of the operations center with its around the clock security and closely held secrets. It was an ongoing source of contention that the military secrets of their community were withheld from council members. Finn had successfully rebuffed any and all attempts to further integrate their elected officials into the fold and it pissed Sinclair off to no end.

A pair of high powered binoculars stood on the small table next to the window, but they were unnecessary this evening, he knew exactly who was inside the building. It was what they were doing that remained a nagging mystery to him. Lauren had asked for a special council meeting earlier in the day, only to disappear into the operations center a short time later with Dr. Hughes, the two Revati that were always sniffing around and Phoenix, the lumbering German foreman who oversaw the colony’s workforce.

The bedroom door opened and he was greeted with the scent of freshly brewed coffee as Myrna strode into the room carrying a serving tray that held a steaming pot, two cups, a creamer and a sugar bowl.

“Thought you’d like to share a cup with me this evening.” Myrna cooed as she went about setting the arrangement on a table in the section of his room that served as his home office.

Sinclair ignored her, his thoughts drifted elsewhere as she went about her business. Myrna was simply a means to an end for him, or as he liked to think of her, his most recent project. She was a seamstress by trade, she did a good job and most people tended to think highly of her. Myrna was single and more than a little introverted, she had very few friends despite a general popularity within the community. It wasn’t that Sinclair found her particularly attractive, in fact, by his highly elevated standards she was well beneath him. However, Myrna was the newest member of the council and he needed a way to secure her support. With her in his corner he finally held a majority of council votes in his pocket. Some of the others had been a little more resilient and difficult, three of them actually required him to resort to blackmail. Sinclair had found those hidden secrets and now held them over their heads in exchange for voting whichever way he desired. Sinclair was ruthless. It was how he liked to play politics, to find a weakness and exploit it to his benefit. Nothing, and no one was off limits. He would do whatever it took for power and control.

From his window perch, he noted a lone figure leaving the operation center. Lauren spoke briefly with one of the guards and then slowly made her way back towards her quarters near the center of the colony. Sinclair felt a shiver pass along his spine, Lauren and her insufferable husband were proving to be his biggest obstacle in gaining full control over the council and guiding their path to fulfill his own vision of how life should run here.

Sinclair had tried everything conceivable to win their favor, even backing the recommendation for Finn’s promotion to full Colonel and the notion that he retain full control of their military forces. That had been a miscalculation on his part, he saw that now. Instead of demonstrating any level of deference to him, Finn had seen through the charade and now seemed to go out of his way to interfere with all his carefully considered plans. With Lauren’s popularity throughout the colony and with members of the council, the pair presented a formidable obstacle to bending council decisions to his will.

His narcissism was eclipsed only by his thirst for power and respect. Sinclair considered himself a genius of sorts, a chameleon able to ingratiate himself with anyone he met. If anything else, he prided himself on his patience. Deep down inside he knew that sooner or later the perfect opportunity would present itself and when that happened, he would be ready.

“Why don’t you come away from that window and join me for a cup of coffee while it’s still hot.” Myrna cooed softly. Out of the corner of his eye he watched without interest as she released the belt to her robe allowing it to hang open in a tantalizing fashion, “afterwards we can crawl under the covers and cuddle for a bit.”

Turning to face her, he presented a broad smile and even a mischievous twinkle in the corner of his eye as he replied, “you read my mind! You are such a wonderful woman, I don’t know how I could ever get along without you.”

Myrna beamed and blushed at his words, his smooth French accent, educated discourse and a continuous flood of compliments worked wonders on overcoming his unsightly appearance. He was sweeping her off her feet in ways that she’d never experienced before and she felt herself falling head over heels in love. Sinclair was keenly aware of those feelings. He would nurture them and allow them to run their course. In the meantime, Myrna was nothing more to him than another council vote tucked safely into his pocket. He would keep her around as long as she was useful and necessary, and when the time came for that usefulness to end, well, there were a variety of ways to dispose of unwanted burdens on this planet. Sinclair took great pleasure in causing pain and discomfort on others, it was the only time he didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. He enjoyed seeing the fear in their eyes, and how they would squirm and beg for mercy. The sensation of having someone’s life in the palm of his hands, and that moment right before their eyes looked blank, their pulse stopped beating and their body went limp, was simply glorious. Yes, that was true power. Sinclair discovered that he had found his calling on this planet, and he relished every part of his power over others. He had no empathy or remorse for his victims, and he looked forward to the day where he could use his creativity to dispose of Myrna.

CHAPTER 7

The muffled blasts of pulse rifles accompanied by a bevy of anxious shouting wrenched Finn from a deep sleep. Before his eyes even had a chance to adjust to the early morning gloom he had mechanically put on a tactical vest and retrieved a rifle from its place in the weapons rack near the front door. It took a moment for his weary mind to track the commotion and realize it was some distance away, near or beyond the north eastern most fringes of White Bluff’s border. Satisfied that it didn't appear to be an attack on the heart of the colony, he turned his focus to his PDA and cycled through the channels listening for traffic.

“…sector’s 3 and 4, at least two large cats. Need medics out here on the double. Both Dillingham and Ballard are down with some serious wounds.” A shaken and excited voice called out over the airwaves.

“QRF is mobilizing and in route. Medics have been dispatched. Hold fast and maintain security on those sectors.” Another voice replied.

Finn was notably impressed to hear that White Bluff maintained a Quick Reaction Force on standby. Whatever situation was unfolding, it seemed that Tayte and Jenna had trained their forces well.

Stepping onto the front porch of the bungalow, he spotted Jenna sprinting across the compound towards the outer barrier. Rifle in hand, he raced after her. There was a flurry of activity in a wooded area between a pair of the electric fence posts. As Finn drew near he could see that a tree had partially collapsed several feet beyond the barrier. At the base of the tree, a team of medics were already working on a pair of bloodied figures laying amongst the palm fronds and waist high vegetation amidst the trees.

Finn could see that the soldiers were in bad shape, one appeared to be missing his entire right arm starting at the shoulder in addition to some severe lacerations across his face and chest. The other soldier was simply a bloody mess, his injuries difficult to judge from where Finn stood. Neither of the injured seemed to be moving and as the medics began administering CPR on both, he lowered his head and ushered a silent prayer that they’d pull through.

To her credit, Jenna jumped right into action. With clear and concise orders she positioned the QRF force in strategic positions surrounding the perimeter breach. Once the security net was in place, she pulled the guard who reported the incident aside, and keeping her voice even and calm, listened patiently to his report.

“One day, just one damn day I’d love a chance to sleep until sunrise.” Tayte bellowed as he raced up beside Finn, tactical gear in place and a pulse rifle held at the ready.

Finished with receiving the initial report, Jenna directed the trooper to get checked out by the medics for a possible dislocated shoulder before wandering over and joining Finn and Tayte.

“Saber-tooth’s, at least two of them. The sector patrol was checking out the downed tree when the cats pounced on them from the bushes. Dillingham and Ballard are touch and go, the medics are prepping them for transport to the med center. Corporal Fuller’s missing in action, it appears he was dragged off when the shooting started.” She quickly summarized.

“Major!” An NCO called out from the brush, “got blood and drag marks here. Trail heads north towards the gorge.”

“Shit!” Tayte exclaimed, “No surprise there. We know they use some of the caverns out there as a den from time to time.” Turning to Finn he said, “what do you say? Feel like tagging along on a tiger hunt?”

“Lead on.” Finn replied.

In the back of his mind he knew that Lauren would kick his ass for volunteering to join such a venture. But it was simply his nature. Odds were good that their missing soldier was long dead, but dead or alive, he could never allow himself to leave a man behind.

The sun was fully up over the horizon and with a gentle breeze blowing in from the ocean, the humidity was steadily climbing as they slogged carefully through razor grass rising to shoulder height in places. Jenna led the six man patrol, picking her way carefully through the brush as she followed the tracks of the predatory cats. Within the thick brush they were forced to bunch up a bit more than they would have liked, however maintaining eyes on the man in front and to your rear was critical to avoid becoming separated.

“Gotta love this southern heat and humidity.” Tayte quipped as he noted Finn dabbing at a river of sweat running off his forehead. “We could always take a break if you’re getting tired.”

“Don’t worry about me old man.” Finn fired back, “even at your best you never could keep pace.”

Jenna dropped to a knee and raised a balled fist over her head signaling a halt. As they did so, each individual passed along the same hand signal to those behind them. In a well practiced maneuver, they alternated turning their weapons left or right of the column while the last soldier in the line oriented himself to the rear keeping watch from behind.

Pushing aside a palm frond, Jenna exposed a bloodied piece of torn flesh laying on the ground. A small strip of camouflage fabric still attached to the gristly chunk of meat made it clear the remains were from their missing soldier.

“We’re getting close.” She advised as she gestured to the animal tracks leading away from the discarded piece of flesh. The tracks were closer together, an indication the pair of tigers were slowing down, likely searching for the entrance to whatever den they were currently making use of.

Raising her hand once again, she splayed her fingers open wide, indicating for the squad to spread out and take up an even number of positions north to south of her.

“Slow and easy. Eyes open.” Jenna softly instructed as she continued on at a low crouch studying every leaf and branch in her path.

The ground began a gradual downhill slope as they passed through the mouth of a narrow gorge. Stretching a little over 200 hundred feet to either side the walls of the small ravine consisted of bare dirt, rock and scrub rising 50 to 60 feet. Small washouts, or depressions offered attractive dens for wildlife, and a particular favorite lair for the large Saber-tooth’s. They provided a sheltered warren to sleep and eat while passing through an area.

Pressing on for another 50 yards, Jenna once again signaled for a halt as she cocked her head to the side and held her hand to her ear indicating she’d heard something. The growl was low but distinct, a predatory animal close-by. A collective flinch passed through the patrol as they heard the crunch of bones followed a moment later by the distinct smacking of something being eaten.

Dropping to her belly, Jenna began low crawling her way along the ground through the underbrush. Finn and Tayte followed behind and little by little the three of them eased forward until they observed movement through the foliage and slightly uphill along the eastern rise of the gorge.

Squinting to see past through a dense knot of razor grass, saplings and a few scattered boulders, they could barely make out the profile of one of the terrifying beasts. The tiger was just inside a small, shallow crevice about 15 feet up the side of the gorge. It was sheltered, dry and slightly elevated, a well-chosen den to finish their meal before moving on. The male Saber-tooth stood nearly twice as tall as the modern-day Siberian or Bengal Tiger. Clocking in at nearly 800 pounds, the heavily muscled killing machine was an imposing threat even to an alert, trained and well-armed squad of soldiers. The slightly smaller but more cunning female alongside the male was just as imposing, and they were going to have their hands full when the shit hit the fan in the next few moments.

“Son of a bitch.” Tayte muttered in a mix of rage and disgust as he caught sight of what the male was crunching on.

There was no mistaking the human hand as the tiger leisurely chomped his way from the shoulder of the severed appendage on down. A glint of sunlight spilling into the burrow reflected off a portion of gold from the wedding band around the pale and limp finger.

None of them had held out much hope of actually finding their missing soldier alive, however the sight of one of their brothers in arms being ravaged and eaten was more than enough to start pushing them towards uncontrolled rage. It was only through years of discipline that they maintained their positions and waited for orders.

“No one gets left behind. Dead or alive, they all come back.” Jenna whispered softly as a reminder to all exactly why they were there.

Using hand and arm signals, Jenna indicated locations for each member of the squad to take up position. Pumping her arm up and down she made it clear she wanted them to keep as quiet as possible but move quickly at the same time. Their presence so close to the tigers den would not go unnoticed for long, especially if the wind shifted and they suddenly became upwind of the Saber’s. The creatures were still focused on devouring their meal, but at any moment they could stop to study their surroundings and their finely tuned vision and senses were more than capable of detecting the nearby squad of humans.

Bringing his rifle up and into the ready position, Finn sighted in on the male tiger. For a moment his breath caught in his throat as he took in his first full view of the magnificent creatures. His initial thoughts went back to Dr. Hughes’ briefing earlier and how he suspected that land animals throughout the world had not reached their full-size potential. Like many people, Finn had seen his share of lions and tigers both in Zoo’s and on television. Their sheer size and carefree attitude with few natural predators truly put them on top of the food chain in their environment.

What he saw in that shallow crevice was a beast that put all of those others to utter shame. The male was easily twice if not three times the size of even the largest such cat in any zoo or nature documentary. Every movement accentuated its finely tuned muscular frame straining just under the surface of the shaggy golden-brown fur. Most impressive of all, the pair of long, curved canine teeth protruding around seven to nine inches from the roof of its mouth down below the whiskers of its chin. History books and museums never did adequate justice to those terrifying daggerlike teeth.

It was Jenna’s patrol, leaving both Finn and Tayte awaiting her orders to open fire. With one final look around to ensure everyone was in position she steadied her aim and squeezed the trigger. The pulse of energy from her rifle impacted the male tiger squarely in its wide forequarter, peeling back a layer of fur and exposing the raw flesh underneath. Rearing its head back in pain, the beast dropped the remaining chunk of human arm and let loose with a spine rattling roar. An instant later the thunderous bellow was drowned out by a barrage of pulse rifle fire as the rest of the squad opened up.

The male was hit several times in a few seconds, each impact tearing away large swatches of fur and meat. Recovering from its initial shock, the tiger turned to face the squad and crouched low preparing to launch itself headlong into their midst. Finn’s field of view was suddenly lost in a blinding white flash. A heartbeat later he felt himself flying backwards hand over foot, stalks of sharp razor grass flying by cutting into his exposed flesh. He hit the ground hard on his left shoulder and tumbled back striking his head on a knot of roots. The blackness took him and all was still.

“Colonel! Sir! Can you hear me?” The voice calling out to him came from the depths of a long, dark corridor. His mind was jumbled, his vision rapidly flickering from light to dark. Something touched his shoulder, a hand, it was shaking him. A rush of cold liquid washed across his face, the water passed over his lips and he slurped greedily, his mouth parched and dry, a layer of grime, dust and debris coating the inside of his throat. He gagged, coughed, sputtered and tried to sit up. As his head began to clear and the darkness behind his eyes was gradually replaced with his blurred surroundings a figure knelt before him.

“Everything’s blurry.” Finn exclaimed as he instinctively lifted his hand to rub at his stinging eyes.

Something grasped his wrist, stopping it a few inches before his face. “Don’t do that sir. You’ll make it worse. Close your eyes and tilt your head back.”

He did as instructed and was rewarded with a refreshing splash of water washing over his face and down his neck.

“You’ve got dust and particles of rock and dirt all over your face and eyes.” Jenna explained as another round of water poured over his face followed by the gentle dabs of a soft piece of cloth.

“What the hell happened?” Finn sputtered as he struggled to gain his feet.

He was still in the gorge but at least twenty feet further back into the foliage from where he’d been moments earlier. The air was thick with smoke and dust. Scattered about on the ground all around him were chunks of palm fronds, smashed tree limbs and various pieces of personal equipment tossed about like discarded junk.

“There was an explosion. I’m not exactly sure what caused it.” Jenna offered. She was standing next to him, her face and uniform covered in gray dust and a splattering of blood.

“Major, are you injured?” Finn asked at the sight of the blood.

“Nothing serious, a few scrapes and bruises.” Jenna replied as she glanced down at her uniform and added, “it’s not my blood.”

“It’s from the tiger.” Tayte called out from several feet away in the tall grass.

Pushing his way through the undergrowth he appeared covered in a mess of similar dirt, debris and blood. In his hand he held what appeared to be the severed hind quarter from one of the Saber-tooth’s. Flinging the tattered remains into the dirt at Finn’s feet he continued, “that’s the largest pieces we’ve found so far. I think the rest of them were blown to bits and scattered to the four winds.”

With his head starting to clear, Finn was able to orient himself and look back to the edge of the gorge where the Tigers had made their little home only a few minutes earlier. At least thirty feet of dirt from the side of the gorge was now gone, leaving behind a smoldering chasm in its place. Nothing remained of the crevice, either tiger or the body of their missing soldier. Nothing more than a shower of blood and gore coating every rock and scrap of brush for dozens of yards in all directions.

“What the hell happened?” Finn asked again.

Tayte gestured towards the remains of the crevice as he offered, “The walls of the gorge must be lined with an explosive mineral. Over the years we’ve stumbled on deposits of magnesium, saltpeter and sulfur, all of which are pretty unstable and can result in a pretty good bang. I’ve never seen any of them blow like that though. It must be something we’ve not run into before.” He swatted his uniform, brushing away dust, debris and bloody bits of tiger remains as he spoke, “these ravine’s come and go with the rains. It’s amazing the types of minerals we’ve uncovered near here. I’m going to get some samples and have Dutch and Marcela work their magic, whatever it is, it packs a serious punch.”

CHAPTER 8

They were in the communal cafeteria finishing a serving of salad and fresh breads when Sky felt a muted buzz from a small device in his right front pocket. Reality was seated next to him and engaged in friendly small talk with a young couple and their twin boys who had joined them for lunch.

It had been Reality’s idea for them to try socializing a bit more. She felt they stood a better chance of learning more about their new home from friendly conversation than passive observation or even stealthy spying like Sky had suggested. He was starting to think his wife had more in mind than simply learning more about White Bluff and its people. Sky was starting think that Reality wanted to really give the place a chance, and may even be considering their chances of making a go at a new life there.

It wasn't as easy for him, Reality had a softer side to her personality that he struggled to relate too. Even though they’d both experienced the same traumas and horrors throughout their lives, somehow, someway she’d come through it all with a sense of compassion and trust in others that he found impossible to share.

Of course, there was also the fact that he really didn't know the first thing about undercover work or spying. He really was a scientist by trade, studying and apprenticing in his craft since he was old enough to walk. For the time being at least, he was willing to let Reality try her luck at the carrot approach, all the while knowing in the back of his mind that if that failed, he would resort to using the stick if necessary. Pulling the device from his pocket, he used his arm to keep the small communicator hidden from view as he took note of the flashing red light and alert code displayed on the screen. He felt his blood run cold as the color drained from his face.

Reality noticed it as well and asked. “Are you ok? You turned pale all of a sudden.”

Pushing the comms unit back into the depths of his pocket, he composed himself and said, “Still adjusting to the change in atmosphere. I think I’m just overly tired. Why don’t you say your goodbyes and you can help me back to our quarter’s.”

Two minutes later they crossed the compound arm in arm as Sky pulled her close and whispered, “AVA sent the alert signal, we’ve got to get back aboard the ship as soon as possible.”

Reality felt the pit of her stomach suddenly dropping out as those words registered a rush of panic and stark fear. “We need to tell them Sky! This is crazy, what can the two of us do by ourselves?”

Pulling her close, he kept up a brisk pace as he glanced from side to side ensuring no one had overheard them, “keep your voice down. There’s too much at stake. We’ll wait until dark and then find a way back to the ship.”

They reached their quarters and with one final look in all directions, Sky ushered her inside, closed and locked the door.

“It’s a combination of minerals, but the primary compounds are related to cyclonite and hexogen.” Marcela explained as they gathered around a table in the engineering shed. A small vial was filled with a sample of granular material recovered from the site of the explosion. From a casual observation the material looked like gray clay, certainly nothing remarkable or noteworthy.

“Let’s assume for just a minute that I have no idea what that is.” Tayte replied sarcastically, “why don’t you educate the class.”

“Do you know what Semtex is?” She replied.

Finn’s eyebrows raised as he glanced down at the vial of ore. “As in the explosive?”

“The very same.” Marcela offered as she brought up a chemical analysis on a data pad. “It’s not a perfect match, but they both share some similar properties.”

“I guess that explains the big boom when a stray pulse blast hit the side of the gorge.” Jenna added.

“I would say so.” Marcela continued, “like I said, this shares similar properties with Semtex, but not an exact match. There are some chemical elements mixed in that I can’t match with anything in our database. These are elements that simply don’t appear on the periodic table as we know it. What I can tell you though is that it packs a hell of a punch, probably two to three times the same quantity of Semtex or even C4.”

“I thought you were an engineer.” Jenna added skeptically as she scratched her head trying to make sense of the data on the tablet.

“She’s a genius is what she is.” Dutch beamed with pride as she playfully squeezed Marcela’s arm.

“Actually, I have a masters in Chemistry. It was my early passion in life until I discovered my true calling in engineering.” Marcela offered bashfully, her naturally tan complexion suddenly taking on a slight reddish glow at the prideful words from her partner.

“Either way. It’s an incredible discovery.” Said Finn. “We have long discussed the need for a viable explosive compound. This will go a long ways to help our mining efforts, not to mention a possible bonus for military use.”

“Exactly!” Marcela exclaimed, “it’s a stable enough compound and easy to work with. I can melt it down and form it into a paste that can be molded into any shape necessary. From there it just needs a simple ignition source and boom! You can blow big holes in the ground.”

A shrill beep suddenly emitted from Dutch’s PDA and she took a minute to review the on screen message before glancing back up with a sly smile on her face. “Colonel. You remember that little surveillance operation you asked me to set up? Well I think we just found something.”

It was an hour past dark as Sky and Reality slipped quietly through the brush onto the soft sandy beach several hundred yards beyond the point where their ship was tied to the shore and under guard. They had picked an area where the beach rounded in a gentle curve off to the east, allowing them ample space to cross to the water out of view of patrols or guards posted further along the shoreline.

“This is crazy.” Reality whispered as she followed along into the surf. She was thankful that she had chosen to wear a pair of rugged Gore-Tex pants for the evening’s events as they stepped into the warm, salty water. At least she would stay dry until they had to swim under water to get inside their ship.

“It’s the only way. We have to get aboard and connect with AVA.” Sky replied as he turned his body into a crashing wave and began swimming.

They were both physically fit, not athletic by any means, but in fair enough shape that the two-hundred-yard swim to the edge of the breakers was easy enough for both. Turning back to the west, Sky led the way as he took smooth and even strokes, mindful not to splash or cause any unnecessary noise. They were swimming with the current and the extra push helped them maintain their stamina and cut nearly thirty minutes off their anticipated swim time. As they reached a point in the surf where they were sure they were over the submerged aft section of their ship, Sky began treading water.

“Ok, you ready for this?” he asked.

“Not that I really have much choice at this point.” Reality grumbled.

Taking several exaggerated breaths, Sky filled his lungs with air and then propelled himself under the surf and down towards the ship some fifty feet below. Reality followed his lead taking in one final breath and then dipping below the surface where she paddled furiously in her husband’s wake.

Schools of small fish parted reluctantly as the pair dove by. They had learned that the area near the beach was generally considered safe from predatory sea life. With the larger creatures unable to maneuver in the shallows. Even with that knowledge they entered the underwater realm with a sense of unease that was difficult to shake.

With light from the moon and the white sand underneath, they had no trouble finding the outline of their ship as it rested on the bottom. Sky felt his way along the hull until his hand grasped a recessed panel about the size of a shoe box. Waving his wrist across the face of the panel he triggered the adjacent exterior doorway to slide open and quickly led the way inside the small compartment. Once they were both inside, Sky waved his wrist across a matching panel on the inside wall and the door slid shut. They both felt and heard the pressure of a powerful vacuum sucking the water from the compartment. Within seconds of entering the ship, the air lock was free of sea water and they both greedily sucked in gulps of cool and refreshing air.

“See, nothing to it.” Sky beamed as he reached for Reality and embraced her with a bear hug. They took a moment to catch their breath as they held each other, then Sky waved his wrist in front of a panel to trigger the inner doorway and they both stepped out into the adjacent corridor.

Motion detectors in the corridor caused lights to snap on the instant they exited the air lock. Sky immediately led the way to another door several feet further on and stepped inside a small locker room. Once inside, they both set out to grab some towels and find a change of clothes. They took their time drying off and getting dressed, neither one saying anything as their thoughts were focused on the task that lay ahead, and the importance of it succeeding.

Twenty minutes later Sky waved his wrist over the lock outside the ships bridge. The doors slid open and lights snapped on as they entered the spacious command deck. As soon as he stepped inside Sky called out, “AVA, situation report.”

The computerized voice was feminine and even slightly sultry, a completely unnecessary bonus added by some smart-ass programmer many years ago and one that Reality never failed to roll her eyes at.

“At 1425 hours local time, sensors detected a passive sonic radar sweep passing over the planet’s surface. Analysis confirms the signature matches those I have been programmed to monitor for.”

“Location?” Sky asked.

“Unknown. The stealth technology of corresponding vessels prevent sensors from pinpointing the origin of the source. However, given the known range and capabilities of the technology, the source vessel is already within this solar system.”

“Let’s talk a little more about that ‘source vessel’ and just who is on their way here.” Finn’s voice echoed sternly from the bridge’s open doorway.

Both Sky and Reality glanced back in shock to see Finn, Tayte, Dutch, Jenna, and a pair of rifle toting security guards standing just inside the door staring back at them.

“These are completely unnecessary.” Sky complained as he struggled futilely against the plastic zip ties connecting his wrists to the back of the chair.

A glowing red knot the size of a fist on his chin was already starting to turn an ugly shade of purple and causing him to slur his words like a drunkard.

Rubbing an equally irritated area over his left eye, Tayte growled, “You’re damn lucky that’s all you’re getting.”

In actuality Tayte was more upset with himself than from the altercation itself. He should have anticipated that surprising Sky aboard the ship would push him towards a violent outburst. What he had not expected was the speed and agility in which the ‘scientist’ had crossed the room and connected a right hook to his eye.

“Just like I thought.” Dutch exclaimed as she bent down behind Sky and ran a hand held scanner back and forth over his wrist. “Subdermal circuitry. Probably a surgical implant, I bet it gives him complete access to all ships systems.”

“How did you get aboard?” Sky demanded.

“I had a feeling you might have been holding back.” Finn explained with a nod towards Dutch. “Our little tech wizard here has been monitoring the air waves for any unidentified comm traffic and what do you know? Right around lunch time today she detected an encrypted signal.”

Dutch beamed with pride as she explained, “As soon as I picked up that signal, I put a drone on station over the ship. You didn't disappoint us. Swam right into the back door thinking you were slick. Well, the moment you triggered that outer-door, my drone captured the encryption key and from there it was just a matter of reprogramming one of our PDA’s and now we have our own key to the kingdom!”

“It’s not that simple.” Reality interjected, “you need full systems access to get into the ships computer and control systems.”

“What!?” Sky started in bewilderment at the realization that his wife was so willing to share sensitive information.

“Enough!” Reality fired back, “We’re in trouble and need their help. You know damn well there is little the two of us can do on our own. If we don’t trust them, this has all been for nothing. They’re in danger as well, we need to work together.”

Sky glared back at her for several long moments, a silent tension hung in the air between them. Finn watched as Sky ever so slightly dipped his head in resignation. There was now the sense that something had shifted in the man. He may not have liked it, but with help from his wife he realized for the first time that he needed to take a leap of faith and extend his trust to a group of strangers.

Sky glanced around the room and said, “AVA scan all personnel currently on the bridge. Grant full systems access to each individual. Authorization, 22AY387.”

“Scan complete.” The computerized voice announced. “All personnel currently on the bridge have been granted full ships access. Your personal digital assistant devices have now been configured to open doorways and interface with all systems.”

“Your computer is named AVA?” Dutch asked.

“Actually it’s A.I.V.A. or Artificial Intelligence Virtual Assistant. It was programed with something of a personality, so we simply call her AVA.” Reality explained.

“So cool. A high level artificial intelligence.” Dutch gushed with obvious envy. “What systems does she control?”

“All ships functions and systems can be automated under my direct control.” AVA replied instantly.

“Wow!” exclaimed Dutch, “that’s one hell of an autopilot system.”

“It’s much more than that.” Sky interjected, “The AI is our primary interface with our database. It constantly monitors crew members, reporting on vital signs in the event of an emergency. It feeds us continuous data on the environment through our implants and will inform us of potential hazards. Its programed to learn so its constantly evolving.”

“So, this explains why your ship remains fully powered up even while its floundering on this beach?” Dutch asked.

Sky and Reality exchanged another look and a silent message passed between them. With a subtle nod, Sky said, “go ahead. If you think we can trust them, might as well tell them everything.”

Reality crossed the bridge and took a seat at a monitoring station where she began keying in commands. Moments later the wall in the front of the room dissolved into a bank of four large display screens. The disappearing wall was one thing, but the view from each of those screens caused more than one involuntary gasp from around the bridge. It was immediately evident that the displays were showing various parts of the ship. They were looking at large open rooms, crowded from wall to wall with human size pods. Each pod bore a slight resemblance to those they had used for suspended animation during the long voyage to Earth 2.0. However there was something different about these units. Attached to each they could see banks of equipment, computers, medical implements and other devices, all with powered displays, blinking lights and varying readouts.

Each capsule had a small viewing window which would have allowed easy inspection of the inside, except those windows were blanked out by a swirling mist rolling and moving inside each pod. They didn't actually need to see inside any of them to understand that a human being was being housed inside each and every case. There were too many to count from the view screen but Finn estimated that at least a thousand such pods were stored and powered throughout the ship.

“My god.” Tayte exclaimed, “what the hell is this?”

Reality swiveled in her chair to face to them, “What we told you the other day, about where we come from. For the most part, that was true. Our world is run by a ruthless, oppressive dictatorship. What we left out though, was that that dictatorship developed from a costly mistake our people made over a hundred years ago.”

Sensing this story was going to be riveted with bumps and sharp turns along the way, Finn, Tayte, Jenna and Dutch all slipped into empty seats around the bridge and listened in growing fascination as Reality laid it all out for them.

“Generations ago our world was divided and fraught with horrendous wars. Millions died, for some time it was feared that our entire civilization would be wiped from existence. During that period, a scientific discovery in Croatia changed everything we knew about conducting warfare.”

“Croatia?” Tayte grumbled, “that’s nothing but a third world shit pile for us.”

“On our home world, Croatia was actually an industry leader in both science and technology. From what I gather in talking to many of your own people it would be like China and Europe all rolled into one for you.” Sky interjected.

“As I was saying.” Reality continued, “they created a new species, a reptile/human hybrid. These creatures were originally intended to service humans by performing dangerous or undesirable duties like mining, farm work, firefighting, and hazardous materials disposal. At some point, a politician somewhere decided to start training them for military service. Within a short period, all the conflicts on our planet were being fought by armies made up entirely of this new species. We call them, the Ludak, which is Croatian for Berserker. They were bred without fear, anxiety, apathy, empathy, and many other basic emotions that make us human. To better prepare them for war, they were conditioned to be violent, ruthless, and independent, the perfect soldier.”

“Let me guess, they left out discipline and restraint?” Finn summarized.

Realities eyes met his and he noted the twinkling of a tears, it was clear that the story was difficult enough for her to tell. “Yes, exactly. Those critical factors were overlooked. Well, the rest is probably evident. We set them to fighting each other and eventually lost all control. The Ludak turned on our people, they toppled governments, held entire nations hostage and eventually took control over the entire planet. With their reptilian characteristics they are able to reproduce asexually at an incredible rate. One Ludak can produce several hundred offspring a year. Their numbers swelled out of control in a very short period.”

“I suspect it got worse from that point.” Finn prodded as Reality paused and reflected silently for several long, awkward moments.

“Much.” Sky sighed loudly as they waited for Reality to continue.

“At some point they developed a taste for human flesh.” Reality sputtered as the tears flowed freely. “They turned that appetite into a sport. Humans were rounded up across the globe and held in massive camps. The conditions were horrid, unfit even for animals, millions died from disease, starvation and abuse. In the meantime the Ludak would take groups of people from the camps and release them into the wild where they would hunt them for sport.”

She was visibly shaking in her chair at that point.

“That’s enough.” Sky exclaimed as he struggled against his bonds. “This is too much for her.”

Reality held up a hand signaling him to stop as she struggled to compose herself. “No, I have to finish. This story has to be told for them to truly understand our situation.”

As they waited for Reality to gather her wits and continue on, Finn couldn't help but stare at the monitors and try to work out scenarios to explain the hundreds of stasis chambers stored throughout the ship. Something in the back of his mind was telling him that they were about to learn their true purpose and it would be a mind blowing part of the unfolding story.

“It was when our grandparents were about the same age we are now that the human population was teetering on the verge of extinction. A new order of Ludak suddenly emerged. These were smarter, more cunning and quickly assumed power. They recognized that a change was necessary otherwise we would disappear for good and they would lose a major food supply and source of entertainment. They formed a new governing body under the control of their Lord Emperor. An improvised caste system was put in place where a small number of Ludak are born with exceptional intelligence and are appointed to leadership roles in Government and the military. Since we already had a well-established scientific research facility up and running on the moon, they forced our people to develop a solution.” Waving her hand towards the screens she said, “This, was their solution. Artificial wombs and enhanced growth technology.”

“Excuse me?” Finn exclaimed suddenly feeling sick to his stomach. “What the hell does that even mean?”

Reality blanched at Finn’s sudden outburst, but pulled herself together and pushed ahead, “Its a process where a human embryo is created without the need for either sperm or egg. The embryos are then grown inside these artificial wombs. With the technology involved, the growth process can be rapidly accelerated. It enables the creation of a viable human adult within a matter of months.”

“So, you basically grew human beings for them to use for sport and a source of food?” Finn asked.

“Not like we had much of a choice.” Sky replied, “It was either comply or watch our entire race fade from existence. They allowed a thousand of us to work in the moon labs. In the meantime, they carved the earth into sectors, huge swaths of land dedicated to their hunts. Every month they picked the cream of the crop from the lab and set them loose in their hunting grounds.”

“Ok, that’s pretty much one of the most horrific things I’ve ever heard.” Finn said, “However, it doesn't explain how you got to this point and what that is all about.” He added with a sweeping gesture towards the screens displaying the ship’s cargo of carefully preserved human embryos.

“As a collective group, the entire human staff of the moon base decided enough was enough. We rebelled against the Ludak moon garrison, seizing weapons and this ship in the process. Hundreds of people died in the fighting. We knew the Ludak would send reinforcements from Earth and in the short time we had, we stripped the ship bare and loaded every single pod we could fit. Our technical staff bypassed the security protocols in AVA’s programming and charted a course that would set us down in the ocean of this planet.”

“Wait a minute.” Interrupted Tayte, “you intentionally aimed for a water landing here? That’s suicide! Why would you go to all this trouble only to off yourself like that?”

“Not exactly.” Reality explained, “as you have noted, This is a warship. It has an array of defensive capabilities. Stealth tech and external repulsars that emit a high frequency cone around the entire vessel. The ship would have settled to the bottom where we would have remained undisturbed and undiscovered in hibernation for the next hundred years.”

“Because you knew the Ludak would come looking for you.” Finn added, “your plan was to remain hidden at the bottom of the ocean long enough for them to give up the chase and then you’d wake up and fly the ship to the nearest land mass and live happily ever after. Am I right?”

“In a nut shell, yes, that was our plan. Even though the embryos in those pods were created artificially, each one represents an individual human life.” Reality continued, “We know that after we departed, the Ludak destroyed the moon base, not a single person survived. The two of us, and this cargo of pods represent the last of our species.”

“From what we overheard, it sounds like the Ludak are already on their way here, is that right?” Finn asked.

“So it would seem.” Said Sky, “their ships are all stealth vessels so even our sensors can’t pinpoint their exact location. What AVA was reporting was an AI from at least one other similar ship interrogating the planet. Since all the ships in their fleet use the same scanning frequency, we can only detect the presence of a passive signal. The originating ship would need to be within the inner solar system for their sensors to reach the surface so we know they are already close by.”

“What can we expect when they arrive here?” Finn asked as his mind worked through one terrifying scenario after another.

Both Sky and Reality regarded the question for several long minutes as they weighed their reply. Finally, Sky said, “We were only able to conduct long distance scans of this planet from the other side of the dimensional portal. While we could determine the planet would support life and already had abundant plant and animal life, we had no idea there were humanoids on the surface. The scans they just made however, would have noted your presence here.”

All around the room brows furrowed and throats constricted at the realization that yet another threat was quickly approaching their front door. Sky continued. “The pods and technology we took from them are going to be their top priority. They will likely approach you cautiously at first, probe for strengths and weaknesses. At the same time they will see what you can tell them about us. I think you can expect a friendly approach to start, but that will only last long enough for them to gain a foothold here and discover the best way to subjugate all of you.”

Finn stood and walked swiftly across the bridge until he stood behind the chair Sky remained zip tied too. Reaching into a compartment on his tactical vest he pulled out a long knife and in one smooth motion cut both ties freeing him from captivity.

“For better or worse, it sounds like we’re stuck with each other. You either trust us or you don’t, either way, the only chance we’ll all make it through the coming fight is to work together.”

CHAPTER 9

2 months later

The percussion from the thunder clap rolled across the sleepy village of Fort Redding as the first tendrils of sun announced the start of a new day. Comfortably tucked into bed with Lauren snoring loudly at his side, Finn felt his teeth gently rattling as the shock waves from the disturbance descended over the colony.

“That wasn't thunder. Was it?” Lauren asked a moment later. Her eyes were open and she was staring wide eyed at the ceiling as she was ripped from her restful slumber by the unexpected rumble.

“I don’t think so.” Finn replied as he swung his legs off the edge of the bed and started to get up.

Before his feet could hit the ground a second booming clap sounded from high overhead. The repercussions of that blast were still bouncing around the room when a third and then a fourth rumble followed in quick succession. Finn started dressing in the dark knowing by feel and force of habit exactly where everything was.

“I believe our long awaited guests have finally arrived.” He said as he leaned across the mattress and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Probably nothing for you to worry about for some time to come. Why don’t you get a couple more hours sleep and I’ll check in later and catch up.”

With more than a little effort, Lauren pushed the pillows back against the headboard and pulled herself into a seated position.

“You really think I can just go back to sleep?” She admonished.

Pulling his tactical vest over his head, Finn snapped the restraints closed as his hands patted each pocket conducting a quick inventory. They had spent many long hours talking about this day. Part of him wanted to send her away, maybe to ride things out with the Revati. But he knew there was no way in hell she’d ever agree to run and hide like that. Her winning argument was that as a council member, her absence in the final stages of her pregnancy would certainly attract suspicion.

Smiling back at her in the dark, he replied, “No, probably not.”

“I love you.” Lauren cooed as he reached for the door handle.

“Ditto.” He shot back at her, a play on words from one of her favorite old movies.

Fifteen minutes later Finn was pouring a steaming cup of fresh brewed coffee into a mug and making his way into the bustling control room of the Fort Redding Op Center. There was an undeniable air of anticipation and excitement in the room as personnel hunched over their stations going about their duties in a frenzy.

“What have you got for me Dutch?” Finn asked as he strolled up to her station trying to get a look at her computer readings.

Looking like she hadn't slept in days, Dutch hoarded over a work station like a territorial dog guarding its food bowl. Though technically not members of the security staff, both Dutch and Marcela had been pulling round the clock shifts monitoring an array of surveillance equipment pulling together every scrap of electronic data possible.

Without glancing away from her station she replied excitedly, “Four incoming ships. Telemetry puts them setting down nearly dead center of the Valley of Sleeping Giants.”

“Looks like you’re estimate was right on the money.” Finn replied.

Dutch beamed with pride as she reached back and patted her own back. “I told you those intermittent signals kept sweeping back and forth over the valley. Based on what we know about their need for fossil fuels, it makes sense. That’s gotta be the biggest deposits of crude oil in the galaxy right there.”

The name Valley of the Sleeping Giants was borrowed from the Revati. They used the name to reference an enormous valley 150 miles long and 70 miles wide. Bordered on three sides by sweeping mountains and flowing into the ocean on the other. Packed with dense forests, rivers and lakes the valley had attracted all forms of local wildlife for centuries. Invariably many, many dinosaurs spent the later part of their lives in peaceful harmony within the valley. Once they died their bodies were eventually reclaimed into the soil and over time formed deposits of fossil fuels below the surface.

Sky and Reality had explained that when the Ludak arrived they would do so in force that would include aerial and land vehicles all of which relied on fossil fuels. Adding gas operated generators and assorted equipment into the equation, it was no surprise they were moving to secure that particular piece of land straight off.

“Other than the number of ships in close proximity, it appears to be a fairly standard orbital entry. They’ve already started deceleration maneuvers and should be touching down in under two hours. Unfortunately we can’t get a lot of detail on any of the ships with their stealth tech. All the data is gleaned from the atmospheric disturbances they’re creating.” Dutch reported.

Even as she passed along the information her fingers were flying across the keys inputting commands as she took control of several high orbit satellites and turned them to face a particular set of coordinates.

“Can you backtrack the entry angle?” Finn asked.

“Already on it.” Dutch replied, “give me a few moments to set the parameters.”

Finn watched as she worked, her face a picture of sheer concentration, beads of sweat forming on her brow despite the cool early morning temperatures.

“Got it!” She exclaimed as she pumped a fist in the air and glanced back over her shoulder with a wide grin. “A single massive return. There’s definitely a mother ship holding station in orbit. Stealthy as shit like the others, but just as I predicted when viewed from the altitude of our satellites, its radiating heat against the cold backdrop of outer space.”

“Well done.” Finn replied, “can you tell us anything from the readings?”

“Not much I’m afraid, but it’s pretty much exactly what Sky told us to expect. One large ship carrying a bunch of smaller ones. Judging by the size of these returns I’d say we’re looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of another twenty to thirty smaller warships aboard. These first four are just the tip of the iceberg on what they can eventually bring down on us.”

Finn ran the numbers in his head, each ship was designed to hold upwards of 1000 fully outfitted soldiers and gear. The four ships already on their way to the surface would land enough troops to outnumber them 4 to 1, terrible, but not insurmountable odds. However, if the Ludak were to land the remainder of their forces with hostile intent, their fate was sealed.

“The ship is moving out of the detection grid, I’m going to lose it in another few seconds.”

Finn nodded his understanding. They never stood much of a chance of breaking through the stealth tech, but the moment the smaller ships were detected entering the atmosphere gave them a short window to isolate the mother ship. Once the ship’s orbit rotated outside that window, it would be next to impossible to locate again until it dropped another vessel into the atmosphere. He wasn't particularly worried about losing track of it now that they knew for sure it was there. If only to verify its actual presence it helped add confidence to the intel that both Sky and Reality were now readily sharing.

“Lost them.” Dutch added a few moments later.

“Well done.” Finn replied, “Now we know for sure they’re up there. We also have a good head start knowing pretty much where they’re heading. The Valley is only a hundred and some odd miles from here. Once they get their air and ground vehicles prepped and running, that puts them practically on our back porch.”

Standing patiently near the back of the room both Linc and Rune watched and listened in curious silence. Finn wandered over and regarded both of them. “Alright. The shows about to start. Head straight out and meet up with Jenna and the others. Let her know where our guests will be setting up shop. For the time being, everyone just stays alert and stays put, I’ll get word to you when we move to the next phase.”

The pair of Revati simply nodded their understanding and headed towards the door. Outside they would gather the reigns for a pair of hulking Anklylosaurus’ standing by with heavily laden carts packed full of supplies. Known locally as “the dino tank” the diminutive creatures had become a common site in and around the colony. Docile and easily trained, they were capable of pulling large quantities of cargo over great distances with ease. With their heavily armored outer shell and formidable mace like tail, they tended to ward off all but the largest of predators when moving around outside the fence line.

After Linc and Rune departed, Finn turned to Dutch and asked, “Are the shuttles ready?”

A sly smile spread across her face followed an instant later by a forced frown, “Unfortunately both shuttles are currently down for maintenance sir. It will take at least three days to get them back in service.”

Finn mocked up his best angry face and raised his voice as he replied, “That’s completely unacceptable! Get to work immediately, we need those shuttles up and running.”

Dutch mimed a sharp salute before slowly packing up her gear and ambling her way towards the door as Finn prepared himself to meet with the council and announce the arrival of the newcomers. The news that the shuttles were down for a few days would be met with displeasure, especially from Sinclair who would want to meet them as soon as possible.

Finn had shared some of the information on the Ludak with the council, but had held back on relating their possible hostile intent and full description on the horrific deeds they were suspected of carrying out against the human race on their home planet. His intent wasn't so much towards subterfuge, but instead he wanted to hold those cards closer to his vest knowing that it was unlikely they would trust the information coming only from Sky and Reality. The truth was that they would simply have to see for themselves and make up their own mind if the Ludak bore hostile intent or not.

Thanks to Dutch however, they had bought themselves a few extra days before they would head out to meet the Ludak. That little buffer of time would allow Linc and Rune to meet up with Jenna and put the next stage of a carefully crafted plan into motion. In the event the Ludak truly turned out to be the monsters that they been described as, Finn had no intention of going down without a fight.

He steadied himself and walked briskly towards the door on the way to the council chamber, it was time to face the music.

“This is completely unacceptable! Three days waiting for a working shuttle to meet the newest visitors to our planet! These shuttles are vital equipment and one should be available at all times!!” Sinclair bellowed at Dutch from across the passenger compartment of the shuttle.

She’d made it a point to avoid bumping into him from the moment Finn made it known to the council that the Ludak had arrived, but there would be a delay in reaching out due to unexpected maintenance issues with their shuttles. Now that he had her in close quarters for an extended period, he made no qualms about chewing her ass upside right and backside down.

“Not sure it was worth all this.” Dutch leaned over and whispered in Finn’s ear.

“Ignore him.” Finn replied, “what have you got?”

They were making a leisurely approach to the Valley of Sleeping Giants. Finn had instructed the flight crew to maintain a steady altitude and only half the atmospheric speed the shuttle was capable of. This served two purposes, first, he wanted their approach into the valley to be as visible as possible. The Ludak should easily spot them and take note that they posed no threat. Hopefully, this would ensure a smooth initial meeting, of course there was always the chance they would simply shoot them down, but he was betting they wanted to talk first. The second reason for the casual approach was to allow Dutch to work her magic.

With a tablet computer balanced on her lap, Dutch had an array of cables plugged into the shuttles sensor suite and was actively monitoring all frequencies for electronic signals scanning their ship.

“Got it!” She exclaimed, “the shuttle was just queried by a low power sensor sweep.”

“What’s the range?”

“Fifteen miles.” Dutch replied, “power levels are steadily increasing. I’m pretty sure we just identified the electronic perimeter for their defensive systems. I’ve marked it on the charts.”

“Excellent. Shut the sensors down, passive sweeps only from here on out. I don’t want us to appear overly suspicious.”

“Colonel!” came a call from the cockpit, “sir, you may want to get up here.”

Releasing the harness from over his shoulders, Finn took the steps to the flight deck two at a time. Seated directly across from him, Dr. Hughes started to unbuckle his own restraints in an eager bid to join them in the cockpit. Finn motioned for him to remain where he was.

“Your time will come doc. This might not be the best opportunity for sightseeing.” Looking dejected and more than a little frustrated, Dr. Hughes sank back in his seat and returned to craning his neck towards the small view port behind him anxious for his first view of a new species.

Inside the cockpit a warning tone was sounding from a panel near the pilots knees. Finn recognized the instrument and felt an icy stab drop into the pit of his stomach. While the shuttle was designed as an unarmed transport it had been equipped with defensive capabilities including a threat receiver to detect the signatures of weapons systems tracking them. It was that receiver that was now screaming a warning tone, somewhere below them a ground to air weapons platform had them in their sights and was locked on ready to fire.

The pilots hand was hovering over a toggle switch which would release a volley of flairs and aluminum chaff in an attempt to fool the guidance system of incoming ordinance. He locked eyes with Finn waiting for instructions.

Finn’s mind raced and after a long pause he glanced down at the pilot’s hand still hovering over the toggle switch and shook his head as he said, “Hold course and speed. Make no aggressive moves.”

The tension in the cockpit was crushing as the craft cruised over the eastern mountain range and into the valley beyond. All at once the blaring warning tone stopped and was replaced with a voice calling out on multiple radio frequencies.

“Unidentified aircraft at coordinates 220 mark 74, please maintain current heading and speed. A landing zone is marked and ready for your arrival. No need to reply.”

A collective round of sighs rang out from the flight deck as everyone released the breath they’d been holding. Tension was quickly replaced with apprehension however, as they cleared a thick patch of tall trees and caught their first glimpse of the Ludak encampment in the distance.

The four space ships were arranged in an open meadow, three of them were identical copies resembling the ship Sky and Reality had arrived in. The fourth, on the other hand, was a significantly different design. Towering six stories above the ground, the oblong shaped vessel lacked any sense of design aesthetics, appearing instead like a mismatch of overlaid steel platforms stacked one on top of the other. At the base of the ship, a large tubular shaft extended down from the center of the vessel before disappearing into the ground underneath. Two large cargo ramps extended from the base of the oddball ship, and as they drew closer they started to make out individual figures and a slew of small, wheeled vehicles driving in and out of either ramp.

With the ships arranged in a back to back configuration near the center of the clearing, they noted long lines of canvas sided tents neatly situated in a grid pattern extending outward and surrounding the space ships. There were easily two hundred such tents, each of which could house up to 20 or more troops.

Large piles of downed timber were stacked in several locations along the perimeter. It was evident that the Ludak had been working hard to extend the meadow further into the surrounding forest. As they drew closer his stomach sank when he noted the rotting carcasses of nearly a dozen dinosaurs dotting the landscape. Even from a distance he recognized several species, most of which were non-threatening herbivores who may show a little curiosity towards newcomers but otherwise tended to keep to themselves.

Seeing the discarded animal corpses tugged at his heart strings. One of the policies enacted by the council that he fully supported was that under no circumstances was local wildlife to be hunted for sport or needlessly injured or killed. Hunting for food, skins and defense were the only acceptable reasons for the killing of an animal. Stiff penalties were in place for anyone violating the policy.

“Sir, I think that’s where they expect us to set down.” The pilot offered.

Finn followed the pilots gaze to the west end of the field. A large stretch of ground had been cleared of brush and debris, brightly burning ground flares had been arranged in a wide pattern outlining an area where they wished for the shuttle to land. A column of troops were lined up a short distance from the landing zone standing at rigid attention as an apparent welcoming committee.

The pilot brought the shuttle in slowly, easing across the open meadow and lining up directly over the center of the makeshift LZ. A few moments later the struts touched down and the reverberations of the engines slowly dissipated as the flight crew hurried through the shutdown procedure.

“Ok, let’s do this” Finn breathed deeply as he stood before the passenger compartment hatchway before reaching out and to press the covered button to decompress the hatch and open the door.

Every colonists on Earth 2.0 had at least some passing experience with an alien race at that point. Whether it be from exposure to the Revati, a humanoid race that more closely resembled ancient Neanderthals than modern man, or visitors from versions of earth where humans evolved differently than their own. They’d all been fully briefed that the Ludak would have a reptilian like appearance, but nothing short of being there in that actual moment could have prepared them for what they saw with their own eyes.

The line of soldiers they’d noted from the air were formed up a respectable distance away. They were split into two equal lines along a crude pathway. The soldiers wore matching, but somewhat ill fitted military fatigue uniforms, their reptilian features were concealed under the uniforms and over the distance, but the green and brown scaly hides were visible in the exposed hands and facial features. Two figures walking side by side now approached them from between the line of soldiers.

They weren't reptilian like at all, they were actual humanoid lizards. Standing at similar height to an average human male, they walked upright on two legs, had two arms and in general a humanoid form. However, that general appearance is pretty much where any similarities ended. They had no outer skin, instead, they were covered head to toe with green, brown and black scales. Their hands were webbed and the fingers, only four per hand, topped with sharpened and menacing looking claws. Their heads were wider than the average human and crowned at the top.

Dressed in khaki jungle fatigues, combat web kits and bulky flak vests, Finn was taken aback to note that they each brandished 20th century firearms similar in appearance to Soviet era AK-47s. Though reliable and easy to operate, the weapons were somewhat outdated in comparison to the ships and technology they clearly had access to. It was a lot to take in all at once and more than a few gasps of surprise sounded as Dutch, Dr. Burton and Sinclair followed him down the passenger ramp. All the while the pair of Ludak were drawing closer and it was clear that these two were ranking officers and the designated welcoming committee.

“Keep it together folks.” Finn whispered through gritted teeth as he struggled to keep his own facial expression as neutral as possible. “Let’s make a good impression here.”

Stopping at the base of the ramp, Finn allowed a brief pause for the other three to reach ground level and regain their composure. The pair of officers had now stopped their advance and stood patiently waiting for Finn and the others to join them a few dozen feet clear of the shuttle.

Standing tall and walking briskly, Finn led the way to stand before the two officers. He quickly noted stark differences between them and the nearby line of soldiers. While all the Ludak appeared to have at least one nodular protrusion rising over their skulls, the officers had multiple. The taller one, on the right, wearing a sharply pressed camouflage uniform along with a pair of brightly shined jungle boots, sported three protrusions evenly spaced to either side of the head and one down the middle. This was clearly the top dog, or lizard, Finn corrected himself. Instead of the combat kits the rest of the troops were wearing, this individual wore only a webbed belt with the handle of a high caliber pistol jutting from a custom leather holster. The second officer had only two head nodules, one to either side of the skull. This one wore no additional gear, Finn pegged him (?), it was impossible to tell for sure, as an aide or adjunct of some type. Neither the officers nor soldiers appeared to wear any emblems to indicate rank, unit or personal identification insignias anywhere on their uniforms.

Finn stopped a few feet short of the officers and for a long moment both groups silently regarded each other. The commander of the Ludak finally offered a warm smile, his mouth parting to expose rows of pointed teeth and a snake like tongue flickering in and out as he spoke.

“Colonel Finnegan I presume?” The voice was neutral, flat, showing neither emotion nor personality of any kind. The spoken English had no discernable accent and other than the occasional hiss of the tongue, was easy enough to follow, “We have expected your visit.”

Finn wasn't surprised the Ludak knew his name and title. Their ship had been in orbit for some time and it was suspected that they had been monitoring transmissions on the surface while also conducting technical surveillance. Both sides had foreknowledge of the other, there was no real need to play coy in that regard by feigning surprise. The only remaining question was how that knowledge would be put to use going forward.

With a courteous nod towards the assembled troopers, Finn replied, “So it would seem. We appreciate the warm and hospitable greeting. First and foremost however, allow me to welcome you to our humble home.”

He extended his hand and waited as the Ludak studied him. The eyes reminded him more of a snake than any lizard he’d ever seen, marble green with a dark black slit running from top to bottom, with lids that closed from the sides as he blinked slowly in rhythm with the conversation.

Finally the Ludak accepted the offered hand and replied, “I’m Viceroy Daraz of the Ludak. Mission director, servant to our Lord Emperor and commander of our armed forces. Of course, I suspect you already have at least some knowledge of our people. Possibly even a somewhat distorted version of our culture. Am I correct?”

Daraz’s grip was firm, cold and somewhat unnerving. Finn could feel the scales against his own flesh as well as the slightest graze of claws against his palm. He knew in that instant that the hand he was shaking was connected to an evil unlike any he’d experienced in his lifetime. Even the voice as flat and bland as it carried with it a menace that seemed to hold back an overwhelming desire to simply rip them all to shreds and feast on their flesh right there and then.

“We have had some opportunity to learn of your existence, however we actually know little about your culture.” Finn replied as neutrally as possible.

“But we are eager to learn more!” Sinclair suddenly broke the trance between the two as he pushed his way forward and offered his own hand while adding, “I’m Regional Governor Sinclair Porcher, and on behalf of our governing council, it is my honor to welcome you and your people to our planet.”

Daraz slowly released Finn’s hands, but despite the shrillness and eager tone of Sinclair’s introduction, his eyes remained locked in a deathly stare with Finn’s as he accepted the Governors hand.

There was another long and awkward pause where Finn was convinced that Daraz was weighing the option of simply killing them all right then and there before he finally dropped his gaze, smiled and replied to Sinclair. “Thank you Governor. Please allow me to introduce my second in command, Marshal Gruz.”

The Marshal’s forked tongue snaked in and out of his mouth with a discernible hiss as he offered a curt nod of greeting but otherwise remained still and silent.

With a grandiose sweep of his arm, Daraz gestured toward a pair of nearby tents. “We have prepared refreshments and a comfortable location for you to relax while the Governor and I speak privately on delicate matters which would be of little interest to the rest of you.”

Finn tensed, he didn't like the thought of them splitting up like that, but at this point he had to force himself to remember that this was now Sinclair’s area of responsibility. Glancing at the Frenchman he wasn't surprised to see the man positively beaming at Daraz’s feigned deference to his position and the suggestion of holding private talks.

Before they started towards the awaiting tents, Daraz nodded towards their shuttle and said, “Please, ask your flight crew to join.”

The statement wasn't offered in the form of a polite request, as flat and cold as everything else he’d said, Finn had the distinct impression they weren't given a choice in the matter. Luckily he’d anticipated this eventuality, it was the reason an armed squad of troops hadn't accompanied them on this visit. Daraz wanted every single human within their perimeter carefully accounted for and under guard for the duration of their stay. Acting like it was simply a matter of course, Finn used his PDA and called for the three members of the flight crew to exit the ship and join them.

The tent had been comfortably appointed, chairs, tables and even a sofa along with an assortment of cubed meats, which no one was brave enough to venture trying, locally sourced fruits and pitchers of water. By the end of the first hour of confinement in the tent, Dr. Hughes had summoned the courage to poke his head out and inquire if coffee could be provided. The pair of armed guards posted just outside had simply stared back at him in silence.

“First impressions?” Finn asked Dr. Hughes as he sulked back into the tent and plopped down on the sofa.

“Not good.” Dr. Hughes sighed, “While it would be helpful to have an actual DNA sample for testing. Just by observation I would say the Ludak are a cross between Komodo Dragons and Iguanas, or at least a closely related species of both.”

“Venomous?” Dutch asked.

“Possibly, I wouldn’t want to get bitten by any of them to find out. Also very strong and fast. They were clearly bred as predators. This is a very dangerous species we are dealing with. Add into the mix the intelligence we witnessed and it’s no surprise the human race on their world was overrun.”

“Wonderful.” Finn murmured.

“Doesn't look like we are going to get a tour of their facilities.” Dutch exclaimed, disappointment evident in her voice.

“No, but we have seen enough to know that they are a considerable military threat.” Finn replied, “this isn't a slave army of colonists and farmers like we faced with the creators. Everything we’ve seen so far points to a well-trained, highly disciplined and formidable force.”

“There’s something else.” Dr. Hughes offered as he nodded towards a pitcher of water on a serving table off to one side of the tent. Small disturbances like ripples in a pond were visible coming and going from the surface of the liquid. “If you sit still and concentrate, you can feel a steady vibration passing under foot.”

For several long moments everyone did as he suggested, standing or sitting perfectly still and concentrating. One by one the light bulbs seemed to go off in each of their faces as they noted the subtle tremors.

“They’ve already started drilling for natural resources.” Dr. Hughes offered in response to the quizzical looks around the tent. “I suspect the larger ship, the one with a huge sleeve running from its midsection to the ground is actually an all in one refining apparatus. They likely landed directly over a source of petroleum. The drill gets lowered from inside the ship and the oil is pulled up and refined, treated and stored right there in one convenient location.”

“Oh shit.” Dutch exclaimed, “that’s genius!”

Nearly two hours later they heard approaching footsteps and voices outside the front of the tent. A moment later, Sinclair, Daraz and Gruz all strode in. Sinclair immediately turned to Finn and said, “Colonel. Viceroy Daraz has passed along some rather disturbing facts concerning the newcomers to White Bluff. It would appear both individuals are suspected of heinous acts of terrorism.”

As Sinclair relayed this information, Finn couldn't help but notice how both Daraz and Gruz intently studied each of their faces. He’d worked more than enough criminal investigations to recognize when a trained interrogator was reading their audience looking for the subtle clues of subterfuge or guilty knowledge. He couldn't help but feel that at that moment, everyone of them was staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.

“That’s unfortunate and no, we had no idea.” Finn offered as he stepped forward to take control of the ensuing interrogation. “They seemed like genuinely good people, although quite secretive and standoffish.”

Daraz locked eyes with him and spoke in careful and measured tones, “The Governor seems to believe that one of your colonies may still be hosting these individuals. I can assure you, we are eager to take them into custody without any significant delays.”

Finn recognized they were at a tipping point all of a sudden, any actions which could be perceived as anything less than helpful could easily see all of them seized and held captive or worse.

“Believe me, I have worked in military law enforcement my entire adult life and I understand the urgency of bringing a terrorist to justice with all due haste.” He considered his next words carefully, knowing he was under a microscope, “Unfortunately, those individuals departed shortly after they arrived. As I already stated, they were extremely secretive and over all we had only limited dealings with them. They left the planet for destinations unknown to us.”

For nearly a full minute nothing further was said, Finn, Daraz and Gruz remained locked in a three-way staring contest while everyone else in the tent shrunk backwards from the growing tension. Finn doubted that they completely believed everything he said. He was gambling that they would want to visit White Bluff for themselves, and such a trip would go smoother with Finn and company acting as hosts rather than hostages.

“Can I ask what type of terrorist activity they are responsible for?” Finn finally asked.

Both Daraz and Gruz broke their stare with him as Daraz smiled exposing both rows of needle sharp lizard teeth and his rapidly flickering reptilian tongue.

“They are responsible for a violent uprising at a scientific research facility resulting in the deaths of hundreds of security and civilian science personnel. Not to mention the destruction of that same facility and the theft of classified material as well as a government star ship.”

Feigning shock and surprise, Finn replied, “I wish we’d known only half of this while they were among our people. We would have put them under guard and seized their vessel.” It was a solid act and he hoped it would be enough. Playing one final card he added, “If it would help, we would be more than willing to take you and some of your security personnel for a visit of White Bluff. You can have a look around and even interview some of the locals. That is of course, if you think it would do any good in picking up their trail again.”

“Thank you Colonel.” Daraz replied thoughtfully, “we would enjoy the opportunity to visit your extended colony and see what, if anything, we can learn on where our fugitives may have vanished too. We still have some work to do in establishing our own encampment here. Shall we say, eight local days from now? We can meet you at Fort Redding for a tour there before continuing on to White Bluff.”

Finn didn't bother asking if Daraz knew how to locate Fort Redding or offer to send a guide. He replied with only a courteous nod.

“Well then!” Sinclair bellowed having completely missed the underlying tension that had permeated all around for the last several minutes. “The hour draws late. I think we can chalk this up to a successful first contact meeting.”

They were escorted back to the shuttle and back through the same line of security personnel. From what they could tell, the soldiers hadn’t moved an inch since their arrival. Finn considered that just one more artful display, a quiet demonstration of their discipline and resolve. With one last round of handshakes and well wishes they parted ways and Finn and company hurriedly boarded the shuttle eager to return home for a late dinner.

Finn on the other hand was eager to return home for reasons of his own. With this initial meeting out of the way, it was time to move into the 2nd phase of a carefully considered plan to ensure the Ludak didn't take over this world in the same fashion they did their own.

CHAPTER 10

“Lizards? Like actual Lizard ‘people’??” Myrna asked her face wrinkling in revulsion at the notion.

Sinclair snickered at her reaction, “don’t be like that. It’s not that surprising to find another species that is so far removed from mankind.”

“Either way, it’s not something you see every day.”

“None of that really matters anyway. What’s important is the society they come from. Under the leadership of their Lord Emperor, their people live in peace and prosperity. They are a space faring race with colonies on the Earth’s moon as well as Mars and other celestial bodies, and they are pushing outward into deep space. I’m pretty confident I made a good impression on Viceroy Daraz. He indicated that if their initial survey finds this planet suitable to establish a permanent colony, they could be interested in placing someone in charge who is already established with the current population.” Sinclair couldn’t hide the egotism from his voice. He puffed out his chest and walked over to the mirror to admire his reflection and give his hair a stroke of vanity.

The inside of the shuttle’s cargo bay was lit only by the red glow of a single blackout light tucked strategically into the deepest recesses of the hold. Six figures dressed all in black, clustered close together near the open cargo ramp as the shuttle eased along barely a few feet over the tops of the tallest trees. Their uniforms had been carefully tailored to include fabric recovered from their encounters with the Thrall army of the Creators. The specially designed material dissipated body heat making it nearly impossible for detection by infrared sensors.

Directly in the middle of the bay, a pair of ATV’s sat ready for a rapid exit, their engines running and an assortment of supplies and gear carefully secured in every conceivable storage compartment.

It had been a little over 48 hours since their meeting with the Ludak and Finn was eager to get this next stage of his plan into motion before they’re upcoming visit to Fort Redding and White Bluff.

“One minute.” The pilot reported from the flight deck.

Beyond the cargo ramp they watched the tops of trees whisk by so close it looked like they would reach up and snatch them from the sky at any moment. Finn took a moment to try and gauge the building tension of his small team. Each member of the four man security team were double checking each other’s equipment and quietly cracking jokes, they were trained, and they were ready. It was Dutch he was most concerned about. She was already strapped into the back of the last ATV and was nervously tugging at the restraints cinched tightly over her shoulders. Her eyes were squeezed tight and her lips moved as she mumbled softly to herself, Finn wasn't sure if it was a prayer, her favorite song lyrics or simply an inner mantra to try and calm herself. Whatever it was, he hoped it would help keep her nerves in check. As much as he hated asking her to tag along on this type of mission, she had critical skills that no one else could match at the moment.

“Thirty seconds.” The pilot announced, it would be the last such announcement.

Everyone took their places inside the pair of ATV’s while the drivers cranked the engines and made ready to move out. They felt the shuttle lurch and then dip suddenly as it made a near vertical dive for the deck. Moments later they felt the shudder of a hard touch down as the landing struts impacted the ground. A vibration rattled through the vehicles as the flight crew released the locking clamps holding them in place and then the pair of all-terrain vehicles shot ahead, down the ramp and out onto the open forest floor. The pilot had done a commendable job dropping into a break in the trees that was barely larger than the shuttle itself.

The moment they cleared the ramp, the shuttle’s engines roared as the pilot increased thrust and turned the nose skyward. Fifteen seconds after touching down, both ATV’s were moving in the cover of the trees while the shuttle climbed back to cruising altitude where it would continue on its original course for another thirty minutes before turning back and heading for home.

They were a little over a mile short of the boundary for the Ludak’s anti-aircraft tracking system. While it remained possible they had been spotted via orbital scans, it was unlikely the shuttle had raised any concern with a course that kept it some distance from their encampment. The brief touchdown wouldn't have been noticed from an orbital platform, viewed instead as a moment of interference from ground clutter.

With help from a dash mounted GPS system, Finn led the pair of ATV’s deeper into the forest as they passed beyond the line of distant hills marking the southern edge of the Valley of Sleeping Giants. They were barely two miles into the valley when he spotted movement some distance to their front. Easing the ATV to a halt, he signaled for the squad to dismount and spread out in a defensive arc.

Crawling cautiously on hands and knees, Finn and two security officers moved silently through the thick brush until they reached the top of a small rise overlooking an open meadow neatly divided in half by a bubbling brook.

Grazing on the thigh high weeds throughout the meadow, they were treated to the rare sight of a huge herd of armored Stegosaurus. Standing nearly ten feet tall on thick, muscular legs, the ancient beasts were notable for the rows of distinct, kite-shaped plates along their backs and menacing spikes topping the ends of their beefy tails. It wasn't their first encounter with Steg’s, while they were herbivores and not necessarily prone to aggressive behaviors, they were surprisingly fierce when it came to defending their territory. The Steg’s had a natural armored plating which made them nearly impossible to take down with conventional weapons, so the general rule of thumb was to simply steer clear of them and not bother them. In the pre-dawn light it was impossible to get a true sense of how many animals made up the herd, but Finn was sure that it numbered in the hundreds or even over a thousand. Glancing over his shoulder, he gestured for Dutch to crawl forward to his position.

“Wow!” Dutch exclaimed softly as she gazed out over the incredible view of majestic dinosaurs peacefully grazing on the shrubs or lounging in the stream. “This planet never ceases to amaze me.”

Two hours later and the first rays of the morning sun were starting to crest the horizon marking the skyline with a dazzling display of oranges, reds and purples. In any other moment they would have stopped and taken a few moments to register the natural beauty of the world around them.

Parking the ATV’s under the cover of low hanging tree’s, each member of the squad secured heavily laden packs over their shoulders before spending a few minutes using branches and forest clutter to cover the vehicles.

Their destination was a rocky outcropping several hundred feet up a ridge overlooking the valley. As they picked their way cautiously along a narrow washout, Finn raised a fist in the air when he heard a faint clicking sound a short distance ahead of them.

“Tall boy.” A voice called out.

“Miller lite.” Finn answered the challenge with the proper response.

With her face streaked black in a generous coating of grease paint, Jenna suddenly appeared out of nowhere directly in their path.

“About time sir. I was starting to get a little worried.”

Glancing at his watch, Finn realized they were nearly an hour late for the meeting. “Couldn't be avoided. We had to swing wide to avoid a huge herd of Steg’s back near the mouth of the valley.”

“Either way, glad you’re hear. Been itching to get to work.” Jenna said and then snapped her fingers twice.

Brush and mounds of dirt to either side of her suddenly came alive as camouflaged soldiers stood and briefly acknowledged Finn and his team before spreading out into a wider perimeter.

“What’s the sit rep around here?” Finn asked as he released a small hose from his webbing, placed it between his lips and sucked down several mouthfuls of warm but refreshing water from his hydration pack.

“A little more active than we had initially planned.” Jenna reported, “we’ve been in position here for about six hours now. A ten-man patrol passed by a few hours after we set up. They haven't been back since, but it’s safe to say we are within the limits of their active zone.”

Finn referred to a map on his PDA and said, “that’s certainly a much wider area than I would have figured. We’re nearly four miles from their camp, but it’s certainly good intel on their activities.” Glancing towards the top of a ridge nearly a hundred yards further upslope he asked, “have you gone up for a peek yet?”

“No sir.” Jenna replied, “wanted to wait and make sure we linked up with you before heading up.”

“Well then.” Finn offered with a wave of his hand, “shall we.”

They worked their way cautiously up the steep rise until they located a rocky ledge set back from the edge of a near vertical rock wall that was partially covered with a thicket of bushes and small trees. Using a pair of high-powered binoculars, Finn scanned their surroundings. The Ludak encampment was partially obscured behind a dense screen of trees further up the valley, but he could make out the silhouettes of two of their space craft along with the occasional burst of movement as work continued nonstop around the site. Most important of all, the perch was situated at a choke point where the far wall of the valley bowed inward on both sides. Anything coming or going from the Ludak camp would have to pass through that point and directly under their noses.

“This should do perfectly.” Finn exclaimed softly as he surveyed the secluded ledge. “Go ahead Dutch, I know you’ve been itching to break out your toys.”

With an ear to ear grin Dutch set to work arranging and assembling her gear. Meanwhile, Jenna arranged some of the security personnel into defensive positions while directing the rest to begin cutting lengths of timber and pieces of brush to fortify and camouflage the perch.

Several minutes later, Dutch had completed the assembly of a drone the size of a shoe box and cleverly designed to resemble a large dragon fly. Setting a tablet PC on top of a flat rock she began entering commands and moments later the drone’s wings began vibrating until they became a blur of motion. The drone took off with a barely noticeable buzz and quickly zipped across the open valley towards the Ludak encampment.

“Ok, so the drone’s disguised but won’t they detect the radio frequency being used to control it and transmit video back here?” Jenna asked as the drone disappeared from view into the tree line in the distance.

“Nope!” Dutch replied proudly as she remained focused on the controls. “Marcella and I were able to deconstruct the Ludak scanning technology from the rogue ship in White Bluff. I’ve designed several drones with a modulator that rapidly flips frequencies from extreme low band to high band every half second. They may detect a signal, but will simply dismiss it as atmospheric interference.”

With the drone now out of sight they crowded around the small video screen and watched the transmission as Dutch weaved and bobbed expertly through the trees until the device was in position nearly a hundred feet off the ground and thirty feet back from the edge of the meadow.

They could see rows of tents and bustling activity all around the area. The spaceships, with their stealth generators operational, remained invisible to the drone’s cameras and sensors. However, even without directly seeing them it was easy to note their presence by the empty patch of ground each vessel occupied.

“Hold on.” Finn said as he caught sight of something of particular interest. Gesturing towards the spot on the screen he said, “Can you swing back to the left a bit and zoom in on that line of objects.”

Dutch made the necessary adjustments and the drone curved back around to present them with an overhead view of seven atmospheric aircraft parked in a neat row at the edge of the meadow.

“Those look like Osprey.” Jenna observed with a notable tremor in her voice.

Noting the absent look on Dutch’s face, Jenna explained, “the Marines used them back home. They can take off and hover just like a helicopter but can also spin those engine pilings around into an airplane configuration for long range, high speed cruising. Each one can hold up to 30 troops along with a pair of light weight wheeled vehicles.”

“Judging by the pylons under the wings and fuselage.” Finn noted as he gestured towards a series of empty struts jutting underneath each aircraft, “this version is likely designed to be heavily armed.”

“That’s not all.” Jenna exclaimed as she studied the line of aircraft. “Those look like chain guns sticking out from under the nose of each.”

“Shit.” Finn muttered as he realized the firepower the Ludak were capable of bringing to bare.

Swinging the drone in a wide arc while keeping it a safe distance away from the encampment, Dutch maneuvered the device in a slow circle giving them an overview of the ongoing activities. A disturbing picture began to take shape as they watched the unloading of weapons platforms, equipment and an assortment of wheeled vehicles, ATV’s and troop carriers.

“Ok, I count in the neighborhood of 3500 troops on the ground already. Taking into consideration they’ve got mortars, medium and light machine guns, RPG’s and assorted infantry weapons, I can’t see this as anything short of an invasion.” Finn said after nearly half an hour of observing the Ludak’s operations.

“What do we think they still have sitting around in orbit?” Jenna asked.

“Hard to say for sure, but from what Sky and Reality reported along with our own sightings of that orbital platform, something in the neighborhood of 10-20,000 additional troops.”

“We’re screwed.” Jenna moaned, “there’s no way in hell we can hold our own against a force that large. I wonder why they haven't started landing the rest of them yet.”

“That’s actually where we may catch a break.” Finn replied, “From what we’ve learned, the Ludak most likely traveled here with only this landing force fully ready to deploy. To avoid the need to support such large numbers for an extended journey, they don’t actually brood a new generation until just before they’re ready to deploy them.”

“Brood?” Dutch asked with a raised eyebrow, “you mean they hatch like a bunch of damn turtles?”

“Something like that.” Said Finn, “coupled with technology, they can spawn thousands of young all the way from birth to maturity in a very short period.”

Spreading out a printed map of the region, Finn sat on the ground and leaned back against a small boulder while Jenna fashioned her field pack into a comfortable seat.

“Ok, let’s go over this. What’s your deployment status?” Finn asked.

Stabbing a finger at the map, Jenna indicted a heavily forested area some distance away from their current location. “We’re about thirty miles south east of here. We set up camp near a river bank with deep water access. The sailing ships can get in and out with relative ease. The forces you’ve been siphoning off and sending our way are averaging about a three day hike through some pretty rough terrain to link up with us. Overall, it’s a good spot. We’re close enough to the Revati settlement and thanks to Linc and Rune, we’ve organized hunting and gathering parties to keep us supplied.”

“Good deal, that takes some of the pressure off trying to move supplies in and out.” Finn replied, “We can’t risk using the shuttles any more than absolutely necessary. Also, I want you to get word to Tayte, that his ships are to either remain visible in port or kept on a short leash near White Bluff. Now that the Ludak have established themselves on the surface and we know they have air assets, it won’t be long before they start sending out recon patrols. I don’t want any ships giving away your position.”

“Not a problem.” Jenna replied, “that brings up my next point. We’ve been keeping strict radio silence as instructed. Can we expect any secure comms in the near future? Sending information back and forth with runners, is far from ideal.”

“I can help with that.” Dutch interjected. Rooting around in her pack she withdrew a long range radio transmitter, portable antenna, power pack and solar charger. “This unit’s ready to go and we can leave it here with the observation post. It’s set up with a similar modulation as the drone, we should be able to talk without risk of intercept.” Next to that she added a pair of customized circuit boards to the pile. “Replace the board in your current comm systems with these and you’ll be good to go. Send the other back to White Bluff for their systems and we’ll all have reliable communications again.”

“Alright then.” Jenna replied, her spirits lifted with a renewed sense of optimism.

“Keep this post manned around the clock. I want reports twice daily on Ludak activities in this valley. Have your people keep up with troop numbers and equipment. Above all, I want a heads up if any aircraft or land vehicles leave their camp.” Finn ordered, “I have a hunch that things are going to start happening very soon, we need to be ready.”

“Have you figured out how you’re going to explain all the missing security personnel from both Fort Redding and White Bluff?” Jenna asked, “With nearly three quarters of our armed forces deployed outside the wire, someone is bound to take notice and start asking questions.”

“I’ve got a plan for that.” Finn said with a grin, “I’ve got our remaining forces pulling double shifts under orders to make themselves as visible as possible within the colony. I don’t expect that we can pull it off indefinitely, but hopefully long enough that the Ludak get a rough head count and believe they have us outnumbered by at least 10 to 1. We just need to prevent them from rushing any further troop landings.”

They spent some time working out logistical details while Dutch provided a crash course in drone usage before parting ways. As the sun started to set at the close of another long day, they bid farewell and watched as Jenna and a two man team headed off into the growing gloom of night. After one final check that their newly established observation post was manned and ready for business, Finn and Dutch left their small security team behind and returned to where they had stashed their ATV’s for the long drive back to Fort Redding.

CHAPTER 11

Crouching low in a thick tangle of weeds and scrub, Linc’s eyes were the only part of his body he allowed to move as they methodically scanned back and forth searching for his prey. The thrill of the hunt always came with a warm and welcoming rush through his bloodstream. From early childhood he had mastered the craft and out of all the hunters and warriors in his village, only Rune possessed an enhanced mastery of the craft. He knew that for human males, that would come as a blow to what they called their ‘ego’. It was one of many human concepts he struggled to understand. For his people, being joined with a mate as skilled as Rune was nothing short of a great honor.

He was stalking the edges of a marsh along the banks of the nearby river. Game trails leading to and from the area indicated it was a popular location for an assortment of predators and prey alike. On this specific hunt, he was stalking a particularly nasty creature. The ‘sail-backs’, as they were known to his people, were meat eaters that possessed a vicious temperament and their preferred prey were fish and small game. The sail-backs slender and elongated snout is similar to that of a crocodile, with rows of sharp teeth that interlock. They stand erect on their two hind feet and have razor sharp claws on both their feet and stubby forearms that they use to grasp and hold their prey. Their aggressive nature could easily make short work of even the greatest of hunters should they let their attention falter for even a moment. They resemble miniature versions of the fearsome T-Rex, but it’s the bristling sail like membrane rising up and down the length of their spine that earned them their name.

The snap of a twig followed an instant later by a gentle splash of water alerted Linc that his quarry was approaching. Spread out in a line to his right and left, five soldiers followed his lead as they pressed their bodies into the brush while continually scanning their surroundings. Armed with his trusty bow, Linc would take the first shot in the hopes of crippling the beast while the soldiers finished it off with their pulse rifles.

Nocking an arrow into place, his eyes remained riveted on a vibrating tree branch two hundred feet away. He could hear the splash of approaching footfalls as the creature meandered deeper into the knee-deep muck searching for its next meal. Through a narrow slit between a pair of trees he caught a brief glimpse of the extended sail riding along the animals back.

Linc pulled back on the bow and sighted down the shaft of the arrow at a point in the brush nearly a hundred and fifty feet away where he envisioned the beast breaking cover as it unknowingly entered into their kill box. He grimaced slightly as he heard the careless rattle of a sling from one of the soldiers as they adjusted their position. In his mind’s eye he could picture the sail back suddenly stopping and raising its long snout as it sniffed the air searching for the source of the unfamiliar sound. He knew in that moment they were blown, the sail back wasn't exactly an intelligent creature, but it was bright enough to recognize that something was amiss in its familiar hunting ground.

Linc adjusted his aim, now selecting a blind spot through the cover of branches and leaves where his ears told him the beast had stopped in its tracks as it sampled the scents floating on the air around it. Putting a little extra muscle into his draw, he pulled back against the bow, raised the arrow an extra few inches and released.

Made of sturdy cedar carefully carved into a shaft measuring twice that of a normal human constructed arrow and tipped with a finely honed section of animal bone, the wooden missile exploded through the leaves and twigs separating hunter from prey. There was a notable hiss from the disturbed air along with the scraping and snapping of wood as the arrow rocketed towards it target. An instant later he was rewarded with the wet slap of impact as the arrow flew true and successfully found its mark. The peaceful silence of the bog was suddenly shattered by a nightmarish howl of an animal in pain.

The anguished cries were now accompanied by loud slurping impacts in the ground and the violent crash of breaking limbs as heavy footfalls rushed towards them through the undergrowth. Linc’s hand flew to the leather quill slung over his shoulder, pulling another arrow free before his conscious mind even registered he was doing so. Without taking his eyes off the shaking tree limbs and blur of movement swiftly crashing towards him, he nocked the arrow and pulled back on the bowstring.

Directly in front of him, the head of the wounded sail back broke from cover, its face contorted in a mix of agony, rage and determination as its eyes locked onto Linc. The shaft of his arrow extended from a point low on the creature’s neck, a few inches short of a fatal shot. As he locked eyes with the beast, his hand drew the arrow back to its maximum and was a mere instant from releasing when a burst of charged energy from a pulse rifle exploded from his left smacking into the side of the sail back’s face.

The hunt ended as the beast dropped lifelessly to the ground directly in front of Linc, its ruined head now dangling to either side of its neck supported by tendrils of blood soaked flesh, meat and muscle.

Standing over the lifeless corpse, Linc recognized that it wasn't the cleanest or most honorable hunt he’d ever led. A tortured animal, even for a brief moment was nothing to celebrate, the screams of pain would stay with him for some time to come. In the back of his mind he told himself to spend more time working with the humans on sound discipline while on the hunt. Pulling his knife from its sheath, he set to work butchering the carcass while the humans stood nearby watching and learning.

It was late in the afternoon when Linc led the hunting party back into the remote bivouac site. Crudely fashioned wooden sleds were stacked high with hundreds of pounds of meat, hide, organs and bone from the sail-back. Every ounce of the beast would be put to use. The highly durable and soft leather hide would be fashioned into clothing, sheaths and material for tents and shelters, while the organs would be ground up and used as fishing bait or fertilizer for gardening.

Linc and his fellow Revati excelled in hunting, tracking and survival skills, and as they entered the encampment he marveled at the human’s resourcefulness in creating temporary and well concealed shelters. They had chosen a heavily wooded location that was isolated and remote enough that it was unlikely the Ludak would pay any undue interest to the area. Sky and Reality’s ship had been used to ferry the majority of forces and gear from White Bluff and then it had been carefully positioned in a clearing. Linc had watched with amazement as soldiers spent days carting several tons of soil onto the hull and then transplanted hundreds of trees, bushes and hunks of sod onto the top of the ship. By the time they finished, the outer hull had been completely transformed into a forestry scene, that from a distance it was indistinguishable from the real thing. Even though it was an alien concept to him, they had explained that the ship generated an invisible stealth shield that further helped conceal them from any electronic scanning.

The humans had continued to show their prowess for hiding in the forest by constructing intricate earthen bunkers that were ingeniously hidden from view. Dozens of large tents were set up and concealed with netting that broke up their silhouettes by helping them blend seamlessly into the surroundings. Overall it was an exciting opportunity for Linc and his fellow Revati to learn such tactical survival skills. Patrol operations, camouflage and concealment, and many other skills that they’d never been exposed to in the past, Linc found it all fascinating and extremely useful.

Since open fires produced light and smoke visible for a long distance, they had to find creative ways of cooking any meat they gathered from a hunt. It was Tayte who provided the solution to just such an issue. Years earlier he had introduced Linc to a creative method of cooking meat under the ground where flames and smoke were virtually undetectable. Along the periphery of the encampment, Linc had dug several pits into the ground. The bottoms of each pit were then lined with a crosshatch of twigs and logs topped by a layer of smooth stones. A bed of palm fronds and moist leaves were then added as a cooking surface with the meat spaced evenly on top. Once the wood was ignited, the entire ensemble was covered with a second layer of leaves. Logs and dirt were then loosely piled over the makeshift ovens and they were left alone for a full night and day. The results were a nicely cooked pile of very tender meat that included a savory wood fired flavor that would have been impossible for his own people to recreate in any other fashion.

As he finished burying the last of the meat pits, he eased back under the shade of a thick tree and relished the simple pleasures of living off the land and life in the great outdoors. If it wasn’t for the looming threat of the Ludak and local wildlife, he could actually see Rune and himself leaving everything else behind and making a go at things on their own. The last embers of daylight were slowly winking away when he allowed his heavy eyes to drift shut and welcomed the blissful wave of sleep that slowly overtook him.

“Ouch!” Finn exclaimed as he instinctively drew his arm back from the small needle.

“You know. For a tough Army war vet, you can be a real wuss at times.” Lauren said with a wide grin.

Sitting on the exam table in the medical center, Finn grimaced as he rubbed at the spot on his shoulder. Four used syringes were laid out neatly on a small equipment table next to him.

“Yeah, well we’re all only human.” Finn replied, “is that it?”

“All done big boy. Go ahead and get dressed.” Lauren answered as she began tidying up the area, readying it for the next patient.

As Finn stood and pulled on his uniform top he nodded to the empty syringes and asked, “we usually only get three boosters a year, is the fourth what I think it is?”

“It is.” Lauren replied as she scooped up the used needles and deposited them in a nearby hazardous waste container. “I completed work ups on the vaccine two weeks ago and have quietly added them to everyone’s routine boosters. So far I’ve got nearly half the population of Fort Redding taken care of and Bew is nearly as far along with White Bluff and the Revati. It should offer us at least some protection against any potential smallpox outbreaks.”

As she was straightening up, her swelling belly brushed against the tray sending a box of bandages tumbling to the floor. With a grimace she grasped the side rail of the bed for support and stooped down to retrieve the errant box.

“Uggh.” Lauren exclaimed with a jolt as her midsection was racked with pain in the midst of her motion.

Finn was at her side in an instant, his helping hands gently guiding her into an upright and leaning position against the bed’s mattress.

“What are you doing?” He exclaimed in a display of nervous unease, “you can hardly walk without support let alone bend over like that.”

Even with her due date drawing ever closer, Finn found it impossible to convince her to stay off her feet and on bed rest for the final stretch of the pregnancy. Whether it was her stubbornness or a legitimate medical need for at least a minimal level of physical activity he could never be sure, but she was adamant that nothing was going to keep her from her duties in the medical center.

“It’s fine.” Lauren said through clenched teeth with her eyes squeezed tightly shut and each breath coming in short and rapid succession. “He’s just a little hell raiser in there is all.”

“He?” Finn replied, his brows raised in surprise, “I thought we agreed not to peek?”

With a notable twinkle in her eye she replied, “I promise, no peeking. But the way this baby is using my insides as a punching bag, it simply has to be a boy.”

After a few minutes of controlled breathing, Lauren regained her composure. In the meantime, a nurse entered the exam room and took over the inoculations while Lauren took a much needed break.

“Before you go, there’s something else I need to show you.” She offered ushering Finn to a private office. Firing up a datapad, Lauren opened a file with an intricate display of biological and DNA readings.

“You going to tell me what I’m looking at here?” Finn asked when Lauren didn’t offer an immediate explanation for the data.

“Sorry.” Lauren offered, “You know I’m prone to spacing out lately, damn pregnancy brain. Anyway, what you’re looking at is the data Reality provided me from their ship’s database, all the records they have pertaining to the artificial wombs and the embryos inside them.”

Finn shuddered at the mention of the unorthodox process for what amounted to test tube babies. “I hope you’re not going to tell me it’s actually some kind of brilliant breakthrough, I don’t know if I could stomach any involvement in that process.”

“Oh god no.” Lauren moaned, “it’s a barbaric and truly inhumane process. In fact, after studying the data I’ve learned that even though the growth process substantially enhances physical development, basically developing an embryo all the way to full adulthood in less than a year, the mental and cognitive resources are not so fortunate.”

“The result is what? An imbecile or something?” Asked Finn.

Lauren shook her head slowly as her eyes scanned over the data on the screen. “Not so much an imbecile or even what I would consider mentally handicapped, more like, empty, just a shell of a human. They would lack anything beyond the most basic thought process. For standard development of a human by birth, only the lower portions of the nervous system, the spinal cord and brain stem, are very well developed, whereas the higher regions, the limbic system and cerebral cortex, are still rather primitive. The human brain takes time to develop, so nature has insured that the neural circuits responsible for the most vital bodily functions—breathing, heartbeat, circulation, sleeping, sucking, and swallowing—are up and running by the time a baby emerges from the protective womb. The rest of brain development can follow at a more leisurely pace, maximizing the opportunity for a baby’s experience and environment to shape his emerging mind. These adult humans that are created only have those vital bodily functions, without any other intelligence.”

“So they conjure up thousands of adult simpletons, release them in the wild and then hunt them for sport. What kind of sick bastards are we dealing with here? Is there anything we can do for them?”

“On the surface, I would have almost said no. But then I dug a little deeper and found this.” With a tap of the screen the view changed to show a blown up 3D image of a DNA strand. Even without a scientific background, Finn was able to discern something peculiar about the image.

“It’s missing something, isn’t it?”

“Bingo.” Lauren exclaimed gesturing to the image, “when a normal embryo is formed, it contains DNA from both the egg and the sperm. While there are some medical anomalies that would allow DNA from only one source to result in a viable baby, it’s extremely rare and often detrimental. In this case, these embryos are specifically designed with only the genetic material from cryogenically stored eggs. No sperm is used. The end result is what you see here, a genetic code that is only partially developed. It turns out that this missing code is by design, it’s the only way their accelerated growth process will work.”

“Ok, that’s way over my head, but I guess it makes sense in a very disturbing kind of way. But what can we do to help? It would seem that once the embryos are created, it’s a done deal, right?”

Another few taps on the screen and an image of a different strand of DNA appeared alongside the other.

“I want to say human.” Finn began as he carefully studied the image, “but it looks off somehow.”

Lauren’s eyes brightened and she leaned over to plant a playful kiss on his forehead, “I knew you weren't all brawn and no brain! you’re exactly right, it is human, but not your typical human. This is the genetic code from the Creators, I’ve had many years to study it and learn the intricacies and differences between their base code and our own.”

Lauren entered a few commands and the DNA strand from the Creators slid across the screen and over-the top of the incomplete fragment from Sky and Realities ‘cargo’ of embryos. With another tap of the screen, Lauren transposed the Creators DNA fragment making the underlying section of code visible as the two were stacked on one another. The fragments fit together perfectly like pieces of a puzzle.

“You’ve got to be shitting me!” Finn exclaimed as the implication of the image hit him like a brick wall, “the Creators are a genetic match?”

“Not exactly.” Lauren explained. “At least not a perfect match. However, the Creators DNA does fill the gap left behind in the genetic code of the embryos. In essence, the Creator’s code could, in theory at least, be used to fill that gap and allow those embryos to develop into fully mature beings with completely developed cognitive resources.”

“Are you actually suggesting we help the Creators in this way?” Finn asked in surprise. “Do I have to remind you that they enslaved and killed millions of humans in an attempt to save their own skin? They kidnapped you and Dr. Hughes, sent their slave army loose against us, killing and maiming scores in the process. While we haven't heard from them in nearly a decade, I can only hope that they’re all extinct by now. Nothing more than piles of rotting flesh and bones in their cozy little underground cities.”

“I’m not suggesting anything, all I’m saying is that I found a match and I’m letting you know how that could work.” Lauren started, her voice taking on a clinically distant tone that Finn recognized as a signal that she was uncomfortable with the direction of the discussion. She continued, “Before you jump to conclusions, I want to point out that even if this was something we considered exploring, it’s not like we’d actually be fostering a new generation of Creators. With the combination of genetic material, we’re talking about a completely new branch of human evolution.”

Finn soaked in her words and bit his lip holding back any immediate rebuke. Sometimes he had to remind himself that the woman he loved, the future mother of his children, had a mind that was based on her medical and scientific background. He liked to think that the combination of his military and tactical way of thinking was often tempered by her more analytical approach to pretty much any subject that came up.

Holding up his hand in a signal of defeat Finn bowed his head slightly and said, “sorry, it’s just a sensitive subject. I lost people back then and that’s something I can never really get past. I do understand that you’re looking at it from a scientific standpoint and I respect that.”

Lauren opened her mouth to reply but instead of words she unexpectedly released a loud belch. She clamped her hand over her mouth as her face grew a deep shade of crimson, “Oh damn, I didn't mean that.” Pressing her hand against her chest she bellowed, “this heart burn is just miserable.”

“Alright.” Finn exclaimed in his best command voice, “that’s enough work for today. Why don’t you head home and get some rest? You’ve been pushing yourself way too hard lately.”

Lauren reluctantly agreed and the two made plans to meet later for a romantic dinner together before parting.

CHAPTER 12

“OP Alpha with flash traffic sir.” The radio operator reported as Finn hustled into the Operations Center.

The central chamber was a buzz of frantic activity as runners came and went while technicians huddled over their stations and passed along critical updates. Finn could sense the tension building in the air, raised voices, tired and drooping eyes along with an unusual amount of coffee flowing steadily through the room. With more than three quarters of their force now secretly deployed in the field, everyone left behind had been picking up the slack and wearing multiple hats keeping everything running smoothly. The stress was starting to show. He had to admit that he was proud of his people, despite the strain on personnel, desks were clean and orderly, tasks were accomplished within standards and tempers remained in check. There was something about the air of military discipline that helped hold it all together, it was simply addicting.

Sliding into a chair at the communications desk he put on a set on headphones and keyed the mic, “OP Alpha, this is Homeplate Actual, send your traffic.”

A moment later there was a quick burst of static followed by a male voice, “Roger Actual. We’ve got eyes on four birds loading up and making ready to leave the nest at this time.”

A sly smile crossed his lips. It was going down just as he’d suspected, the Ludak were preparing to come and pay them a visit, two days earlier than expected.

Keying the mic once again he replied, “Received and understood. Maintain position and keep us posted of any additional updates. Homeplate Actual out.”

Switching frequencies on the radio he dialed in a call to White Bluff and after several moments had Tayte on the other end of the radio, “Just received word that we’re to expect guests within the hour. I would assume we will be paying you a visit sometime this evening as well.”

“Roger that.” Came Tayte’s reply, “I’ll heat up the steaks and ice down the beer.”

Shutting down the radio he stood and announced to everyone inside the Operations Center, “Ok people, you know what to do. Commence Operation Hobo, let’s make it look good.”

After stopping by his home and changing into an aged and worn uniform, Finn spent the next hour roving the perimeter checking on guard posts and personnel. He had just reached the southern gate when he heard the telltale approach of aircraft reverberating through the trees. Moments later a pair of the Ludak planes flying in line abreast formation cleared the treetops and entered into a wide circle around the perimeter of Fort Redding.

By design, both Dutch and Dr. Hughes met Finn at the edge of a recently tilled farm field along the western boundary of the colony. Four security officers were setting flares into place in the field outlining a makeshift landing zone for their visitors.

“They took off with four fully loaded birds.” Finn offered as they watched the two aircraft pull into a hover over the landing zone and ease down to a gentle landing. “I’m guessing the other two are staged somewhere nearby. A reaction force in case things go south during their visit.”

“A comforting thought.” Dutch replied.

A cloud of dust and debris was stirred up in the wake of the two aircraft, by the time it settled enough to make the landing area visible again, cargo ramps on the rear of both vessels were already down. A squad of armed troops had spread out from each into a protective circle around the craft.

“I count twenty, ten from each ship.” Finn stated, “It’s a good bet that’s only a quarter of the force they have with them though. They are really trying to put on a good show for us.”

“Hi folks. Don’t mind us, we’re just harmless lizards and aren’t hear to eat you or anything.” Dutch mimed under her breath.

A pair of figures exited one of the aircraft and began making their way across the field towards them. Finn immediately recognized both Viceroy Daraz and Marshal Gruz.

“Ok, let’s put on our best game face and try to place nice.” He whispered out of the corner of his mouth as he stepped forward to meet the approaching Ludak leaders.

As both Duraz and Gruz approached, Finn couldn't help but note how their eyes swept up and down his tattered and worn uniform taking in the ragged appearance he’d hoped to convey.

“Viceroy Daraz, Marshal Gruz.” Finn exclaimed as he stood rigidly and offered his hand, “we weren't expecting you so soon.”

It was Daraz who reached out and accepted the handshake while Gruz looked on. “Yes, our ground operations have been moving smoother than anticipated and we were eager to move forward with this visit.”

As they spoke Finn noted that the disembarked Ludak soldiers, while continuing to maintain a respectable distance, had now fanned out in a loose arc designed to keep any of their own forces from approaching. Overall it was an impressive display, with only a small contingent of soldiers, they were able to take control of their immediate surroundings. In any other situation Finn wouldn't have tolerated such a display on their home turf, however, at that moment, it was exactly what he’d hoped for.

Before Finn could summon a response they were interrupted by the sound of heavy footfalls and strained breathing as someone approached quickly from behind Finn.

“Welcome, welcome!” Sinclair barked, his face flush and coated in sweat from the short jog across the compound. “I’m so sorry we didn't have an appropriate reception awaiting your arrival.”

Turning to Finn he barked, “Why wasn't the council informed of this visit Colonel?”

“To be fair, we were caught off guard ourselves.” Finn replied slyly.

“Either way.” Daraz interrupted impatiently, “We are here now, the reception is more than adequate. Perhaps you would be kind enough to offer us a tour?”

“Yes, yes. Of course.” Sinclair bellowed with a dismissive wave towards Finn, “I would be happy to show you around. I am sure the Colonel and his people have other duties to attend to.”

“Actually.” Daraz replied flatly, “If it’s all the same, I think we would appreciate it if Colonel Finnegan joined us. He may have insights that would prove beneficial.”

Finn struggled to suppress any outward signs of amusement at the response. Inwardly he acknowledged that he’d fully expected for Daraz to want him on hand where he could keep an eye on the military leader of Fort Redding.

“As you wish.” Sinclair responded, despite his attempt to hide it, his voice betrayed his disapproval at the request.

As they started making their way into the heart of the colony, Marshal Gruz turned back and shared a silent look with one of his troops who Finn immediately pegged as an officer. While a selection of four soldiers were dispatched to follow along at a respectable distance, the remaining Ludak troopers stood fast around the landing zone.

For the most part as they walked a slow and steady circuit through the central hub of Fort Redding, Sinclair kept up a steady but irritating banter pointing out various features of the colony. For their part, Finn, Dutch and Dr. Hughes followed along quietly allowing Sinclair his moment in the spot light.

Finn’s attention bounced back and forth between Sinclair’s nonstop babbling and Marshal Gruz. He had noted that while Daraz feigned interest in the actual tour, Gruz on the other hand seemed to have a different agenda in mind. As they moved about and passed by individuals or small groups of soldiers, Gruz appeared to be carefully studying their demeanor, equipment and assigned postings while also keeping mental count of numbers. Sinclair pointed out facilities, services and made introductions to key colony officials, but Daraz only really expressed visible interest when something related to defense, communications or inter-relations between the Revati came up. It came as no surprise to Finn that this wasn't so much a tour as a reconnaissance mission. Sinclair was oblivious to the focus on military and security, an occasional question or feigned interest in an otherwise innocuous item of the tour from Daraz kept him rolling on with renewed vigor.

The soldiers they passed were playing their part exactly how Finn planned. Crisp uniforms had been replaced with worn, patched and frayed outfits, in a couple extreme cases he spotted troopers with mismatched tops and bottoms. All but a handful of pulse rifles had been carefully stored in hidden caches throughout the colony, the weapons they saw on the tour consisted of spears, bows and arrows and in one case a brute of a soldier brandishing a sledgehammer over his shoulder. It was exactly the look Finn had been going for. He wanted the Ludak to see their forces more of a ragtag undisciplined mob than a professional fighting force. A secondary objective was for them to get a sense that the forces they already had on the surface vastly outnumbered anything the humans had at their disposal.

They reached the Operation Center and Sinclair held the door ushering all of them inside. Directly inside the main entrance a desk was arranged which was normally manned around the clock by a two man team. What they found instead was a single soldier slumped back in his chair, feet up on the edge of the desk and head slumped over his chest, deep in a state of slumber.

“Maxwell!” Finn immediately barked.

The soldier shot to his feet, eyes glassy and confused as he found himself confronted with a group of unexpected visitors.

“What the hell Maxwell?” Finn exclaimed. “Sleeping on duty is a serious offense!”

“Sir, I’m sorry sir.” Maxwell stammered, “I had a bit of a late night last night.”

As the soldier offered his excuse, the odor of stale alcohol and bad breath wafted across the room to them. Finn made a mental note to put the young sergeant in for an acting award when all was said and done.

“We are taking our guests inside for a tour.” Finn continued, “I want you to remain standing here at attention, alert and AWAKE, until we return. We’ll have words later, I will not tolerate slacking!”

During the exchange Sinclair maintained a disgusted scowl on his face while shooting a sideways glance at Finn. To his credit, he withheld comments and allowed Finn to address the situation.

Moving into the building, Finn now led the way as he pointed out various offices, data storage and equipment areas and finally pushed open the door into the command center floor. The room had undergone a dramatic transformation in the hour since Finn had left to change and meet the Ludak at the landing zone. Out of six workstations, the monitors had been removed from two, leaving wiring, cables and accessories exposed on barren and cluttered desks. The other four desks remained set up with computers and equipment, two of the screens had been replaced with ones bearing long and jagged cracks. Two technicians were on duty as they walked in, a male and female both kicked back in their seats reading books and not paying attention to their stations. An impressive degree of clutter had been added to each work station, plates of half eaten food, several empty or partially full drinking cups, crumpled towels and in one case, an overflowing ashtray. The moment the door opened, both techs looked up feigning complete surprise, quickly dumping their reading material and sliding up closer to their desks and returning their focus to their duties.

Ignoring the clutter and the technicians, Finn ran through a brief overview on how the Operations Center functioned and some of the basic controls and monitoring that occurred there. Daraz and Gruz had a few questions, specifically related to the array of satellites in orbit, their use and capabilities. Finn was frank and forthcoming with his responses while avoiding any details that could be considered classified or irresponsible to discuss.

Departing the Op Center, Sinclair once again took over the tour and deftly guided everyone towards the town hall building where several members of the council had gathered awaiting introductions to their guests. The meeting turned into an hour long ass kissing event that turned Finn’s stomach into knots. It was clear that only Sinclair’s closest confidants on the council had been invited to this particular session, even Lauren had been excluded, although she needed the rest more than a chance to play politics.

Sinclair was overtly enamored by the Ludak and went out of his way to impress them at every opportunity. Finn wasn't sure what game the Governor was playing, but something told him he wouldn't like it when those motives eventually came to light. All through the visit to the council chamber Finn watched as Sinclair and the Ludak leaders shared quiet conversations in between introductions and small talk with the other members. After several minutes of social pleasantries, Sinclair ushered Daraz into a private office where the two remained behind closed doors for an extended period. When they finally emerged, Sinclair was all smiles and hearty handshakes as he escorted Daraz around the room like a loyal puppy.

“Thank you for your time.” Daraz offered as they exited the council chamber some time later and turned back towards the landing zone. “This has been a useful and informative experience but I’m afraid we must cut it short for the day.”

After a brief round of goodbyes, the Ludak leadership was followed by their security force back into their aircraft and within a few moments the engines fired up and the ships pulled skyward, formed up and faded away into the distance. Finn was quick to note that the aircraft departed in a southerly direction, nearly the complete opposite of their encampment. He smiled broadly as he whispered to Dutch. “Get a message to White Bluff, tell them to expect visitors.”

With the Ludak now gone, work inside the Operation Center returned to some semblance of normal. Work stations had been put back in place and fully manned, most of the clutter had been collected and stored in a large box off to one side of the room, ready in case it was needed again. Satellite transmissions were once again lighting up monitors and the occasional squelch of radio traffic added life to the room. Overtop of all the chatter, Tayte’s voice boomed loud and clear through an overhead speaker as he reported in from White Bluff.

“We just spent nearly five damn hours playing hosts to the lizards!” Tayte exclaimed, irritation coming through even over the scrambled radio frequency. “They conducted interviews with over twenty personnel. Anyone who had direct contact with Sky and Reality or had been posted on guard duty around their ship. A group of their soldiers cordoned off the section of beach where the ship had been grounded. They went over the entire area with some kind of scanner, even dug a couple feet into the sand to take samples. It was like watching a CSI crew going at it.”

“Not really a surprise.” Finn responded, “I don’t think they bought our story that the two of them simply vanished into the cosmos without a trace. From this point forward we have to assume that both colonies are going to be under surveillance in one form or another.”

“I may be able to help with that.” Dutch broke in from a nearby workstation, “Even though their aircraft lack the same stealth technology as their space going ships, they are proving difficult to track by satellite because they’re small, fast and operating right at tree top level. However, I was able to lock down the variable range of their radio frequencies. It’s all scrambled and highly encrypted and I haven't been able to break those codes yet, but we can track in on the source of those signals.”

Keying commands into her station she fed the view from her monitor onto the main viewing screen while beaming it out to White Bluff as well. The view showed satellite imagery of a brilliant green and brown world of trees and shapes. Through the trees and ground clutter four brightly glowing white images were clearly visible. The thermal imaging easily detecting the heat from the plane’s engines and airframes. Judging by the onscreen data it was evident that all four aircraft had set down a few miles west of Fort Redding.

“Here’s where I had to get a little creative.” Dutch explained as she froze the recording and tightened the view to only a few hundred feet overhead. “Since the Ludak are basically lizards, not much different from local dinosaurs, they are cold blooded and don’t necessarily give off any residual heat signatures.”

“Let me guess Dutch. You’re about to wow us with some fancy techno wizardry to track them?” Tayte responded sarcastically.

Dutch grinned as she made an adjustment on her panel and the view changed to include dozens of glowing spectral images spreading out around each of the parked aircraft. “The combat uniforms they’re wearing were designed for human use, not lizards. With Marcela still aboard the other stealth ship, I asked her to dig into their database for me and do a little research. I’m happy to report that during the manufacturing process of those uniforms, they are treated with an insecticide called Permethrin. It took a little ‘fancy techno wizardry’, but I was able to calibrate our satellites to read that chemical signature as an infrared return. As you can see here.” She said with a sweeping motion towards the screen, “they might as well all be carrying torches and firing signal flares.”

Dutch allowed the recording to continue and they saw in picture perfect clarity a detailed overview of the Ludak forming into defensive positions around their aircraft. Finn did a quick count and came up with nearly a hundred troops deployed along with the planes.

Once the ground forces were in position, two of the aircraft rose skyward once again continuing on a westerly course that eventually brought them into Fort Redding. Dutch fast forwarded the recording and they saw the Ludak soldiers splitting into two groups. The larger group, a quick reaction force Finn assumed, remained in position surrounding the remaining planes. The second group, headed off into the woods. Two hours later, that group had reached a point less than a mile from the perimeter of Fort Redding. They spread out into smaller observation posts where they remained even now. As the tape continued they saw the Ludak handle the visit to White Bluff in a similar fashion. The flight of four planes landing several miles short of the colony where troops were discharged in a holding pattern. Another small knot of Ludak once again broke off and closed on White Bluff where they were left in place.

“Something tells me they aren’t sitting out there in the woods earning their boy scout merit badges.” Dutch offered as she watched the Ludak setting up their positions.

“Nope, in fact, it’s a good bet we can expect them to move onto the next stage very soon.” Finn offered.

Even though the Ludak were acting in a manner he had more or less anticipated he felt an icy knot in the pit of his stomach knowing that it wouldn't be long until the vile stench of death and cries from the wounded once again plagued their lives. “I think it’s time we moved ahead with our own stage two.”

Without need for further consultation, Dutch nodded her understanding, shut down her station and hurried off towards her workshop.

Alone in the Op Center, Finn placed an encrypted radio call to Jenna. “I think it’s time.” Finn said without preamble.

“Understood.” Jenna replied before quickly signing off.

CHAPTER 13

The Ludak returned forty eight hours later. It was still several minutes before sunup when Finn stepped onto the front porch of his home and watched as four aircraft circled low over the colony, spread out and landed in strategic locations within the border walls. He’d been rousted from a fitful sleep a short time earlier with the call from the OP that the Ludak were once again on the move. While there had been a flurry of activity since their initial visit, increased foot and motorized patrols, aircraft coming and going, it wasn't difficult to differentiate when they intended a visit to one of the human colonies.

Finn had issued orders to show no visible reaction to their approach. He figured they were hoping to catch them sleeping and off guard with the unplanned, early morning visit and he intended to let them think they had done just that.

Ten minutes after the landings were complete, it was Lauren’s PDA that buzzed with an incoming text message. The council was being summoned to chambers for an emergency session, the message alluded to a possible security related issue.

“I don’t like this.” Lauren groaned as she wrestled her huge belly into a pair of hospital scrubs, the only available outfit that fit her anymore. “We’re pretty much defenseless right now and they just waltz in like they own the place.”

“I know, it’s far from ideal.” Finn replied gloomily. “But we’ve discussed this and worked through it enough times that it’s our only real chance. This isn't going to be a stand-up fight like we had with the Creators. This is a professional, well trained, well equipped fighting force with generations of combat experience under their belt. When things go south, it’s going to take cunning and surprise to overcome them.”

With Lauren and the council sequestered behind closed doors meeting with the Ludak, there wasn't much for Finn to do but meander through the colony checking on his people.

Outside the maintenance park Finn found Phoenix stomping impatiently up and down a dirt path cursing loudly to himself. Everyone knew that the big German had an uncomfortably chilling demeanor when aggravated, but it was also well known that it took one hell of a shove to push his buttons that far.

“Easy there big guy.” Finn offered as he cautiously approached the fuming director of their work force development efforts. “What the hell’s going on?”

“Verdammte Echsensöhne! Sie stellen meinen Laden auf den Kopf!!” Phoenix exploded in rapid fire German.

Holding up a hand defensively Finn responded, “Slow down! Let’s try again in English please.”

Snorting like an angry bull, Phoenix gestured wildly towards the open barn doors of his expansive maintenance center. “The lizards are taking over. They pushed us out the door at gun point and are in there right now tearing shit up!”

They were standing parallel to the side of the building and it was impossible to see what was happening around the front. With Phoenix leading the way along the dirt path, Finn followed until they were at a vantage point where they could see a small crowd of workers gathered meekly together in the large parking area. Through the open doorway Finn took immediate note of a line of Ludak soldiers, rifles held at the ready, standing a silent vigil blocking the entrance. Behind the guards, another group of Ludak were busying themselves opening cabinets and dumping the contents onto the ground as they tore through the building.

“They burst in and snatched Galen and Rebi from third shift. Put them both on the floor at gunpoint, zip tied their hands, put bags over their heads and marched them out. All the while they ordered everyone else to wait outside while they conducted ‘a search for terror suspects and activities’.” Phoenix angrily relayed.

The two workers taken away were both from the neighboring Revati tribe. For several years a work exchange program had been in place with personnel from both races living and learning in the neighboring communities where they would eventually return and share the fruits of their newfound skills. The fact that the Revati had been singled out under the guise of terror suspects rang with a menacing undertone of things yet to come.

“Ok, Phoenix.” Finn replied, “I need you to calm down. The last thing we need is to give them an excuse to start rounding anyone else up with bags on their heads.” Or worse, Finn thought to himself, “Get your people organized and move them away from the building while the Ludak are inside. I’m going to head over to the council chamber and see if I can get some answers.”

The council chamber was centrally located in the midst of the downtown part of Fort Redding. Walking at double time, Finn counted no less than fifteen armed Ludak patrols posted along the way. In at least three additional buildings the doors were standing open with the sounds of breakage and carnage coming from within. He knew they were lucky that the Lizards had arrived early in the morning, with only a few exceptions, most facilities were still closed for the night with the majority of personnel at least somewhat safely tucked away in homes.

Arriving at the council chamber, Finn was stopped several paces short of the front entrance. A group of six Ludak brandishing AK’s and a pair of RPG launchers had formed a barricade and were making it clear that no one was to approach the building. As daylight began descending on the colony, day shift workers had started arriving in the village center where they stood around in small groups nervously observing the Ludak and talking quietly amongst themselves. Strolling from one group to the next, Finn asked everyone to clear the area, return to their homes and lock their doors for the time being.

“What the hell?” Dutch asked apprehensively as she approached from the direction of the Op Center where she’d been working throughout the evening. “A bunch of walking handbags just took over Operations and sent everyone home at gun point!”

Turning his back to the Ludak guarding the council chamber Finn raised and lowered his hand indicating for Dutch to lower her voice. “Easy. Don’t do anything to rile them up. Did you take care of everything before leaving?”

“Oh yeah. Systems are locked down tighter than a rusty lug nut. They can spend a hundred years pouring over the data dump of meaningless drivel I posted to our servers without finding anything worthwhile.”

“Good deal.” Finn replied, “Now, I want you to stick with me for a while. We’re going to wait this out and see what the council has to say.”

The Council chamber remained sealed and unapproachable for close to three hours. During that time, Finn and Dutch held a steady vigil in the small park directly across the way. Worried colonists, waking to find their home now overrun with armed aliens, continuously filtered by searching for news. Finn and Dutch did the best they could to offer consolation and ensure everyone that everything was under control while recommending that they return home and remain there for the time being.

When the doors finally opened, council members began filing out, their eyes filled with fear and apprehension as they hurriedly passed through the cordon of Ludak soldiers. Lauren was the last one out, considerably slowed with her advanced pregnancy, another council member guided her out the door and grasped her by the arm to help her down the front steps. Seeing her ashen face, drooping eyes and hunched shoulders, both Finn and Dutch rushed to her side drawing apprehensive looks from the line of Ludak soldiers.

“You look like shit.” Finn whispered as he took Lauren’s arm and began guiding her cautiously across the quad into the shade of a grove of trees. An arrangement of wooden picnic tables was set up under the surrounding trees that offered a nice leisure area.

Easing herself into a seat she turned her head to look at him with tears in her eyes, “Its bad Finn. The Ludak claim they were attacked and several of their people killed. They have declared a state of martial law and directed that our council be disbanded. Viceroy Daraz personally elevated Sinclair to Governor-General and has ordered a military occupation of our colonies and people. It’s your worst instincts about everything coming true all at once.”

“Son of a bitch.” Dutch bellowed, “that French weasel! Why is it no surprise he would be first in line to sell the rest of us out?”

Just then the loud clanging of the council chamber bell started ringing. The bell had served as a rallying cry for the community, its rings were designed to call all available colonists to the town square for important announcements and news. It didn’t take long for the majority of people to gather together in the quad, the unusual activities throughout the morning peaking curiosity levels throughout the colony. Finn stared out at a sea of apprehensive faces and more than a few showed fear and confusion at the sight of armed Ludak soldiers suddenly skulking about in their midst.

With all eyes locked on the front entrance of the council building it came as an unexpected surprise when another pair of Ludak aircraft suddenly came into view. The planes raced ahead into position over an open stretch of roadway, settled into a hover and then eased down to the ground. Before the dust had even settled, a new batch of troops began spreading out from either plane, reinforcements had arrived, any thought of pushing back in that moment was quickly quelled. But it wasn't necessarily the fresh influx of troops that caught Finn’s attention, it was the pair of shackled and hooded figures that were roughly escorted down the cargo ramp from one of the planes. With the hoods over their face and heads, it was impossible to determine who they were, but judging by their size and animal hide outfits, Finn knew they were both from the Revati tribe.

Flanked on either side by four armed guards, the prisoners showed signs of physical abuse. Their shirts and pants were covered in blood, deep gashes were visible on their exposed arms and one of them walked with a pronounced limp. The Ludak guards showed nothing in the way of compassion for their injuries, instead they used the butts of their rifles like batons to repeatedly bash the prisoners and keep them moving towards a spot off to the side of the council buildings front porch.

An uneasy silence descended on the crowd of colonists as they took in the barbaric treatment of the prisoners, everyone thinking to themselves what possible crimes could warrant such cruelty and callousness.

Finn took a long lingering look over the crowd, he estimated that at least half the population of Fort Redding had turned out on the commons. Few if any children were present and he was grateful that at least some parents had the good sense to remain home with their little ones knowing that something distressing was about to unfold.

They didn't have to wait for long. The front doors to the council building opened and Sinclair, Daraz and Gruz all stepped out together and walked to the top of the steps where they took several moments to survey the crowd and waited for all eyes to focus on them.

It was Sinclair who addressed the town, with both hands raised and a look of deep concern etched into his facial features he began, “People of Fort Redding. I bring to you distressing news. Earlier today, an attack was perpetrated against a Ludak hunting party. Several of our new found friends were slaughtered in a vile and unprovoked act of violence. Even more distressing is the news that this attack was carried out by members of the local Revati tribes, a people we have all come to know as friends and neighbors. It appears we may not truly know the Revati as well as we had thought.”

Murmurs echoed through the crowd and more than a few people voiced a desire for evidence to be presented. Sinclair held his hands up once again and gestured for silence. His speech droned as he offered up suggestions that evidence had been collected to support the claims of terrorism and that the prisoners had even confessed to the crimes. It was when Sinclair explained that a period of martial law was to be implemented that cries of dissent echoed from the crowd. Those cries were short lived however when Ludak soldiers materialized at the fringes of the common area from all directions. With weapons held at the ready and fingers hovering over triggers it was clear to the crowd that protests in any form would not be tolerated.

“Shit.” Finn muttered. “This is getting out of hand.”

Raising his voice, Sinclair was near to shouting as he said, “the Ludak have graciously offered to step in and help root out the threat of terrorism. To help facilitate their efforts, we have agreed to temporarily disband the council and defer all colony dealings to their leadership and guidance. Following a unanimous vote of both our own outgoing elected officials and the Ludak high command, I have been offered and accepted the position of Governor-General where I will act as the direct liaison between our people and the Ludak.”

Taking a step back, Sinclair motioned for Daraz to step forward and offer words of his own. “Thank you Mr. Governor-General.” Daraz started, his forked tongue snaking out of his lizard mouth with each syllable adding a degree of intimidation to his words, “Please be assured that this is only a temporary change. We are confident that within a short period, our forces will have run to ground any terrorist threat against either of our people. In the meantime, there are a few issues of importance that should be addressed.”

His laser like, unblinking eyes scanned across the crowd almost as though he hoped someone would step forward and offer words of dissent. When all remained quiet after several uncomfortable moments, he proceeded to tick off restrictions that would suddenly be imposed on all. Weapons were to be surrendered along with all radio and telecommunication devices. Colonists were restricted to the inside perimeter. Even public gatherings of more than five people in one location were forbidden, with exceptions for work details and meals. As the crowd listened in stunned silence, Daraz rattled off additional restrictions and constraints. In the space of a few minutes, Fort Redding had suddenly gone from a free society to a penal colony.

Turning towards the kneeling prisoners, Daraz continued, “as a sign of our resolve to ensure the protection of both our communities, summary justice will now be dispensed. It is each of your duties to witness the punishment for any act of violence perpetrated against our people.”

With a subtle nod to the Ludak guards Daraz issued the order for the sentence to be carried out. The crack of two rifles firing in unison echoed loudly across the commons. Fountains of blood exploded from the hoods of both prisoners as the rounds entered the back of their skulls and out through the face of each prisoner. It was a small blessing that the hoods hid the worst of the carnage from the gathered crowd. Even so, as the two bodies slumped lifelessly to the ground amid rapidly expanding pools of blood, cries of shock and horror rang out from the first few rows of unwitting spectators.

Daraz allowed several long moments for the visual impact of the executions to truly sink in before he continued talking, “let this serve as fair warning that no act of terrorism will go unpunished.”

Without fanfare or departing words, Daraz turned and walked back into the council building, both Gruz and Sinclair following closely behind like the obedient dogs Finn knew they truly were.

As the crowd began drifting apart, Finn grabbed Dutch by her arm and quickly whispered, “you got everything in place?”

“Oh yeah. Good to go.” Dutch replied.

“Ok, you need to get word to Tayte and Jenna. Let them know what’s going on here. Tayte should likely expect a visit before nightfall. He needs to ensure that any and all Revati get out of town immediately, including his wife. I’ll be in touch with more information soon.”

“Got it.” Dutch replied and then quickly shuffled off and was lost in the flow of the departing crowd.

CHAPTER 14

Jenna felt the tears roll freely down her cheeks as she carefully stepped around the bound and tortured body of the slain child. The boy, no older than ten or eleven, was still tied to the trunk of a tree. His head, arms and one of his feet were missing, bullet wounds, too many to count were stitched across the ruined torso. An additional eight bodies were discovered slumped in the tall grass to either side of the boy. A hundred feet further on, they had discovered a table littered with spent brass casings, gnawed bones and clay cups where it appeared the Ludak had set up a firing line while enjoying a picnic lunch.

The wholesale slaughter of all men, women and children in the small Revati fishing village had been bad enough. When they looked a little deeper, they found evidence that the Ludak had actually been feasting on the villagers. Stomachs had turned and more than a few battle hardened soldiers had lost their lunch in the bushes.

“I have never seen such senseless and unnecessary cruelty before.” Rune exclaimed as she wandered nearby through the smoldering ruins of a Revati hut. The skeletal remains of several individuals, their bones blackened and warped under the intense heat of fires that had burned unchecked for nearly a full day and night. Jenna had spent more than enough time living and working with the Revati to understand how rare it was to see any of them express raw emotions. In that moment she knew that she was seeing Rune’s heart simply breaking into jagged pieces as she surveyed the carnage and death all around them.

It had been the smoke from the burning village that had first caught their attention. Both Linc and Rune had immediately recognized the region near the fishing village. When they reached the site, they found the horrific scene of carnage and destruction. It was believed that somewhere in the neighborhood of three hundred Revati had lived in the small village. Situated on a shallow bank overlooking one of the larger rivers in the region, homes and community buildings had been constructed in a mixture of wooden, clay and stone huts. Nothing was spared, every structure had been set to the torch, in many cases they had recovered scorched residue that pointed to the use of phosphorous grenades or something similar. In a few cases it was clear that the outer doors of community buildings had been barred or barricaded with people trapped inside when the fires were set.

Concentrating on the tracks in the dirt, Linc slowly walked the periphery of the village pointing out signs indicating how the attack unfolded. “They came in from three directions. Fifty soldiers from each.” It was hard not to notice that he was struggling to suppress emotions of his own as he worked hard to keep his observations as clinical and detached as possible. “It was early in the morning, the village was still sleeping. The villagers here had few weapons, some spears, bows and axes, no warriors in their ranks. There are no signs that the villagers ever had a chance to fight back. They were slaughtered.”

“Jesus Christ what happened here was nothing short of pure evil.” Jenna wept softly. “Do you think this is where they took the two prisoners?”

“I believe so.” Linc replied, “the clothing Finn described match what we have found on the few bodies that are still intact.”

A pair of soldiers approached the body of the Revati child tied to the tree, drew a knife and moved to cut the bindings.

“Stop!” Jenna called out. “Leave him there.”

The soldiers shared a concerned look before one of them replied, “Ma'am? These people deserve a proper burial. Don’t you agree?”

“I do. Believe me I do. There’s nothing I’d like more than for us to pay each of them that simple courtesy. Unfortunately, if the Ludak return and find the bodies disturbed, they’ll know someone else is lurking around out here. Right now our greatest weapon is the element of surprise.”

It was an internal struggle to make such a decision, especially standing there facing the tortured body of such a young child. However, she knew that if they were to stand a chance in the fight still to come, they were going to need that element of surprise.

“When it’s done. When the last of the rotten shit bags responsible for this are cut down and left to rot in the jungle, we’ll return and do the right thing for these people.” Jenna concluded.

“Tell me a funny joke AVA.” Marcela called out from under the control console on the ships bridge.

“What is the biggest lie in the entire universe?” AVA’s smooth computerized voice replied.

Marcela thought about it for a few seconds before finally asking, “ok, I’m stumped, what’s the biggest lie?”

“I have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions.” Replied AVA.

“Oh my god.” Marcela giggled, “We are really going to need to work on those personality parameters. Not bad material, a little old school, but not bad. Your delivery is just flat and boring though.”

There was a pause and Marcela knew that AVA was digesting her response and considering a reply. “The more interactions I have with humans the more my personality profile is capable of adapting new and improved dialog features. Would you like me to devote more processing power to that endeavor?”

“Shit!” Marcela yelped as the wrench slipped through her fingers slicing an ugly gouge through the palm of her hand. “No, no. Sorry I brought it up. Maybe later.”

“My sensors detect a sudden spike in your blood pressure, elevated stress levels in your voice and the presence of humanoid blood cells on the deck plating under your workstation indicating a potential injury. Do you require medical attention?”

“No, I’m fine.” Marcela muttered as she tore a strip of cloth from her tattered undershirt and wrapped it snugly around the wound. “It’s just another day in paradise.”

After securing the circuit panel back in place, she slid from under the console and resumed her seat at the controls. “Ok, I’ve bypassed the induction circuits and directed the power leads straight into your neural processors. Run a diagnostic and then energize your external sensors, let me know what impact that has on your overall range.”

Marcela watched a bank of monitors as the diagnostic programs ran their course. She never failed to be amazed at the sheer processing power on this single ship, what would have taken their own systems at least a full day to complete, the AI interface was able to run through in less than a few minutes.

“Diagnostic complete, all systems nominal. Energizing sensors.” AVA reported.

The main screen at the science station, a position she’d adopted for herself, displayed a graphic computer enhanced representation of the planet and surrounding space. As the sensors came on-line she was presented with a wire frame diagram emanating from the center of the image and expanding outward in concentric circles.

“My sensors capabilities have been enhanced by 4.7 percent, resulting in an overall range improvement of 48 miles relative to planetary and atmospheric interference.” AVA reported.

“Damn!” Marcela declared as she pounded the corner of the workstation with a balled fist. “Not even close to what we need.”

For the last several weeks, Marcela had been pouring over every system on the ship, needing to familiarize herself with the equipment, and to expand the various systems. With help from AVA she was able to magnify those observations and divert processing power to mission critical areas and to experiment with making improvements in others. AVA’s ability to self-diagnose and provide on the fly technical support made her a truly remarkable piece of next generation hardware.

Marcela’s latest project had been working to increase the ships scanning capabilities with passive systems. It was still a long shot, but if they could find a way to track the Ludak’s mothership along its geostationary orbit, then they stood a chance of mounting a direct assault against the vessel. She had no idea what Finn had in mind for such an attack, but they had no orbital missile systems, not to mention that their own shuttles, as well as this ship, were unarmed. That fact didn’t dissuade Finn, and he made it perfectly clear that a plan was in the works to conduct just such an attack.

The range increase to AVA’s enhancements would be useful in detecting approaching atmospheric aircraft, but it was still hundreds of miles shy of hitting the proper altitude to scan for orbital ships, especially one with stealth tech.

“I should note that the increase in capabilities also relates to active systems.” AVA reported.

Marcela smiled, hearing AVA referring to herself as ‘I’ was an unusual personality quirk for any AI system. When she had first noted the use of such terms, she’d spent some time digging through AVA’s root programing only to discover that her developers had never programed such behavior. As a learning system, AVA had figured it out all on her own that the use of pronouns made her more personable during human interactions. It was almost as though she was heading down a path that could potentially allow her to become self-aware.

“No!” Marcela responded quickly, “we are restricted to passive systems only. The second we light up an active signal it will be like shooting up a signal flare announcing that this ship is still on the planet’s surface.”

“Understood.” AVA replied, “then you should know that in order to detect a stealth vessel in a geostationary orbit, that ship would need to launch a shuttle into the upper atmosphere, fire an interplanetary weapon or ignite their primary engines to be detected from the surface.”

“Yeah, well it’s unlikely they’d be stupid enough to do any of the above.” Marcela mumbled to herself.

Rising from her seat, Marcela took a moment to stretch the cramp out of her shoulder muscle. Spending hours crawling around under control panels and climbing into narrow service tunnels was taking a toll on her. As she twisted and bent she caught sight of her reflection in a blank monitor at a neighboring workstation. As it often did in moments like that, her hand reflectively moved to the side of her face where it caressed the thin layer of scar tissue surrounding the cybernetic implant taking the place of her left eye.

Memories flooded back to her, memories of a time when she was fully human without the mechanical implants. She’d lived with the implants for many years at that point and had long ago accepted the fact that they would be a part of her for the remainder of her life, but she sometimes coveted what her life had been before. It was hard to say whether she was happier or not, god only knows that there were times, even back then, when she wished to be different in one way or another. The neural processors that had enabled her implants to directly interface with the Creators network had been severed years ago leaving her sometimes feeling empty and void. When she was fully connected she had instant and unlimited access to limitless data. The connection allowed her mind to act as a super computer and sometimes she secretly missed that ability, it truly was something that made her different. Even though she’d only been connected for a few days, the sensation was as powerful as any drug ever created.

Dutch was the only person she’d ever shared these feelings with. Where most everyone tended to view the cybernetics as a curse and feel sorry for her, Dutch understood how they actually set her aside from the pack and in some way made her feel special. They’d shared many long and heartfelt conversations on the subject and Marcela had confessed that she sometimes wished the connection could be reestablished. Dutch was a very supportive partner who would offer positive words of encouragement, and never judge or criticize her emotions when it came to her cybernetics.

“As a reminder.” AVA’s voice subtly adjusted to be soothing and nurturing, “I have the capabilities of reinitializing the neural processor embedded in your cybernetic attachments.”

Marcela dropped her hand from her face and instinctively glanced across the bridge towards the small bubble mounted in one corner of the ceiling. With few exceptions, every part of the ship was covered by a closed network camera feed. This allowed AVA to visually monitor events throughout the ship.

“AVA, are you spying on me again?” Marcela asked as she glared at the bubble.

“No Marcela, I am simply monitoring shipboard activity. Through observation I noted when your hand came into contact with your prosthetic, there was a notable change in your breathing and heart rate. I estimate a 76% probability that you are once again contemplating either the alteration to your physical appearance or the functionality of those implants.” AVA’s voice had once again resumed a detached and computerized intonation.

Marcela was impressed at how efficient the AI was adapting to human mannerisms. Sensing the inflection in her voice, AVA had changed her own speech pattern to best fit the circumstance.

“Anyway, to answer your question.” Marcela continued, “No, I would not like my processor turned back on.”

It was growing late and Marcela realized she’d been at it for close to ten hours straight with hardly a break, she was suddenly both hungry and tired at the same time. The cabins on the ship were surprisingly roomy and comfortable, providing a peaceful respite where she could retreat and rest. Marcela was one of the lucky few that received a berth inside the ship during their seclusion in the remote woods. The only others who were allowed to work and live aboard the ship were Sky, Reality and Dr. Hughes. The Revati warriors and accompanying soldiers who were providing security for the ship, were all making the best of outdoor living.

The occupation of Fort Redding a week earlier had complicated things a little however. Up to that point Marcela had been able to share daily video chats with Dutch. While it didn't totally make up for the long period of separation, it did help. With the Ludak now in control of the colonies and having confiscated all radio and computerized transmitting equipment, communications were limited and brief. Luckily Finn had prepared for such an eventuality as this, and made preparations for secretive comms equipment to remain in play.

“As an afterthought.” AVA suddenly interjected as Marcela finished packing away the last of her tools. “There is a high probability that if your neural implants are energized and reconnected to the planetary network, then tracking in planetary orbit may be possible, even for any stealth craft.”

Her hands froze on the lid of her toolkit as she was about to latch it shut. AVA’s unsolicited follow up caught Marcela off guard, and she needed a moment to process what AVA was implying. She could feel beads of sweat forming on her brow despite the cool and comfortable climate inside the ship.

“Explain.” Marcela finally said after a long moment of silent contemplation.

“On several occasions you have asked that I conduct an analysis of the positronic effect of your brain patterns in correlation with the presence of the neural implants.” AVA explained using a flat and neutral computerized tone, “I have concluded that if those implants are energized, you would, theoretically at least, be capable of establishing a wireless link to the ships sensor suite. With the range capabilities of those implants you would thereby be able to function as an improvised antenna, expanding the range of our scanners well into the surrounding orbit of the planet. Considering the unconventional wave lengths used by the planetary network, those scans would therefore be able to defeat the stealth technology employed by similar vessels of this class.”

“Theoretically?” Marcela prompted.

“Yes.” AVA replied, “such a coupling of technologies has never been attempted before, therefore no precedent for its implementation exists for me to reference. While the basic premise is sound, the underlying human physiology remains a wild card in the success or failure of such a process.”

Marcela smiled at AVA’s use of the term ‘wild card’ it was one of several expressions she had taught the AI and was pleased to hear it used properly like that.

“Ok AVA, if physiology is the wild card, does that mean that I would potentially subject myself to potential harm if I elected to do this?”

“Physical and mental harm as well as the possibility of those implants once again taking full control of all your faculties. One or both outcomes are possible.”

Marcela slumped back in the padded seat at her now dormant workstation, closed her eyes and let her mind race as she absorbed this unexpected update. After several long minutes of silent consideration her eyes opened and she powered her workstation back on.

“AVA, we’re going to put in some overtime this evening. I’m going to feed you some data and I want you to run simulations for me.” Her hunger and fatigue was suddenly forgotten as she set to work.

CHAPTER 15

Despite the Ludak presence around Fort Redding, habits were hard to break and Finn’s customary morning walk around the inside perimeter was how he liked to start his day. He had to admit that the Ludak were nothing if not efficient in taking complete control over the colony. Along with random roving patrols throughout the grounds, static guard positions had been set up along the wall. The main difference from when humans manned those positions was that the Ludak focused their attention inside the perimeter giving the scene a feeling of a prison camp more than the home they had all come to love so much. As he passed their stations along the wall, Finn could feel the reptilian eyes boring into him. The few times he caught their gaze, he couldn't be sure if it was hatred, loathing or hunger that radiated in the dark soulless pits of those unblinking slits they called eyes.

The crackle of gunfire from the southeast sent an uneasy shiver down his spine. He immediately started into a slow jog in that direction, anything faster would run the risk of causing alarm with the guard force. As he drew closer to the farm fields, the sound of gunfire was punctuated by angry shouts and then anguished cries seconds later. Rounding the side of the main Agricultural facility building, Finn saw a crowd of Ludak soldiers clustered around a colonist who was intermittently screaming obscenities and threats while holding the soldiers at a distance with wild swings of a pitchfork.

Finn recognized the man as soon as he saw him, Nolan Price, formerly a Lieutenant with the San Francisco Police Department. Nolan had been forced into early retirement a few years prior to their launch after most of the west coast of California had been reclaimed by rising oceans. Finn had approached him on more than one occasion to consider joining their security force, but having witnessed more than enough death and destruction in his former life, he was more than content working as a foreman in their farming industry.

“You bastards!” Nolan howled in a high pitched shriek as he lunged forward with the pitchfork towards a random Ludak soldier.

The Ludak stepped aside at the last moment, effortlessly dodging the thrust. Meanwhile another soldier darted into the fray from behind Nolan and thumped him on the back of his shoulders with the buttstock of his rifle.

As Finn drew closer he caught a glimpse of fresh blood splashed across the tops of several rows of corn stalks in the nearby field. Several furry lumps lay in crumpled heaps near the base of the rows of corn. The bushy tails and rounded heads made identification easy even from a distance. Over the years, several families of the mischievous yet adorable little monkeys known as Arhicebus, had made Fort Redding and the surrounding woods their home. The creatures were a common sight throughout the colony, with many families even opening their homes and allowing them to come and go as they wished. All in all they were harmless, except for stealing the occasional unattended snack, but their presence was welcomed by all. Several of the lovable little primates now dotted the field in small bloodied heaps. Further into the corn, he also took note of the writhing figure of a stricken Anklylosaurus, the harness of a plow still resting over its horned head. The living tank was writhing in pain from a patchwork of pock marks and blood stains across its upper torso. Loud, anguished cries rose from the tortured animal as three Ludak soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder near the barn taking turns firing at the wounded beast.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that Nolan had been up early tending to the fields with a family of monkeys keeping watch from nearby. A bored Ludak patrol had happened by and taken it upon themselves to have a little target practice with the helpless animals. As an animal lover, Nolan had lashed out only to quickly find himself surrounded with the Ludak focusing most of their attention on him instead.

“You slimy handbags!” Nolan cried out, his shouts punctuated an instant later by a glancing blow from a butt-stock across the side of his face. Blood from a flap of torn skin began flowing in a torrent down his cheek.

Full of both adrenaline and rage, Nolan was undeterred by the injury and swung the pitchfork in a brilliant backhand maneuver catching a single Ludak soldier low across his knees and dropping him to the ground.

Finn swallowed hard as he watched the soldier fall. The penalty for striking a Ludak under any circumstances having been made abundantly clear, now significantly upped the ante in the rapidly unfolding situation.

“Stop!” Finn shouted, “Nolan, stand down!”

Up to that point the Ludak hadn’t noticed Finn’s approach. Now, with one of their own on the ground and Finn’s excited shouts from behind, weapons were raised all around and both Finn and Nolan found themselves staring down the barrels of several automatic rifles.

“Enough!” A thundering voice cried from the far side of the barn.

With Sinclair nipping closely on his heels, Viceroy Daraz made his way into the field as he quickly evaluated the situation. Weapons remained raised and pointed, but fingers relaxed on triggers as a senior Ludak soldier rushed forward to report to his commander. To humans, the Ludak native language came across as a mix of random shrills, hisses, screeches and chattering noise. They gave away nothing in terms of emotion or body language so it was impossible to judge the direction of the conversation. Just like soldiers in any army, Finn had no doubt the underling was adding a reasonable degree of embellishment, implicating wrongdoings by the humans while emphasizing their own strict guidance to standing orders. After several moments of back and forth, Daraz waved a dismissive hand sending the Ludak soldier to rejoin his comrades.

“I understand we have something of a problem here.” Daraz said as he moved closer and surveyed both Nolan and his own soldier who was slowly rising to his feet while nursing a line of shallow cuts in his thigh from the strike of the pitch fork.

“Likely a cultural misunderstanding.” Finn offered quickly, “It appears your men opened fire on a number of harmless animals that our people have come to respect and live in harmony with.”

“That part I understand completely.” Daraz replied, “as I see it though, the issue lies in one of your people assaulting one of mine. I am sure you understand that in order for discipline to be maintained, such incidents must be dealt with immediately.”

Turning back to the senior Ludak guard, Daraz gave a subtle nod. Before Finn could offer a protest, five rifles fired in unison, peppering Nolan’s chest with bloody holes. Nolan stumbled backward several feet, dropped the pitchfork and fell to his knees while clutching at the ragged holes in his chest. His face drained of color and his mouth drooped open in stunned shock. A second volley followed a moment later and Nolan tumbled sideways into the dirt amongst a rapidly spreading pool of his own blood.

When Finn turned away from the grisly scene several long seconds later, it was Sinclair he found himself glaring at with contempt and barely contained rage. Through the entire episode the Frenchman had stood idly by offering nothing in terms of protest or support of his own kind. The summary execution didn't even appear to register in the man’s eyes, it was as though he viewed it as a normal part of any other day.

“I’ve issued instructions that the body remain where it has fallen. It will serve as a reminder to the rest of your people that nothing short of order and compliance will be considered acceptable behavior.” Daraz said after issuing the commands in a brief exchange with the soldiers. “Now, Colonel. With this unpleasantness behind us. I would respectfully request that you accompany myself and the Governor-General. It’s time for us to have a talk and there is one additional thing I wish to share with you today.”

The walk from the fields to the nearest Ludak aircraft was tense and brisk. Finn knew that any form of protest for Nolan’s senseless murder would only invite further backlash, not only against him but other colonists as well. He’d been in more than enough countries run by ruthless dictators to witness how the use of torture, fear and bloodshed kept an unarmed civilian population towing the line.

Four Ludak soldiers stood at rigorous attention alongside the open troop door at the back of the Osprey. Without a word Daraz motioned for both Finn and Sinclair to enter the craft as the quartet of troopers followed behind.

“Please, take a seat.” Daraz offered to Finn with a curt nod towards the copilot seat in the aircraft’s cockpit.

Sinclair followed along diligently and strapped himself in to a smaller fold-down jump seat directly behind the cockpit. With precise motions, Daraz’s hands flew over the controls as he spooled up the engines and made ready for takeoff. Indicating a headset resting on a console by his knee, Daraz gestured to Finn to put it on and pointed out the appropriate toggle switch to activate the built in transmitter and receiver.

The rapidly increasing whine from the stirring engines was reduced to a softer background noise with the headphones on as Finn heard Daraz’s voice speak into his ears, “I understand you have become somewhat of an accomplished pilot yourself Colonel.”

Finn still wasn't sure what Daraz was playing at with this little display, but he knew it was best to play along and use the opportunity to learn as much as he could. Settling back into his seat and positioning his restraints he replied, “I’m coming along. Not an expert by any means, but it’s certainly a useful skill.”

With the engines fully spooled, Daraz eased back on the control stick while simultaneously lifting upwards on a handle at his side. The craft lifted skyward and climbed several dozen feet. With practiced hands, he worked a lone joystick in the console between the seats. Finn could feel the vibrations as the twin nacelles rotated from helicopter to airplane mode. The engine noise increased as Daraz gently applied thrust and the plane began moving forward as he deftly piloted it to a tree skimming altitude.

Outside the viewscreen, the trees and forest zipped by in a blur as Daraz steadily increased thrust. All the while he kept them at a nauseatingly low altitude where it seemed the tops of the tallest trees would surely grab onto them at any second. Dipping the plane in and out of low spots in the upper forest canopy, Finn recognized the ground hugging flight pattern often referred to as ‘nap of the earth’. By keeping the aircraft in tight conformity with the surrounding terrain, a pilot could mask the crafts signature from detection by enemy sensors. Of course, the few times Finn had been a passenger during such a maneuver, they hadn't been racing ahead at a breakneck speed like he suddenly found himself experiencing. The spine rattling up and down motion along with the flickering of trees passing by only feet from the side of the craft was clearly intended as an intimidation tactic. Finn had to admit that if anything else, Daraz was certainly clever in that regard. Despite a concerted effort to appear unfazed by the harrowing flight, his white knuckled grip on the copilot’s controls were surely telegraphing his unease. The sound of retching and gagging followed by the distinct spatter of vomit hitting the floor behind him made it clear that Sinclair was suffering even worse with the death-defying display.

“In many ways I believe we are very similar.” Daraz’s voice came over Finn’s headset, soft and confident. “We understand the military lifestyle and the need for discipline, order and the occasional necessity for positive reinforcement within the ranks.”

Finn knew that Daraz was trying his best to rattle him. The irresponsible flying along with the steady and calm tenor of speech was Daraz’s way of demonstrating that in no uncertain terms, he held Finn’s entire existence in the palm of his hand.

“I am sure we have both borne witness to the type of anarchy that ensues when order and discipline breaks down. The reason I say this is that we understand what it means to lead others while also being bound by orders from above. However, there is at least one vast difference in the Ludak way of life and your own, something that we tend to refrain from openly sharing with outsiders.” Daraz droned on as he continued diving and dodging the plane in and out of even the smallest break in the forest canopy. “Now, I consider myself an intelligent being. In such, I have demonstrated what I consider to be a great deal of patience and restraint in our relations with your people. I understand you have a saying, the carrot and the stick? Well, my orders are to find and recover the fugitives and their stolen cargo. To that end I have found that offering the carrot to be the best approach. Lately however, I am starting to wonder if resorting to the stick may not be a better option.” Daraz said, his voice expressing candor and even what Finn considered to be a degree of sincerity. “To be frank, I believe two things. One, you spoke at length with the fugitives. During those conversations you were told a great deal about life on our world under the benevolent rule of our Lord Emperor. I think you know certain secrets about our way of life that we would have preferred not to openly share.”

Daraz glanced sideways towards Finn searching for even the smallest indication that his words had struck true. Finn remained stoned faced and expressionless, knowing that the crazed flight was being used as a tool to put him off guard.

“Secondly, I know that you know exactly where the terrorists and their stolen cargo are hiding. In fact, thanks to the Governor-General, I also have it under good authority that a number of unaccounted for soldiers under your command are likely at this very moment providing security for them somewhere nearby.”

Finn glanced over his shoulder towards Sinclair. The man was folded up in his little seat as close to the fetal position as his restraints would allow. Finn had always harbored a great deal of resentment and spite towards the French fool, and hearing that Sinclair had willingly given up his own people in such a fashion, that resentment morphed into a raw and burning hatred. Before everything with the Ludak was all said and done, Finn silently vowed that Sinclair would not be coming out the other side in one piece.

Directly in front of them loomed a tall rock wall roughly shaped in an arch. Finn recognized the formation and realized they were approaching the eastern edge of the Valley of Sleeping Giants. They were well north of the Ludak encampment, and Daraz was already slowing the aircraft, a good indication that there was another destination he had in mind. As they crossed over the top of the arch and into the valley, they came into a hover over a wide meadow, bordering a sparse run of marshland enveloped with elephant grass, thick groves of bamboo and brush on all sides. Two Ludak aircraft were already parked and waiting near the center of the meadow and Finn could see dozens of figures standing in orderly columns not far from the back of each craft.

Daraz eased them down to a gentle landing about fifty yards away from the waiting crowd and gestured for both Finn and Sinclair to follow as he led the way from the cockpit back towards the rear hatchway. They stepped out into what under any other circumstances would have been a beautiful spring afternoon. Temperatures were comfortably warm, the sky was clear and majestically blue, the relaxing sing-song melody of insects and small native animals serenaded them from the surrounding bogs. Underlying the entire scene was a haunting sensation that something terrible was about to unfold.

With a gentle pat on the back of Finn’s shoulder, Daraz directed both him and Sinclair towards a spot in the field some distance from the crowd of soldiers. As they drew closer however, Finn realized that it wasn't just a group of Ludak awaiting them. Kneeling low in the grass in front of the troops he spotted eight hooded figures. Even from a distance he could see that they were all humans. While the hoods and distance made positive identification impossible, Finn recognized the hand-crafted animal hide clothing fashioned into shirts, pants and boots. They were part of a small settlement some two hundred and fifty miles to the north east along the coast. They’d arrived around six years ago, and soon after were approached by a delegation from Fort Redding. The group was friendly enough, about five hundred settlers on a religious pilgrimage. They were fleeing persecution on their own rendition of Earth where their views were not widely shared in that particular alternative time line. Despite offers to join their growing colony, the pilgrims had made it clear they simply wished to be left on their own, those wishes had been accepted and followed. Finn didn't know much about the settlers, but he was confident they were a peaceful bunch who likely put up no resistance when the Ludak came calling.

At a signal from Daraz, a line of figures emerged from the back of both aircrafts. Immediately recognizable as Ludak, Finn was surprised to note that they were all juveniles, ranging from a comparable human age of early to late teens. Unlike the soldiers surrounding them, the youth were naked and carried nothing in terms of weapons or equipment. They appeared unsure of themselves, sniffing continuously at the air with eyes that darted back and forth taking everything in all at once and moving slow and tentatively towards the end of the ramp. They were herded on by a squad of uniformed soldiers who were quick to lash out with angry slaps or firm nudges from the butt stock of their rifles each time any of the youth attempted to stray off to either side of the ramp.

“This group of foundlings is only a handful of the tens of thousands that remain in orbit over this planet.” Daraz explained, “the process from juvenile to adulthood is not that far removed from your own people. Save for one major exception.”

Raising a hand over his head he gestured to the officer in charge of the soldiers guarding the hooded pilgrims. Each soldier shouldered their rifles and drew long, curved daggers from their belts. Bending down next to each prisoner, they drew the daggers rapidly across the right calf of each of their legs. The cries of shock and pain rang out across the open field. But even more telling was the reaction of the foundlings. The scent of human blood pushed the group of adolescent lizards into a near frenzy and their guards were forced to issue even more severe beatings to keep them from bolting.

Continuing on with a calm and almost clinical explanation of what they were witnessing, Daraz said, “The wounds serve two purposes. As you can see the foundlings instantly react to the scent of the blood. This reaction is actually quite interesting.”

Daraz was explaining the horrific scene as though he were talking about a good book or movie he’d recently experienced. Finn knew that his relaxed demeanor and tone were simply another tool in this arsenal of intimidation. Finn pushed himself to avoid showing even the slightest of an involuntary reaction. He did not want to give Daraz any satisfaction that his tactics worked.

“Human blood contains a unique mixture of enzymes not found in any other species. Our species actually consider it quite the delicacy. I imagine sort of like how you would react when someone throws a nice steak on an open flame.”

The Ludak soldiers had now removed the hoods from each of the humans and helped them to their feet. The foundlings were at the bottom of the ramp and being carefully held back from advancing further. It didn't take much imagination to know where this was all heading. Every fiber of his being urged him to cry out, to tell Daraz he’d got the point and that the demonstration wasn't necessary, but deep down he knew that’s exactly what Daraz was hoping for. It didn’t matter what Finn said or did, this was going to play out all the way to the end. There was a point being made, and Daraz fully intended to get that point across in living color.

“The cutting also serves to hobble the quarry.” Daraz continued, “at their young age, this will be their first hunting experience in the wild. This is a milestone that each foundling must pass, it helps develop the skills necessary for future hunts. The hobbling may seem unsportsmanlike, but for such inexperienced youth, it’s a necessary step to help build their confidence.”

When Finn failed to respond, Daraz released a measured hiss, his forked tongue snaking half an inch from his lips, and then he raised his hand to signify the start of the hunt. The soldiers guarding the pilgrims began waving and shoving at them to take off running. The humans, failing to fully understand what was happening, attempted to argue and reason with the soldiers. After several moments with nothing happening, one of guards pointed his rifle at the ground near their feet and fired off a handful of rounds. Several more guards followed suite and the air came alive with the crackle of weapons fire. The pilgrims got the point and took off running as fast as their wounded legs would allow, several of them accomplished little more than a fast limp.

The foundlings were in a frenzy now as they watched the humans stumbling and faltering towards the cover of the nearby forest. The soldiers continued holding them at bay, giving the pilgrims a considerable head start. A Ludak officer finally raised his arms over his head before quickly dropping them and the foundlings were set loose. The adolescent lizards were fast, much faster in fact than Finn would have thought. They moved across the field, leaping over and around obstacles with a nimble grace that even at their best their quarry was unable to match.

It was a predictable slaughter, one that he could have done without witnessing, but Finn wasn't about to give Daraz the satisfaction of seeing him turn away. The screams, cries and howls continued on for nearly ten full minutes, at times it seemed likely the foundlings were toying with their prizes. With their bare hands and sharp teeth, the foundlings took the humans to ground with relative ease. The feasting began even before the final whimpers and dying moans faded to silence.

“Now you know the truth.” Daraz said after a few moments passed without any further cries of agony from the distant field. “The spirit of those foundlings is not far removed from that of the average adult Ludak. It’s the small minority of high order leaders, like myself, that are able to maintain order and discipline. Without us exercising that control, total and utter anarchy would ensue. This lesson was important for you to understand that at the moment, my orders are to locate the terrorists and recover our stolen property. I have been given sufficient latitude to conduct that operation as I see fit. For now, I have striven to be civil in that endeavor. My patience does have limits however. My investigation will continue, but as time goes by without significant results, I am afraid that more and more foundlings will need to be brought to the surface for training.”

CHAPTER 16

“Nothing broken.” Lauren offered as she reviewed the selection of x-rays on her tablet. “A mild concussion is still possible. I’d recommend you get some rest, keep hydrated and avoid bright lights for the next few days.”

Dabbing some pain-relieving cream onto the gash on Dutch’s forehead, Lauren grimaced at the various cuts and bruises covering the young Engineers face, arms and chest. For two full days and nights the Ludak had ‘questioned’ her about corrupt and missing data from the Operations central servers. Those questions had been punctuated with inducements ranging from blunt force trauma, water boarding, mock executions and even a period of electro shock torment.

As she began applying staples to Dutch’s wound, her eyes flitted over the medical bay, every bed was occupied leaving a handful of patients seated in chairs pulled in for the overflow. Each case represented an encounter with the Ludak, however it was the half dozen body bags in the morgue next door that truly demonstrated the direction things were rapidly heading in the colony. Under any normal circumstances, Lauren would be crying out over the brutal torture and injustice. The four Ludak guards stationed around the room caused her to suppress the urge to express any such feelings. They had learned quickly that the Ludak were prone to dispense on the spot justice for anything they considered a slight against them. Reports of brutal beatings for simply holding eye contact with a Ludak soldier were common. Curfew violations, walking too close to the perimeter fence, even loud talking could result in a severe beat down. In some cases, citizens reported being dragged from their bed in the middle of the night and questioned for hours about alleged terrorist activities that they had no knowledge of. Torture and brutality often accompanied each such interrogation.

Even though every fiber of her being screamed for her to call out each such injustice, she was simply too far along in her pregnancy to risk a beating. Lauren forced herself to choke back the words of disgust that continually formed in the back of her throat by reminding herself that Finn had a plan and she had confidence in her man.

Risking another quick glance around the room, she saw that the guards weren't paying any particular attention to her. Leaning in close to the side of Dutch’s head, Lauren whispered, “Finn wants to meet, he’s waiting in the bat cave now.”

After Dutch had left, Lauren was readying herself to see another patient when she had to stop and lean back against the wall clutching her belly and doubling over in pain. The first of the contractions had started first thing that morning and were growing steadily in intensity. Glancing at her watch, she fought through the pain as she tracked the time between each event. As the pain subsided she did the math in her head and knew that her time was drawing near.

In any normal circumstance she would have confined herself to bed for the duration of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, with the steady stream of patients continually pouring into the medical center, she knew that was simply a luxury none of them could afford at the moment. She’d simply have to force herself to keep going until she was physically unable to continue. Gathering her strength, she surveyed the sea of injured and hurried off to start patching up the next in line.

The ‘bat cave’ was a long running secret project that Finn had dreamed up several years earlier. Using one of the handful of skeletal structures that had been left untouched from the original settlement, an underground bunker of sorts had been constructed. Situated in an out of the way section of Fort Redding, the overgrown ruins on the surface provided the perfect backdrop for a hidden shelter. The bunker itself was nothing more than a large open bay area lined with concrete and reinforced with timber. Weapons, communications gear, electronics and an assortment of equipment had been stored inside the shelter. Two towering trees next to the rubble on the surface cleverly hid antenna arrays, transmitters and solar sheeting, providing the bunker with a reliable power source and connectivity to the outside world.

Finn was reviewing recent drone footage of the forest area around the colony when Dutch clambered down the steps and into the cave carefully securing the top side hatch behind her.

“Jesus.” Finn exclaimed as he caught sight of her bruised and battered face. “Those bastards really worked you over.”

“It’s getting rough out there.” Dutch replied as she slid into a seat and kicked her feet up on the adjoining work bench. “The beatings are getting worse and now people are coming up missing all together.”

“Yeah, I spoke to Phoenix this morning at breakfast.” Finn replied, “five of his guys didn't show up for work today, that makes nine total from his crew alone.”

“I don’t even want to think about what they might be doing with those people.” Dutch blanched as she absently rubbed at the side of her head, the headache from the beating now turning into an annoying throb.

Finn had his own theory on what was happening with the personnel. It turned his stomach just thinking of the horrors that were being unleashed on the very people who trusted in him for their safety. As hard it was for him to accept, for the time being at least, he was powerless to do anything for them. Pressing his hand to his ribs, he felt the lingering throbs from one of his own recent beatings. Thanks to Sinclair, the Ludak had a general idea that a large number of weapons remained unaccounted for. He had been personally called on to explain the discrepancy and despite his best efforts to deny the claims, the beatings had lasted from morning to night on that particular day. The results, two cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder, electrical burns to his genitals, cuts, bruises and gashes too numerous to count covered most of his body.

Pushing aside the pain he returned his focus to the latest satellite imagery. “I can’t really make heads or tails of this. Take a look and let me know if you see anything useful here.”

Remaining where she was, Dutch called the images up on a tablet and spent several long minutes carefully studying the feed. “Nothing there. Just empty space.”

Finn slammed his hand against the side of the desk in frustration. This was a critical part of his plan to push back against the Ludak and all signs pointed to it being the one thing they were unable to overcome. “We have to find a way to track that damn orbital platform! It does no good to launch a counter offensive on the surface when they can simply bring down a few thousand fresh troops.”

“I don’t know what to tell you.” Dutch responded as she gestured infuriatingly towards the images, “We could be staring right at the damn thing here and not know it. The stealth field is near perfect. The only way we got that little peek before was because they launched ships towards the planet and we were ready to reverse track them back to their origin. The spectral imaging capabilities of our satellites are too narrow to search such a wide area. Without a starting point, we’re looking for the proverbial needle in a very large haystack.”

“Well the only alternative is to go in blind and with only one shot at getting it right, I’m simply not willing to risk it.” Finn replied, “on to other matters, where are you with the fusion cores?”

“Good news there at least.” Dutch said, “they’re just about ready. From the 3 remaining viable cores, I’ve got one reconstituted enough to power the Resolute for around 30 to 40 minutes. The others are too far gone to interface with the fusion drive but will do the job when it comes to blowing the ship to hell and back.”

“Will that be enough to do the job?” Finn asked.

“Oh yes, that and then some. We know their ships are powered with plasma drives. Marcela was able to read up on the specs involved in that system and after running a few simulations we found what we were looking for.” Pecking at her tablet, Dutch sent a draft rendering of an outline of the main propulsion systems of the Ludak mothership. Three massive engine cowlings jutted from the back of the structure. Attached at various distances along the length of each cowling, small thruster ports were in place to provide smaller and more precise movements in situations where the primary thrusters would be too much. Bulky protrusions like partially submerged piping could be seen running along the cowlings connecting each thruster to several large pods at the base of the ship between the trio of primary engines.

Highlighting the collection of pods Dutch explained, “Somewhere in the engineering section of the ship, they’re storing a ton of raw plasma. In that form it’s completely inert, harmless even, you could take a bath in it and only get a rash. For use in propulsion however, it goes through an electrostatic process where the plasma is ionized. At that point the plasma is highly charged and unstable. They pump the charged plasma directly into these pods where it’s stored until being channeled into the appropriate thruster or engine. Our working theory is that a directed fusion blast into the ass of the ship, right next to those storage pods should be sufficient to start a chain reaction that blows the entire thing.”

For the first time since the Ludak arrived and despite the throbbing pain coursing through his body Finn found himself grinning widely, although not for the reasons one may think. “Did you ever watch the original Star Wars film?”

Dutch looked at him, a puzzled expression on her face, “No, never heard of it, why?”

“Nothing, never mind.” Finn said with a disappointed shake of his head. “How long until all 3 fusion cores are set and ready to go?”

“They should be ready by now. They’re set up in Phoenix’s workshop. It’s a pretty clever arrangement if you don’t mind me saying. We painted them black and coated the exterior with a bunch of tar and slop. To a casual observer they probably look like acetylene or even oil containers. The transducer that I have been using to reconstitute their energy reserves is easily mistaken for a battery charger. The biggest challenge is going to be moving them to a shuttle and then getting the shuttle off the ground without raising an alarm.”

“One thing at a time.” Finn replied, “For now, I want you to sit tight here and mind the shop. I’ve got to pay someone a visit.”

The Groves had transformed since his last visit. The pristine forest, wooden docks and quaint cabins were marred with dark columns of drifting smoke, acres of scorched woodland and bullet riddled siding on almost every visible structure. The docks were simply gone all together, leaving only a handful of support posts still in place marking the spots where they had once stood. In the shallows of the lake Finn spotted the downward facing hull of one of the small sailing ships the crew of the Resolute had enjoyed for leisure activity.

Pulling the ATV to a stop in front of Commander Tilley’s home, Finn felt a stone sinking into the pit of his stomach as he took in the blast damage to one of the outer walls of the cabin. Tendrils of smoke still billowed from the damaged structure, a clear sign that this was a recent attack. The roof sagged over the missing wall, dropping down and partially concealing the exposed interior of the home. From what he could see, Finn was sure that had anyone been inside at the moment of the blast the chance of survival were next to zero.

“No one offered any resistance.” A voice called out from behind him.

Spinning on his heels, Finn’s hand dropped instinctively to where he normally wore a holster on his side before remembering that his pistol had also been surrendered that first day of the Ludak occupation. Stepping from the swirling smoke, Commander Tilley loomed larger than life before him.

“They just started shooting everything. Hit a bunch of houses with RPG’s and hand grenades. It was like the wild west out here.” Gesturing towards the lake with tears forming in his eyes he continued, “there was a boat on the lake, couple of our guys out fishing, not hurting a thing. The bastards lit them up for target practice and then hit the boat with an RPG and blew it to pieces. I swear I actually heard them chuckling as they watched it sink. We’re still not even sure who was on the boat, haven't accounted for all the missing and dead yet.”

Turning back towards the ruins of the cabin Finn replied, “Just a wild guess that you weren't home when they came calling.”

“No, very lucky there indeed.” Commander Tilley replied. “Lately I’ve taken to getting up before the sun and spending my mornings down at the barn tending to the animals. For reasons I will never understand, they didn't bother with the barn or animal pens. They rolled in, shot up the cabins and boats, blew the docks and left. Several fires spread into the surrounding woods and, well, I assume you saw the results on your way in.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Finn said as he continued surveying the senseless destruction all around, “this is a race of beings that have no qualms about killing and destroying without rhyme or reason.”

“Either way, we should get out of the open, I can’t say for certain there aren’t patrols or even snipers still posted nearby.” Commander Tilley offered as he turned and led the way towards the Grove’s farming center across from the cabins. As they walked Commander Tilley asked, “You probably have enough on your plate back in Fort Redding, what are you doing out here anyway?”

Finn was pleased to note that despite the horrific circumstances, Commander Tilley appeared to be having one of his good days in terms of cognitive functions. For what he was about to ask it was important that the Commander of their former star ship be as sharp witted as possible.

“I need a crash course on how to pilot the Resolute.” Finn replied as bluntly as possible.

Commander Tilley stopped dead in his tracks, looked back at Finn and locked eyes searching for a punchline he was certain was about to follow. When Finn remained steadfast and confident with his gaze, Commander Tilley replied, “You can’t be serious.”

Inside the barn Finn ushered the commander to a hay bale where they both sat while he gave a rough outline of his plan. For the most part Commander Tilley sat and listened intently, occasionally shaking his head or raising his eyebrows as Finn laid it all out for him.

“It’s a bat shit crazy idea.” Commander Tilley replied, “and it might just work, but not how you think. I appreciate the skill you’ve acquired flying shuttles, but you have to understand, the Resolute is nothing like a shuttle. First off, you’re talking a window of maybe 40 minutes for powering the engines. In its current orbit, the Resolute will need at least half of that time just to gather enough momentum to get under way. That leaves you 20 minutes to approach and close on your target.”

Commander Tilley was talking fast at that point, his eyes lighting up with a clarity that Finn had not seen in many years with the man, it was evident that even a discussion about the workings of his final command was having a positive impact on his failing mental faculties.

“At a minimum you will need three trained bridge officers to pull this off.” Commander Tilley explained, “Navigator, pilot and copilot. Understand that I am not trying to rain on your parade here. I can see how critical it is to take that ship out of the equation but there is simply no way you could pilot it on your own.”

Finn knew the argument had merit, in fact, he’d known it was a long shot even as he dreamed it up. What he hadn't expected though was what happened next. The barn door creaked open and three familiar figures, their faces covered in soot and their clothing torn and splotched with blood, stepped inside. Drawing themselves to rigid attention the former Resolute bridge officers offered a snappy salute as they called out in unison.

“Where do we sign up?”

CHAPTER 17

“She never hurt a soul!” Elijah Covington exclaimed through anguished cries as he knelt in the modest kitchen alongside the tortured body of his wife of eight years.

Silvia Covington’s remains lay in a puddle of blood against the pantry door of their modest kitchen. A third shift baker, Silvia had been caught hiding away extra rations that she’d intended to distribute to fellow colonists. The newly imposed rationing quota was arguably comparable to something barely above starvation level. It was another tactic the Ludak were implementing to ensure the human population remained weak and easier to control. Throughout the colony people were growing restless at the ruthless tactics and quietly sought their own methods of pushing back.

With Elijah’s overlapping shift at the sawmill, he was already at work when Silvia returned home that morning. From what they were able to piece together, a Ludak squad had burst in the back door shortly after she got home, probably having followed her from the bakery. After tossing the house from top to bottom, they drove long iron nails through her shoulders pinning her to the pantry door. Her face was beaten mercilessly over and over leaving her unrecognizable and then her arms were cut off at both elbows leaving her to bleed to death alone and in agony.

“Why? Why did we just turn everything over to them without a fight!?” Elijah exploded through the tears. Looking at up at Finn he continued, “we trusted you to keep us all safe! You let them in and rolled right over and now we’re all paying the price!”

Finn had no words and it didn't matter anyway, there was nothing he could have said in that moment to help diminish the grief Elijah was experiencing. Grasping him by the arm, Lauren ushered him to the front door as a pair of Elijah’s work colleagues rushed passed to offer their own comfort and support.

“Jesus, that was rough.” Finn exclaimed as they walked briskly away from the home, Elijah’s cries echoing in their wake. “I really don’t know how much more of this we can take. A breaking point is coming soon. Maybe we should have tried fighting from the get go, just taken our chances.”

“It’s not your fault.” Lauren tried to reassure him. “It might be hard for everyone else to understand right now, but if you had organized any resistance in the beginning, there would be nothing left of Fort Redding but ash and corpses.”

Lauren had served as his sounding board while he weighed the pros and cons of all available avenues in dealing with the Ludak incursion. In the end even she had seen and understood the soundness of his strategy. Standing their ground in the beginning would have been suicidal for all of them. Even if they managed to hold them back for a time, with armed aircraft and the potential for tens of thousands of reinforcements in orbit over their heads. Any resistance at the onset would have spelled disaster for all of them.

With an angry jerk of his hand behind them, Finn said, “so instead they slowly torture everyone to death. I don’t know how many scenes like that are going play out before they break us completely.”

As word of Silvia’s death spread through the colony, more and more neighbors and friends passed them on the path heading towards the home of Elijah to offer him comfort. Finn couldn't help the growing feeling of helplessness as he noted the down-turned heads and failure of everyone they passed, to hold any eye contact with either of them. He knew deep in his heart that the colony was quickly losing confidence in him.

They followed a path back towards their home that skirted around the back of the sprawling community dining hall. Breakfast was wrapping up and people were darting past to and fro. They eased down a set of steps leading to the path that crossed in front of their home when Lauren cried out in pain and dropped to a knee.

“Oh no! Not now!!” She howled through gritted teeth.

“The baby?” Finn exclaimed.

“I think my water just broke, I’m going into labor.”

All other concerns were suddenly pushed to the back of his mind as he gingerly wrapped his arms around her and steered her towards the clinic.

“A boy!” Jenna exclaimed excitedly. “What’s his name?”

“Brody.” The reply echoed through the speakers of the field radio pack. Several off-duty soldiers were clustered nearby, the typical scene during their infrequent broadcast with news and updates from Fort Redding. A collective cheer rose from the gathered crowd, the troops keeping their excitement to a dull roar knowing that noise discipline was still a major concern.

“Mother and son both doing well?” Jenna asked.

“As well as can be expected under the circumstances.” Finn replied, his voice crackling with static and distance as the scrambled frequency hopped from one extreme to the next to keep their communications from being detected.

Their calls were limited to two minutes each time so with the remaining time Finn quickly updated Jenna on the worsening conditions at Fort Redding. Earlier that morning Tayte had also checked in from White Bluff to report similar issues, the Ludak occupation of both colonies was taking its toll, morale was plummeting and the cost in blood and bodies was stacking up.

“We’re ready to move the moment you give the word.” Jenna replied. While they were spared the torments and anguish of suffering under the boot heels of the Ludak, everyone including those of the Revati, had friends, family and colleagues living at one or both colonies. Simply sitting by doing nothing was nearly as bad as witnessing the anguish those loved ones were forced to endure.

“Negative. I need you to keep Marcela and Sky focused on finding a way to track that orbital platform. We have to neutralize that threat or it’s all for nothing.”

Sitting on a tree stump several feet away, Marcela bit her lip almost to the point of drawing blood at that. The pressure was getting to her and every day she failed to figure out where that ship was hiding was another day that the people she loved were put through hell. Finn wrapped things up with a brief summary of the personnel lost and injured at the hands of the Ludak. While such information wasn't exactly a morale boost for them, they had agreed at the very beginning that nothing would be kept secret, their troops had the right to know what was at stake as well as the fate of their family and friends back home.

Hearing Dutch’s name listed as one of the injured turned Marcela’s insides to ice. She fought back against the tears, but it was all too much for her and for several long moments she buried her head in her lap and sobbed uncontrollably.

Jenna signed off with Finn and came over to kneel by her side, while she wanted to offer some words of comfort, nothing came so she simply remained there with her hand resting softly on Marcela’s shoulder letting her cry it out in silence.

When she had no more tears left to cry Marcela lifted her head and looked off into the distance. “It ends now.” She proclaimed, “I’m going to link back in, it’s the only way.”

Jenna jumped to her feet in stunned surprise. They had spent hours discussing the results of the simulations and data compiled by the AI on how they could potentially use Marcela’s cybernetic implants to track the Ludak’s base ship in orbit. While Jenna had strongly voiced a long list of reservations against the idea, she’d ultimately agreed that it was Marcela’s choice.

“Shit girl.” Jenna declared, “you sure you’ve completely thought this through?”

Marcela stood and wiped at her face with the sleeve of her shirt as she said, “I have and it’s our only chance. This is bigger than any single individual and if I don’t do this, more people are going to suffer.”

Ten minutes later they entered the doorway to the ships bridge and Marcela took a seat at her workstation while Jenna slid quietly into a seat on the opposite side of the room.

Staring directly into the video bubble in the corner of the bridge, Marcela began, “AVA. I want you to proceed with initializing my implants.”

“Please confirm.” Came the cold, stark reply.

Marcela and Jenna locked eyes for several long seconds before Marcela squeezed her eyes shut tight, tightly grasped the arms of her chair and replied confidently, “Confirm.”

Her world grew dark for several long minutes as all sense of time, space and reality simply fluttered away. Marcela had considered this moment many times over the years. When she was first taken by the Creators and her cybernetic implants put in place, she’d been heavily drugged and could only ever recall small, disjointed fragments of the experience. Now, she was awake, alert and fully aware of everything happening. More importantly this time around she welcomed the transformation.

While there was a deeply rooted sensation in the back of her head that she would normally have associated with pain, something like a throbbing headache but much deeper into the furthest recesses of her skull than any typical headache. Her mind seemed to float away from her body leaving behind any feelings, negative or otherwise. In her youth she’d had a brief period where she’d experimented with a handful of illicit drugs, to include a weekend long LSD trip. This was not unlike that out of body experience.

“Marcela?” Jenna’s voice came to her through the fog, distant, muted but familiar. She sensed rather than actually felt a gentle and incessant pressure against her shoulder where Jenna was shaking her trying to get her attention.

“Marcela, can you hear me?” Jenna called out again, louder, desperation now etched into her words.

“Ye…yes.” Marcela stuttered as she felt her consciousness rejoining with her body. Her world remained dark as her eyes either refused to work or their input remained unable to connect with her brain. She used that time to take stock of her body, there was no pain, at least nothing more than the rapidly retreating throbbing from the back of her skull. She clenched and unclenched her toes, no problem there. Moving systematically up her body she moved each individual limb in turn ensuring that she retained full motor control.

Fine lines of bright light slowly began replacing the utter darkness as her mind finished what she would later describe as a rebooting process. Little by little she started recognizing her surroundings, the back of a chair directly in front of her, a computer screen filled with data, and people standing nearby. Jenna, Sky and Reality surrounded her in a rough circle, looks of genuine concern burned into their facial features.

“What happened?” Marcella asked. Her own voice ringing unfamiliar in her ears, the sounds coming to her somewhat muffled and alien.

“Kind of hard to explain.” Jenna breathed with a sigh of relief that Marcela appeared to be regaining her senses. “Your eyes rolled back in your head, your breathing nearly stopped and we had trouble finding your pulse for nearly an hour. You just remained sitting upright kind of swaying back and forth like that, it was like you were in some kind of trance. AVA was monitoring your vitals and continued ensuring us that you were ok. I called for Sky and Reality to join us on the bridge with a med kit just in case.”

Feeling the urge to stand, Marcela used the chair’s handles to push herself up. Sky and Jenna both took a step towards her, their outstretched hands ready to help, but she waved them off as she gained her feet and steadied herself before letting go of the chair. She felt her faculties returning much quicker now, her vision was clearing and her body was responding properly. The throbbing in her head had retreated somewhat but had not disappeared. For reasons unknown to her, she focused inward on that throbbing sensation and it was in that moment that she realized it wasn't actually pain or even discomfort that she was experiencing, it was a massive rush of both incoming and outcoming data. It was as though her mind had suddenly evolved into an organic information superhighway with the capability to process information thousands of times faster than any mere computer. The information was flowing so fast that the only way her body currently knew to interpret it was something close to a throbbing headache.

“I am detecting a new network node interfacing with my core programing.” AVA announced.

“She breached the firewalls already!?” Sky exclaimed. All eyes were focused on Marcela as she grew quiet and turned inward to study the incredible data stream pulsating through her brain.

“Correct, the biological network now linked with my systems bypassed all security settings. The intruding network is now accessing ships controls, specifically telemetry and scanning functions.”

“My god.” Marcela mused, “this is incredible. I’m not just viewing data and information, my mind is actually intermixing with it, swimming up and down the data stream, wherever I choose to go. It’s both overwhelming and breathtaking all at once. I simply can’t describe these feelings.” Marcela’s face began turning red and covered in a sheen of sweat. Even though she was now staring straight ahead her true focus was elsewhere.

“Slow down girl.” Jenna cautioned, “you may want to ease into this until you know your limits.”

Marcela didn’t reply, instead her eyelids began fluttering and her knees began to sway as she appeared on the verge of collapse. Jenna reached out to grab her, but before she could Marcela pushed back against her, her vision suddenly focused and a smile spread rapidly across her face. “I found them. I’ve got the coordinates of the orbital platform and its trajectory. We’ve got the bastards.”

CHAPTER 18

Finn glanced down at the sleeping figures coupled tightly together in the bed. Lauren and their infant son were sleeping soundly, mothers arms wrapped protectively around the carefully swaddled bundle. It was nearly sunrise and outside their bedroom window he could hear the distant cries of a rooster along with the muted footfalls of workers diligently trudging off to their post to start the morning shift.

With word that Marcela had found a way to track the Ludak base ship, they were now ready to move forward with taking back what had been taken from them. The window was short however, according to the telemetry provided from Marcela, the ship would reach optimal position for the Resolute to make its intercept run in only eight hours. Keeping with its current course, the next opportunity wouldn't arise for another two weeks.

Strategically, it would have been a better move to hold off for the two weeks and lay the groundwork for what had to be done. Of course, that meant more suffering and loss within the colony. Two factors had helped make the decision for him. First, both Daraz and Gruz had unexpectedly left Fort Redding, an unusual stroke of good luck for both leaders to be out of the colony at the same time. Secondly, a passing comment from Sinclair had helped cement his decision. The pompous shit bag had asked about the health of both his wife and new born son. A moment later he had stressed that if information pertaining to the whereabouts of Sky and Reality along with their ship was forthcoming it would go a long ways to ensuring that nothing unfortunate were to happen to his family.

With one final glance at the slumbering duo, he pulled the bedroom door quietly closed and walked down the short hallway to a small linen closet at the far end. Opening the door he pushed aside a pile of neatly folded bed sheets and ran his hand along the paneling at the back of the shelf. The tiny notch in the wood fit perfectly with the grain and was invisible to the naked eye. Hooking his index finger into the notch he pulled back slow and easy until he felt the panel drop a fraction of an inch. With the palm of his hand he pushed upward and the panel disappeared into a cleverly constructed recessed slot. Reaching inside the exposed compartment, he pulled out a loaded pulse rifle along with his web gear containing a holstered pulse pistol, extra cartridges and a sturdy wood handled combat knife. Strapping the gear into place, he felt a surge of adrenaline knowing that all throughout the colony weapons were quietly being retrieved from similar compartments as his people made ready to take the fight to the enemy.

“Now that is a sight for sore eyes.” Dutch offered as her eyes swept over Finn and his assorted combat gear.

Although she wasn't a trained soldier, Dutch had armed herself with a pistol of her own and Finn knew good and well that the young engineer would have no reservations about pulling that trigger if the need arose.

“Time to pay our good friend Sinclair a little visit.” Finn replied as he led the way into the waning darkness towards the Governor’s home situated a few short blocks behind town hall.

Keeping to the shadows they eased their way along rutty paths and through neglected areas of overgrown landscaping. Twice they were forced to drop to the dirt and hold their breath as Ludak patrols passed nearby. It had become evident that the Ludak were getting complacent in their duties the longer they occupied the colonies. As time passed, the remarkable discipline that had been drilled into the Ludak soldiers was starting to wane. Lizard or not, Finn knew that there were certain things that were unlikely to change between their cultures. When an occupying force started to feel a little too comfortable in their surroundings, it was inevitable that little by little even the most disciplined soldiers would begin to let their guard down. Finn had already seen the signs. The patrols had developed predictable patterns and movements. Weapons were now carried over shoulders for comfort and not held out front at the ready, and other subtle indications that the enemy was just a little too confident in the control they thought they had. As they approached a clump of apple trees along the side of Sinclair’s home, Finn checked his watch as he waited patiently for yet another predictable activity.

Breakfast hours ran from 0600 to 0730 daily. Shortly after taking control of Fort Redding the Ludak had dropped off several large pallets of rations for their troops, finding typical human food completely unpalatable. A dedicated meal line specifically for the Ludak formed along with the longer colonist queues.

While Finn wasn't exactly sure what made up the creamy, nasty smelling slop that the Ludak’s were fed, he had learned that they preferred it fresh. Even thirty minutes after cooking, its taste allegedly dropped off considerably. As such, the guards assigned to duty around Sinclair’s home had shift change right at the start of the breakfast hour. Ideally the oncoming shift would eat first, relieve the off-going and allow them to eat. Lately however, the off-going shift had been leaving their post before being relieved and hitting the meal line as soon as food started being served.

Two minutes after six, the nauseating stench of Ludak slop wafted across the compound. Moments later, the four guards posted outside Sinclair’s home met at the front of the house and eagerly stomped off towards the chow line.

“Alright, let’s do this.” Finn whispered.

They picked their way quietly around the back of the house. The back door led directly into the kitchen and as he’d suspected, had been left unlocked. He smiled at the thought of even Sinclair letting his guard down in such a fashion. The reality of it was that if he knew the true sentiments of pretty much every man and woman in the colony regarding his collaboration with the enemy, Sinclair would be best served living the remainder of his days in a fortified bunker surrounded by a full battalion of crack troops.

Making their way to the bottom of the stairs, Finn drew his pistol while letting his rifle hang from its sling across his chest. Keeping his body firmly planted against the wall he took the stairs one at a time with Dutch close on his heels matching each of his movements.

The bedroom door stood open and Finn crept low as he peeked around the corner. Two figures were visible under the covers in the bed, loud snoring and mutterings quickly identified their intended target. Easing to the foot of the bed, Finn gestured for Dutch to move towards the smaller of the two figures as he crept up alongside Sinclair. With a rapid movement, Finn’s hand shot under the covers and clamped down hard over Sinclair's mouth while his other hand dug the barrel of the pistol into the side of his temple.

There was raw terror in Sinclair’s eyes as he was ripped from a deep slumber to find Finn crouched low over him with a pistol pressed into the side of his head. It was clear that the man was likely watching as his life flashed before his eyes thinking that at any second the trigger would be pulled sending a pulse of energy through his head and out the other side.

Across the bed, Myrna’s head was peeking out from under the covers as Dutch had her own pistol against her skull. However, as soon as the soft light of morning cast its first glow over the woman’s face, Dutch lowered the pistol and stepped back several feet her mouth agape in shock. The edge of Myrna’s mouth was still stained black with a liberal coating of dry and crusted blood. The bruising around her nose, eyes, cheeks and chin showed varied levels of healing, a testament that the beatings had occurred systematically over a period of time. Her eyes locked on Dutch but showed no fear, surprise or emotion of any kind, they were simply vacant. Dutch immediately recognized the expression, Myrna was a defeated woman at that point, her will to live completely beaten out of her leaving behind nothing more than a hollow shell of a human being. As she opened her mouth to speak, Dutch saw the missing teeth and that caused some type of switch to flip inside her. In a flash she moved the barrel of the gun from the side of Myrna’s head toward Sinclair, her finger unconsciously began tightening on the trigger when Finn hissed, “Dutch stop!” Finn could see her trigger finger still pressing against the slender piece of metal, a few ounces of pressure away from ventilating Sinclair’s head. “We still need him.”

Dutch continued to hesitate, her mind struggling with a back and forth battle between vengeance and necessity. Finally the barrel wavered and her finger relaxed as she returned her attention to Myrna. Sitting up and cradling her knees, Myrna was rocking back and forth mumbling softly as she watched the scene play out. Dutch reached out a hand and gently guided Myrna from the bed. “Get dressed. We’re taking him with us, you never have to see him again.”

Sinclair remained open mouthed and wild eyed during the exchange, a rapidly spreading stain in the sheet around his waist indicating just how terrified he truly was.

Flicking the barrel of his pistol in front of Sinclair’s terrified eyes, Finn motioned toward the bedroom closet, “Get up, get dressed, keep your mouth shut. We’re taking a little field trip.”

While Sinclair fumbled his way into a pair of slacks, Myrna walked across the room and without a word launched a vicious kick directly into his groin that sent him flailing backwards onto the floor where he folded up into the fetal position crying like a small child. Looming over the whimpering form, Myrna spat once into his face and then turned away and finished dressing. Finn and Dutch simply watched it unfold, had she wanted to continue the beating, it was unlikely either of them would have stepped in to stop her.

After pulling on a pair of shoes, Myrna looked at both Finn and Dutch as she said weakly, “Thank you. I’ll find my way to the med center. God speed and good luck to you both.”

“Alright, on your feet. Let’s get moving.” Finn instructed Sinclair after Myrna had left.

His face still contorted in pain and with a trail of Myrna’s saliva running down the side of his cheek, Sinclair asked meekly, “Are you going to kill me? Where are you taking me?”

“Just get your ass up and moving. Trust me, if we’d come here to kill you, you’d already be dead.”

Their first stop was the maintenance shop where three ATV’s with the modified fusion cores from the Resolute were already loaded and ready on trailers. A briefcase sized portable power pack had also been added after Dutch explained that it was necessary to power a crane and conveyor aboard the Resolute so they could move the large cores throughout the ship. With careful prodding from Finn, Sinclair spun a convincing line of bullshit to the Ludak guards in the area who waved them on without a second glance.

“The lizards really trust you, don’t they?” Finn muttered disgustedly under his breath as they made their way across the compound towards the landing pads and shuttle craft.

“What did you expect me to do?” Sinclair blurted out, his voice shaking and crackling, “it’s not like they gave me much choice. Cooperate or become lunch, what the hell would you have done?”

Finn found it impossible to sympathize with the babbling idiot, he’d seen the type many times before, hungry for power and wealth, selling others out for their own benefit simply came naturally to him.

“Shut your mouth.” Finn replied sharply, “I don’t want to hear it.”

As they waited for the ATV drivers to finish connecting the trailers to each ride, four figures stepped from the shadows behind them and joined them in the front lot. Commander Tilley and three of his officers were fully decked out in their flight suits complete with rows of medals and awards. Finn offered his hand as he said to each of the officers in turn, “Thanks for coming.”

“You really think we can pull this off?” Commander Tilley asked quietly.

“We’ve got surprise on our side.” Finn replied before nodding his head towards Sinclair, “plus a little ace in the hole here.”

Slipping off his combat gear and rifle, Finn stowed it inside a storage compartment in the trailer. Dressed only in his flight suit, he dropped his pistol and a spare cartridge in a deep cargo pocket on his hip locking eyes with Sinclair as he did so. With the ATV’s ready to go, they moved out slow and easy, giving the impression of just another work crew heading off to tend to the days business. They took a turn and were now heading down the path to the nearest shuttle. Four Ludak soldiers stood idly by along the outskirts of the landing pad, two of them stepped forward and blocked the path in front of them. This was to be the trickiest part of their ruse, with the shuttle pads out in the open they were in full view of the entire colony and Finn thought he could feel hundreds of reptilian eyes bearing down on them.

“Exactly how I told you to play it.” Finn whispered menacingly to Sinclair, “you do anything to tip them off, you’re the first one I’m putting a hole in.”

Sinclair stepped forward and addressed the Ludak. “Under direction from Viceroy Daraz, we are taking the shuttle on a brief maintenance flight. I will be accompanying these pigs to ensure they behave.”

The Ludak looked them over carefully as they exchanged indecipherable clicks, hisses and other reptilian sounds with each other. They had learned that the lower class Ludak, identifiable by a lack of any discernible head protrusions, were incapable of replicating human speech yet they were capable of understanding the language when spoken to.

One of the soldiers walked a circle around each of the ATV’s and trailers looking suspiciously over the contents. Finn’s breath caught in his throat and his hand tightened on the butt stock of his concealed pistol as the soldier ran his webbed hand over the frame of one of the fusion cores while studying its exterior sensor panel. This was the critical moment, an exchange of weapons fire now held the potential to not only ignite one or more of the cores but also tip their hand too early and allow a warning message to reach the Ludak mother ship. After nearly a full tense minute, the senior soldier finally snarled grudgingly, stepped aside and motioned for them to continue on.

Piloting the shuttle into orbit was tricky enough for Finn with only his limited flight experience, doing so in the bulk pressure suit was even trickier. Lucky for him the auto pilot handled much of the work, but with the bulky frame of the Resolute rapidly growing larger in the view screen, it was time for him to take a hands on approach.

The hour and a half long flight from the surface into low orbit had been relatively uneventful. With Finn in the pilot seat, Dutch was taking on the copilot duties. In preparation for docking with the Resolute, which was currently without power and therefore lacking any environmental systems, they had commenced a gradual depressurization aboard the shuttle as soon as they cleared the atmosphere. As the artificial gravity slowly abated, they all began feeling the gente tug of weightlessness pulling against their shoulder and lap restraints. Under any other set of circumstances, it would have been a pleasurable experience, however for both Finn and Dutch, their attention remained split between their control panels and the view screen. Far in the distance, the Ludak mother ship appeared as a tiny speck of light barely distinguishable from the sea of twinkling stars coating the heavens all around it.

From conversations with Sky and Reality, there was every reason to believe that the mother ship was armed with orbital defense weapons. The one unknown in that equation was that it was debatable whether or not the Ludak were actually knowledgeable enough of the systems to make use of those weapons in conjunction with targeting radars. Since pretty much every piece of equipment the Ludak used had been acquired from the human population on their home world, the Ludak themselves had never actually been trained on many of the systems. It was a gamble, but Finn was putting a great deal of hope in the Ludak not being able to bring those weapons into service against them. These were thoughts he kept to himself however, it served no purpose to alarm Dutch and the officers of the Resolute with such concerns.

“It’s been so long.” Commander Tilley mused with pride and admiration as he watched the approach from the navigator’s seat directly behind Finn. “I’ve gotten so used to just seeing it through the telescope that I had actually forgotten some of the finer details.”

“She’s a fine looking ship.” Finn replied before adding, “of course the view would be much better if the shuttle bay doors were open…Dutch?”

“Hang on, I’m working on the overrides.” Dutch replied as she rapidly fed commands into a panel in the copilot’s console.

Through the view port window the bulking hull of the Resolute was filling the screen as the distance between the two vessels quickly eroded. “Got it!” Dutch finally exclaimed.

Directly in front of them the pair of doors silently slid open exposing the darkened shuttle bay. Finn turned on the shuttles exterior lights and guided the ship to a bumpy but otherwise uneventful landing back aboard the Resolute.

“Atmospheric pressure now at 85 milibars.” The bridge officer announced releasing the clasp on his helmet and taking in a tentative breath of the stale but breathable air circulating throughout the ship. “Helmets can come off but I would advise everyone to remain suited. This is close to the minimum threshold of human survivability.”

Seated in his command seat in the center of the bridge, Commander Tilley looked more alive and alert than Finn could ever remember. Each officer had immediately taken their stations and the second Dutch reestablished power, they’d gone to work as though they’d only been away a few days.

“Ok, that’s all I’m going to be able to squeeze out of this thing.” Dutch called over the intercom from the engineering section.

Glancing down at the controls built into the arms of his seat, Commander Tilley replied, “point four percent power. This isn't going to be easy. What can you do with it Ryan?”

The engineer had already been busy crunching the numbers and he looked back with a confident but stern face, “I can give us a single twenty second main engine burn and up to three bursts from the port and starboard thrusters.”

“That will have to do.” Commander Tilley replied, “Mary, do we have an intercept course plotted.”

The navigator raised a thumbs up as she worked the instruments in front of her, “Aye sir. Target will be entering the optimal intercept window in ten minutes. From that point, we will have seven minutes for a successful intercept.”

She didn't have to add what happened if they failed to reach the target in the allotted time, once that one fusion core dried up, they were dead in space.

“Very well.” Commander Tilley replied, his voice brimming with a confidence that Finn didn't feel after learning how close they were cutting things. “Begin run up to main engine ignition.”

The floor began to vibrate and Finn felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention as he detected groans of protest from deep within the ships structure. Noting his visible unease Commander Tilley offered with sly smile, “she’ll hold together, no worries.”

For several moments the only sensation to indicate anything was happening was the continued creaks and groans of metal fatigue and stress from the bones of the tired old ship. Minutes passed by until he noted a sensation of movement. On the main view screen he watched as their orientation relative to the vast nothingness of deep space slowly pivoted. In the distance, a single glowing star centered in the screen gradually began to grow larger as the Resolute gathered speed and began steadily eating away the empty miles.

“There it is.” Finn swallowed as the distant ship gradually began taking shape.

He wasn't sure what to expect and over time his mind had conceived a variety of constructs on what form the vast ship would actually take. What formed on the screen before him defied even his wildest imagination. Stretching close to five miles in length and towering to a height of eight stories, the ship was a patchwork collection of smaller vessels all interconnected by a series of cylindrical tubes. The smaller ships, in all shapes and sizes were docked to the outside of the tubes, underneath them, over top and along the sides, resulting in a confused and bizarre mass of protruding angles, edges, bends and corners that was simply impossible to describe in words. The only portion of the vessel that seemed to make any logical sense was the triple stacked engine cowlings soaring over and under the main body of the ship by a considerable distance on all sides.

“That is truly a monster of a ship.” Commander Tilley offered with clear admiration for the degree of craftsmanship involved in creating such a colossal vessel.

“That’s our target.” The navigator announced as the engine assembly passed by the view port exposing the plasma storage containers and feeder systems. “We’re matching speed, disengaging main engines.”

The ships continual protest abated but didn't cease as the engines were cut leaving them in a high-speed drift like an unguided missile closing in on its final target.

“Ok Mary, take us in.” Commander Tilley ordered.

Gripping a throttle stick extending from the top of her station, Mary used deft and precise movements to fine tune their final approach. Fully aware of the limited power available she used the maneuvering thrusters only sparingly until the central core of the plasma storage pods was lined up dead center of the view screen.

“Couldn't have done it without you Commander.” Finn exclaimed with satisfaction, “now lock that in and let’s get the hell out of here.” Activating the comms inside the neck of his suit, Finn called out, “Dutch, finish setting those other two cores and meet us in the landing back.”

There was no reply. He tried again. “Dutch. Do you read?”

A shadow passed by the corner of his eye. He started turning his head towards it when he heard a distinctive popping sound followed an instant later by a rippling pain encompassing his entire body all at once from head to toe, he seized up and blacked out.

“Ugh.” Finn groaned as he pulled himself up into a seated position and struggled to focus his shaky vision.

“You might not want to try standing just yet, give yourself a few more minutes to regain balance.” Dutch offered.

Through a hazy fog he noted that he was back aboard the shuttle strapped carefully into place across three seats in the passenger compartment. Dutch was seated in the pilot’s seat and judging by the sensation of motion they were clear of the Resolute landing bay and once again underway. Seated directly across from him, Sinclair glared desperately through the clear screen of his helmet, his restraints, bolstered by a handful of zip ties holding him firmly in place. Ignoring the sobbing cries muffled by a strip of duct tape slapped over his mouth, Finn turned his attention towards the cockpit.

“What the hell happened?” Finn groaned, “I feel like I just went ten rounds with a pack of Raptors.”

Dutch held a small rectangular device over her head as she offered, “I’m really sorry Colonel, we didn't think there was any other way.”

Recognizing the Taser Finn bellowed, “You tased me?!? What the hell Dutch?”

“Before you lose your cool, you may want to talk to your wife and Tayte. They came up with the idea after Lauren had a long chat with Commander Tilley. Don’t worry about your suit either, I patched the holes with Insta-Foam.”

Glancing around the compartment he noted for the first time that the Resolute crew was not aboard, “Wait a minute! Where’s Tilley and the other bridge officers?” Realization slammed home with him when Dutch remained silent, “Jesus. They’re still aboard the Resolute? They’re taking it on a suicide run??”

There was no reply as Dutch remained focused on the controls in front of her. Clambering into the cockpit, Finn took a seat behind the copilots’ controls and scanned the instruments. They were moving steadily away from both the Resolute and Ludak mother ship, but with Dutch’s limited flight experience only the shuttle’s maneuvering thrusters were at play. Telemetry indicated that the Resolute had already slipped into the gap between the massive engine cowlings and was nearly in the optimal position to detonate the fusion cores. Finn didn't need the computer to tell him that they were still way to close to the impending fusion blast.

“Transfer primary control to my station.” Finn called out as his hands flew over the controls in a blur of motion. “This is going to be close.” Igniting the primary engines, Finn watched as the power indicators crept slowly to full capacity. “Come on, come on.” He muttered impatiently.

“Oh shit!” Dutch exclaimed as a bright flash in the corner of her eyes caused her hand to fly to her face shielding her strained vision.

A brilliant green blossoming explosion blotted out the entire view screen, Finn’s hand flew to the top of his helmet where he was able to slide a filtered screen over his faceplate in time to salvage most of his vision. Dutch fumbled through the same process, the edges of her vision now marred with a superimposed echo of the dazzling blast.

They were still close enough to the Ludak mothership to witness first-hand the unfolding carnage. The initial blinding pulse had begun to subside in intensity, in its place a pulsating spectrum of greens, yellows and reds engulfed the entire rear third of the orbital platform. The explosive energy momentarily acted like a gigantic x-ray turning the massive ship partially transparent. Even from a distance they could see the snaking outlines of long winding corridors, cavernous cargo holds along with endless miles of piping and wire conduits running the entire length of the vessel. Groups of fleeting figures could be seen running full tilt along the length of those extensive corridors, desperately trying to remain ahead of the expanding energy wave.

As the pulse made its way from the engine compartment forward along the superstructure, the ship began fragmenting and breaking apart section by section. Lacking gravity in the surrounding space, the explosion occurred incrementally instead of instantaneously. Slowly but surely, bit by bit, fed from internal oxygen and other life supporting mechanisms the pulse marched steadily ahead consuming everything in its path.

Around the engine compartment, ground zero of the blast had died down to a shimmering debris field trailing off like a gigantic tail following along as the ship’s forward momentum continued on without notable interruption. Finn and Dutch both swallowed hard with realization that the Resolute and the brave officers who gave their life to take her on this final flight were amongst those shattered fragments left to forever drift in the cold blackness of space.

As fascinating a scene as it was, it was the rapidly moving shimmer of the expanding blast wave that snapped Finn back into focus.

“Power levels to full.” Finn announced as the digital readouts showed ready for primary engine burn and he slammed the throttle forward to its stops. “Brace yourself, this is going to be close.”

Even with the thin artificial gravity environment inside the shuttle, they were thrust against their seat-backs as the engines propelled them forward like a rocket shooting across the heavens. The shock wave kicked them in the back like a bucking mule. The control stick jerked and shook in his hands but he maintained a steady grip and concentrated on turning back and forth against the invisible forces attempting to throw them into an uncontrolled spin down into the planet’s atmosphere or off into deep space. Alarms and flashing lights lit up the control panel like a Christmas tree but Finn’s entire focus remained on the horizon indicator as he lined them up for atmospheric reentry.

“Fire in engine 2” Dutch reported.

“Activate fire suppression.” Finn replied, struggling to keep his voice steady and free of the anxiety he was experiencing.

There was a notable jolt as the shuttle entered the upper atmosphere and both of them flinched as they heard the clang of something tearing free from the outer hull. The stick bucked in his hands, a loose control surface somewhere in the rear of the ship adding a significant degree of play into the controls. Outside the view screen the sky was alight with bright orange and yellow flames as atmospheric friction superheated the hull, turning them into a plummeting fireball.

“Cher Dieu, protège-moi! Je ne veux pas mourir!!” Sinclair prayed loudly in French from the passenger area.

Tense minutes ticked by as the shuttle rocked and convulsed in protest from the torturous conditions of the steep entry angle and damage sustained from the shock wave. If Finn was a betting man he would have put his money on their remains being spread out over a fifty square mile area over any potential safe return to the surface. He kept those thoughts to himself however.

“Passing through the 60 mile mark.” Dutch called out.

The cocoon of flames beyond the view screen was starting to give way to high altitude cloud cover and smoother air as they entered the upper reaches of atmospheric pressure. Finn’s full attention remained on the control stick and keeping the shuttle’s nose steady and even with the horizon. Grasping blindly at the console next to him, he grasped the throttle controls and gently pulled back attempting to begin a gradual bleed off of speed.

Dropping below the highest layer of clouds, continents and glimmering oceans now filled their view on all sides. The shuttle continued its relentless dive for the surface as Finn systematically added drag.

“We just hit 40 miles and still dropping like a rock.” Dutch offered, her voice cracking and shaking as she added. “Entering comms range now.”

“Send the signal. If we don’t make it, at least everyone else will know we pulled this off.”

Struggling against the crushing G-forces pressing against them, it took Dutch three tries to enter the appropriate command into the comm computer. The outgoing message that would now appear on several clandestine monitoring devices simply read: touchdown. Upon receipt of the message forces at Fort Redding, White Bluff and under Jenna’s command in the wilderness, were to immediately begin offensive operations against the Ludak. It was a small comfort to know that if they ended up dying in a fiery crash, at least their forces now had a chance to fight back.

“Passing 30 miles and slowing.” Dutch reported. The G-forces inside the cabin were easing up as their rate of descent gradually dropped off.

Under the pressure suit, Finn’s uniform was soaked with sweat and rivulets of the salty brine were dripping down his forehead into his eyes clouding his vision. He desperately wished to remove his helmet and wipe a sleeve across his brow for a little relief, but the ongoing battle against Newton’s laws of motion, kept his hands firmly planted on the stick.

“20 miles, horizon indication that the nose is starting to come up.” For the first time since entering orbit, a sliver of hope registered in Dutch’s voice.

“Come on you bastard!” Finn cried out as he put his last reserve of strength into pulling back on the stick and steadying them out.

“10 miles, speed dropping, horizon now at 45 degrees and stabilizing.”

While still sluggish from the damage to the control surfaces, the controls were starting to relax in his hands and Finn started believing they might just have a chance after all.

“Give me full flaps and a five second downward burst from the thrusters.”

The ground no longer filled the view screen as the nose steadily rose. Finn’s arm and shoulders were screaming in protest from the abuse they were suffering, but he gritted his teeth and kept his focus laser steady as they dropped below 30,000 feet.

“20,000 feet and leveling off!” Dutch screamed, “holy shit you actually did it!!”

“Yeah, well, we’re not completely out of the woods. This bird is bent and broken. Power reserves are in the red, we need to get on the ground ASAP.” Finn exclaimed before adding, “I’m not even sure where the hell we are. See if you can figure that out and find us a nice soft place to put down.”

Flipping open the visor of her helmet, Dutch gulped in a lungful of fresh, cool air and allowed herself a brief moment of respite.

After reviewing the navigational data, Dutch traced a line along a conceptual map of the landscape below before announcing, “We’re about 180 miles due west of White Bluff if you can believe that.”

Finn wasn't even sure they’d entered the atmosphere over the correct continent let alone anywhere close to one of the colonies, he suddenly felt like their luck was starting to change for the best.

“That’s a lucky break.” Finn sighed, “but with these power readings, I don’t think we’re going to make it the entire distance. Find me an open stretch of ground somewhere between here and there.”

A moment later Dutch responded, “Ok, can you see the ocean off to your left?”

“Kind of hard to miss.” Finn replied as he glanced out the view port at the twinkling lights glimmering off white capped waves filling his vision out to the horizon.

“The beach is flat, wide and soft. This strip of coast passes right through White Bluff. If you bring us over the beach and maintain around 1500 feet we can follow it as far as our reserves allow and be able to keep our bearings once we touch down.”

Banking the shuttle towards the ocean, Finn eased back even more on the throttle. “Sounds like a plan.”

With the shuttle on course and finally under control, both Finn and Dutch took turns at the controls while the other slipped out of their bulky pressure suit. Finn was just sliding back into the pilot’s seat when the cockpit filled with an ear-splitting warbling sound and a series of caution lights flared to life on the bottom of the control console.

“What the hell?” Finn exclaimed as he studied the readings, “that’s the threat indicator. Someone just locked us up with a fire control radar!”

“No sudden moves Colonel.” Daraz’s voice bellowed through the cockpit speakers.

The color drained from Dutch’s face as she stole a glance down at the radar screen between the pilot and copilot stations. “Two aircraft coming up fast from behind. They’ve got us bracketed.”

“That’s right Colonel.” Daraz continued, “we have your shuttle targeted with air to air missiles. Do exactly as I say or we’ll blot you from the sky. I’m transmitting a set of coordinates, I want you to set your ship down on that spot, power all systems off and have everyone step outside with their arms raised.”

His hand moved to the throttle and for a moment Finn considered pouring the last of their dwindling power supply into a frantic dash for freedom. Glancing towards Dutch, he locked eyes with her and for the first time since meeting the woman he recognized actual fear in her features. His hand hovered over the throttle for several long seconds until finally wavering and returning to the stick. Banking slowly he turned them on course for the coordinates provided by Daraz and whatever fate awaited them next.

CHAPTER 19

“You’re sure these things will work?” Jenna asked as she eyed the crudely designed metal box strapped to the back of the ATV. Cabling from the box connected to a set of homemade loudspeakers mounted on brackets to either side of the handlebars.

“Have a little faith.” Marcela replied as she fussed with the settings on a tablet computer connected to the metal box. “It’s not pretty but its modeled after the same system we’ve been using on our ships. It’ll get the job done.”

Seven ATV’s were spread out in a line at hundred yard intervals along the flats preceding the start of the Valley of Sleeping Giants. Through gaps in the thin layer of foliage ahead of them, they could see occasional movement as the extensive herd of Stegosaurus’ grazed and drank from nearby streams and ponds. Being told to have a little faith was not an easy pill for Jenna to swallow when she was about to rush headlong into a horde of creatures each the size of a city bus.

Glancing at her watch she watched the final few seconds tick away to the top of the hour. Cranking the engine she held fast on the brake and gave the throttle a few quick bursts of power as she listened carefully for the sound of loose valves and scanned the controls ensuring all readings were in the green.

“Ready?” Jenna called over her shoulder.

Seated directly behind her, Marcela switched on the power to the amplifier and gave a thumbs up. Jenna wasn't exactly sure what to expect when the sonic waves began pounding the air around them. Possibly something similar to the subtle vibrations and electrical sensations they’d experienced when the weapon was used on board the Enterprise. What she wasn't expecting was to hear and feel absolutely nothing at all.

“That thing on?” Jenna asked.

“Full blast. Ready to roll when you are.” Marcela replied excitedly. Sensing Jenna’s uncertainty, she added, “Don’t worry, it’ll work. You aren’t feeling any sensations from the sonic wave because its expanding through air and not water.”

“If you say so.” Jenna replied as she popped the break and they shot ahead.

Keeping in a line abreast formation, the other ATV’s followed her lead and began pressing forward. As they entered the brush, the screen of trees rapidly dissipated revealing the herd of Stegs directly to their front. With each passing foot of ground the prehistoric behemoths loomed larger in their path. Small details on the hulking frames of the creatures were becoming clear. Jenna found herself transfixed on the intricate pattern of plates lining each of their backs, no two alike, fanning out from a few inches tall over the head to several feet along the hindquarters. However it was the multitude of sturdy spikes tipping the ends of their thick tails that truly sent shivers down the back of her spine. While the Stegs were considered one of the least intelligent dinosaurs in history, their unpredictable nature and sheer size made them a formidable threat. A strike from one of those tails or a crushing blow from a meaty foot or swinging head was more than enough to turn the average person into an unrecognizable heap of ground beef.

Jenna focused her attention on the closest Steg, a bull male, towering a good three feet over the others. The ATV was nearing the edge of the brush now and entering open ground only 150 yards from the creature. While the electric ATV’s weren't as loud as their fossil fuel guzzling cousins, the crunch of rapidly moving tires passing over sticks, leaves and other debris was more than enough to attract attention. The Steg’s head jerked towards the approaching vehicle and Jenna saw its nose contort in an angry snort as it recognized a potential threat.

As she approached to under a hundred yards, more Stegs were starting to turn in her direction as the bull wailed a thunderous warning cry. She was sure it was only seconds away from charging at them and it took every ounce of willpower to keep from jerking the handlebars to the side and turning away.

The closest Stegs suddenly seemed to violently flinch as though electrocuted, turned and rushed away from the approaching ATV at full speed. A rapid domino effect soon followed as more and more of the herd either came into range of the piercing sonic wave or simply recognized the others around them turning and running from a perceived danger.

“Holy shit!” Jenna wailed excitedly, “it’s working!”

From the back of the ATV Marcela offered a broad grin and flashed a thumbs up while she continually monitored the sonic output levels and made incremental adjustments to account for the variations in the terrain they were moving through.

To either side of them, they caught occasional glimpses of the next closest ATV through breaks in the undergrowth. The line appeared to be holding together well and as they pushed forward, the herd of Stegs was soon caught up in a panicked frenzy running full tilt away from the source of the sonic menace. Even over the steady buzz of the engine and the jaw rattling ups and downs over the rough terrain the thunderous pounding of the stampeding swarm of Stegs was both felt and heard clear as day.

Hitting a flat and steady patch of clear land, Jenna risked a quick glance down at the speedometer. The ATV’s top speed was rated at 40mph and they were edging up close to that while barely keeping pace with the fleeing herd. The going was getting more and more treacherous the further they traveled into the valley. As the herd moved forward in a blind rush, they toppled trees, displaced boulders and dug knee deep ruts into the ground. They were leaving a path of destruction in their wake that Jenna was struggling to continually navigate.

As if to emphasize the struggle to maneuver in the herds wake, Jenna heard a muffled crunch somewhere off to the right marking an ATV driver whose luck had suddenly run out. She shook it off, they’d anticipated losses to some degree with this stunt. Of course, expectations and reality were different things knowing one of her brothers and sisters in arms had fallen.

“Range?!” Jenna called out.

“About six more minutes at this speed.” Marcela responded.

Several harrowing minutes later, the towering drilling platform marking the center of the Ludak encampment came into view behind a screen of tall oaks and fir trees. They’d studied diagrams provided from their observation post on the distribution of the Ludak forces and Jenna knew that just beyond that final copse of trees, a defensive ring of enemy troops was likely already on alert and standing ready for battle.

By now Jenna’s forces would already be in position. The plan was to divide the bulk of her troops into two prongs, one to the east and one to the west of the Ludak positions. With the wild stampede pushing through the middle slot, her people would converge from two sides at once, creating a triple threat which they hoped would completely overwhelm the enemy’s advantage in superior numbers. With so many unknown factors however, the next hour or so would determine success or utter failure. Jenna was running the battle plan through her head for the thousandth time when the approaching line of trees was suddenly backlit with hundreds of converging beams from pulse rifles and the muzzle flashes of Ludak weaponry, the battle had now been joined.

Phoenix clutched the pulse rifle through sweaty hands, he was nervous, it had been a long time since he’d last picked up any type of weapon in anger. The unsteady nerves weren't for the battle that lay ahead however, instead he feared for the lives that were soon to be lost, people he’d come to love and care for as part of his family over the years.

Spread out throughout Fort Redding the Ludak had a force of anywhere from 3-400 troops at any given time. Their own forces numbered towards the lower end of that spectrum. That of course was the bad news. Surprise was still on their side as was the fact that over time, the Ludak had gradually become more and more complacent. With their leadership temporarily off-site it was even more apparent that the guard force was relaxing its posture. Patrols had become predictable, security checks lackadaisical and across the board, boredom was taking its toll. While the complacency created a vulnerability it was the boredom that was truly the more dangerous attribute. The random beatings, pointless tortures and growing list of missing colonists was reaching an all-time high as the average Ludak soldier looked to the human population as a source of entertainment.

Phoenix was crouched in the brush a short distance off the path skirting the side of Fort Redding’s armory. The small, squat building was actually an outbuilding at the edge of an acre wide exercise field behind the Operations center and surrounded on three sides by undeveloped forest land.               A pair of Ludak sentries kept watch at the front of the building. Spread out in the brush around Phoenix, a squad of fighters watched and waited for the signal to advance. Further off, out in the corn fields, the bulk of their forces stood ready to rush forward and seize arms the moment the armory was under their control.

Phoenix felt a gentle tap on his shoulder from behind, the signal that everyone was in place and ready to move. Directly across the path from him, hunkered down in a slight depression, a second shooter sighted in on the guard on the left. It was now the moment of truth, his opening salvo would be the start of the battle to retake their home from the enemy.

Drawing a bead on the Ludak soldier to the right, Phoenix felt his trigger finger begin a slow, continuous squeeze. Dialed in to a medium setting, the pulse rifle bucked ever so slightly as the caseless burst of energy flickered out from the business end of the barrel. It was a combination of kinetic energy and electrically charged particles that caused the Ludak’s head to explode into a shower of goop and misting blue/green blood. A split second later a second shot drilled a neat hole through the face of the second guard. Both bodies dropped in a contorted pile of splayed arms and legs coated in a mess of leaking body fluids, lizard flesh and chunks of charred meat.

With both guards neutralized, the rest of the squad stormed ahead and secured the building, setting up a hasty defensive perimeter. A few moments later, personnel began emerging from the cover of the cornfields and securing weapons. Individual squads and platoons were organized and began moving off to their assigned sectors around the colony.

Phoenix led his squad along an indirect path towards a residential area. They were to set up defensive operations protecting noncombatants sheltering in their homes. Reaching the church at the boundary between rows of homes and the colonies central hub, Phoenix directed the twelve members of his squad into two man fight positions spread out at fifty foot intervals. Prior to the Ludak’s arrival, construction had commenced on a new wing for the popular non-denominational worship center. Phoenix chose a spot amongst the skeletal framework of the partially completed project.

Gun fire and explosions were starting to fill the air from all sides as human and lizard forces came into contact with one another. Phoenix knew that these first few minutes of combat would be pivotal for them. With the element of surprise, they’d hoped to catch the Ludak spread out in small groups across the colony. Keeping them from massing together and capitalizing on their superior numbers was pretty much their entire battle plan. K.I.S.S., or Keep it Simple Stupid, was an acronym that transcended military’s of all shapes and sizes in their prior lives, it was one that even to this day Phoenix continued to put to good use.

“Incoming!” A terrified young woman hissed through gritted teeth. Silvia was a popular team member from the plumbing workshop, a hard charger who never backed down from a challenge. Her husband was one of the many colonists to simply disappear without a trace since the occupation began. One of the first civilian workers to volunteer to take up arms, she’d set the bar for others to follow.

Phoenix followed her gaze and spotted a gaggle of nearly thirty Ludak charging along the dirt path towards the homes they were charged with protecting. Readying his rifle, he steadied his aim and picked his target. Two blasts from pulse rifles off to his left signaled the start of the engagement. The opening volley clipped one of the lead soldiers, but only superficially, they were now alerted to the human presence.

A crescendo of firepower opened up in both directions as the two forces engaged in a fight for their lives. Phoenix alternated between firing off wild shots and ducking for cover as rounds stitched the ground and blasted down all around him.

“They’re flanking left!” Silvia shouted over the din.

Phoenix caught sight of a flash of movement as ten of the lizards broke contact and slithered off towards the back of the church. Gesturing for Silvia and another shooter to follow him, the trio backed steadily away from cover and the onslaught of fire, heading for the partially completed church expansion. Reaching the outer door of the chapel, Phoenix made short work of tearing away a sheet of plywood set in place as a temporary barricade, while Silvia and the spare shooter kept watch at each angle. As soon as the opening was big enough, all three darted inside and Phoenix could see the Ludak soldiers through the windows at the back of the church fanning out in the open courtyard and racing towards the far corner of the building. Phoenix knew there wasn't any time to waste, which meant any fancy planning was out of the question if they were going to stop the Ludak from reaching the edge of the church. If Phoenix failed to stop them, then they’d have a clear line of fire into the exposed backs of the rest of his squad, and that was not an option Phoenix would allow to happen.

“This is going to be down and dirty.” Phoenix declared as he shouldered up to the back door.

Silvia and the other shooter locked eyes with each other, and then with Phoenix as they gave a strong nod to indicate they were ready. Taking a deep breath, Phoenix hefted his rifle, stepped back and kicked the door open in a single explosive charge. It was a bold move that caught the Ludak by surprise, all ten of the lizards were focused on the edge of the church and not expecting a trio of trigger happy humans to suddenly appear in their midst.

With a blast of fire power, both human and Ludak went toe to toe in the open, exchanging fire at nearly point-blank range. Phoenix bagged three in his first salvo, Silvia bagged two and managed to wound another two. The other shooter succeeded in dropping two more of the lizards before he took the first few rounds of return fire across his upper torso and head.

Adrenaline and sheer force of will coursed through both Phoenix and Silvia as they banded together after seeing the other shooter go down. They aligned themselves shoulder to shoulder, then calmly and methodically zeroed in on their targets and laid down suppressive fire power on the remaining Ludak targets.

Silvia staggered, then dropped to one knee clutching her side, and a rivulet of blood snaked from the corner of her mouth. One of the lizards got lucky with his aim and pumped several rounds into her stomach. Phoenix saw her fall from the corner of his eye and rapidly adjusted his aim to destroy that lizard, before he turned towards Silvia to offer her aid. In that moment, as Phoenix was reaching for Silvia, he suddenly felt a sledgehammer blow to the side of his chest. The impact of the bullet spun him around and knocked him off balance, sending him to make a hard and unpleasant landing face first in the dirt. Phoenix raised his head to shake the dirt from his face and mouth when a shadow appeared looming behind him, and without thinking, he instinctively lunged forward throwing his body into Silvia’s and wrapped his arms around her bringing them both down into the dirt. Phoenix used his body as a shield of protection for Silvia just as the crack of a rifle on full automatic resonated through the air. The inexperienced lizard had been moving and firing at the same time which made it difficult to control his weapon from the recoil. It had caused his aim to be wild and the bullets flew up and to the left. Phoenix could hear the buzz of bullets splitting through the air only inches above his head, causing his reflexes to encompass Silvia’s head tighter against his chest.

The football tackle she received from Phoenix pinned her to the ground making it difficult for Silvia to maneuver her hand away from where it was holding her wound and down to the holstered pistol at her side. Drawing the weapon, she fired blindly in the general direction of the attacker, squeezing the trigger over and over again, desperation in each time she pulled the trigger to find a mark. Finally, she was rewarded with a muffled thump and a startled cry as one of her shots struck home. Silvia’s hand fell back down to her side and alongside Phoenix where she released the pistol from her grip. Phoenix raised up enough so he could look down at her bloodied face. Her eyes met his and held his gaze as the last moments of life ebbed free of her body and her eyes fluttered shut for the last time. In those final few seconds before she took her last breath of air, a smile etched its way across her lips. There was some small measure of satisfaction knowing that she had done her part and would soon be at peace and reunited with her lost loved ones.

Phoenix rolled off and away from her, drawing his knees up and resting his forehead on them to give himself a moment of reflection for the loss of life laying next to him. He then raised his head to the sky above as he took in a deep breath and stared up at the brilliant blue of the crystal-clear afternoon sky, he closed his eyes and released his breath while listening to the sounds of battle that ebbed and flowed all around him.

Phoenix finally opened his eyes, gave a nod of his head and then slowly got to his feet. Reaching down to grab a weapon off the ground, he turned towards the sound of where the battle still raged on, and with a very deep breath, he let out his own battle cry as he charged forward with the determination of a warrior about to kick some lizard ass.

Linc pulled back on the bowstring and loosed the arrow. He had to angle the shot slightly upward to account for the distance, but his practiced hand held true and seconds later he was rewarded with the site of his arrow buried in the neck of the Ludak sentry. Three additional sentries fell in discarded heaps nearby as Rune and other Revati warriors unleashed a silent barrage of death.

Dropping to his belly, Linc slowly crawled across the open stretch of ground bordering the perimeter of White Bluff. He continually adjusted his path as he came upon disturbed patches of dirt where the Ludak had buried anti-personnel mines. He was unfamiliar with the devices, but had been briefed on the dangers they posed and how to avoid them. Each time he came upon one of the small mounds of fresh dirt, he reached into a pouch strapped around his waist and withdrew a wooden stake with a small strip of colored fabric attached. Planting the stakes in the ground alongside the hidden mines, he laid out a path for those following behind to see and follow.

The Revati were no strangers to warfare and its many horrors of death and destruction. Their own history was marred with grim periods of conflict between neighboring tribes. This fight was different however, this wasn't a dispute over the boundaries of hunting ranges or infighting related to succession. This time the very existence of their entire race was at stake. Linc had witnessed the senseless slaughter of an entire village of Revati and his blood boiled for the sweet taste of vengeance.

A mixed platoon of both Revati and human soldiers followed along the path he created. Two additional platoons, one approaching through the shallow surf to the docks and another through the salt flats to the east were all timed to converge on the colony at the same moment.

Crunch…the telltale sound of a cracking branch under the foot of an inattentive sentry alerted Linc to an approaching threat. Through the tall grass he could see the shadow of the lone guard drawing close. He eased the long, curved blade from a sheath at his side and pulled his muscular frame into a tight crouch. Linc’s attack was a blur of silent motion, coming in low and driving the tip of his blade into the soft flesh under the lizard’s chin. With one continual motion he thrust the blade deep into the skull, twirled it around for good measure and then he carefully guided the limp body to the ground. As emotionless as the Ludak tended to be, the guards face bore a look of stunned surprise that not even their reptilian apathy was unable to conceal.

The sentry marked the end of the minefield and they were now at the narrow strip of land between the screen of brush and the electric fence line at the colonies border. Linc raised a hand and signaled an engineer to move forward. The man quickly approached the nearest fence post where he connected a cable from the tablet computer to a control port of a small box at the top of the post. Seconds later the glowing light atop the post winked out along with a similar light on the next post in line. The path to White Bluff was now open. Linc motioned for the platoon to move forward several yards inside the perimeter before directing everyone into a line formation.

In a few minutes, the other platoons would be making their own stealthy entrance into the colony. Linc had already established the ground rules for the looming battle, the enemy was to be afforded no quarter and no mercy. They were about to learn how big of a mistake they had made in underestimating the determination and tenacity of the inhabitants of this planet, both human and Revati alike.

CHAPTER 20

Finn and Dutch led Sinclair slowly down the ramp out the rear of the shuttle. Daraz had already set down directly across the sandy beach, disembarking a squad of troops a short distance away. Hovering in the air several hundred feet over their heads, the second Osprey tracked their every move with its imposing nose cannon and numerous under-wing missiles.

There had been a brief moment when Finn had considered simply rushing out the back of the shuttle, rifle in hand to take at least Daraz with him, but a simple glance from Dutch along with thoughts of his newborn son quickly put those thoughts to rest. He harbored little hope that they would get out of this alive, in fact the odds of him ever seeing little Brody or Lauren again were dismal at best. Finn had learned a great deal about Daraz and recognized the Ludak officer as a showman who was unlikely to simply kill them outright. No, Daraz lived for the challenge and the thrill of the hunt, therefore, whatever happened next, Finn knew if he played his cards right there was a possibility that an opportunity to gain the upper-hand might just present itself. After all, if Daraz had wanted them dead, he could have blotted the shuttle out of the sky and been done with it.

The moment Sinclair locked eyes with Daraz his face lit up and the built up tension in his shoulders relaxed. The Frenchman stepped out from behind Finn and Dutch and made his way to the Ludak commander to offer his version of recent events. The moment Sinclair stepped clear of Finn and Dutch, Daraz’s hand dropped to a pistol holstered at his side. The weapon was raised and aimed before any of them had a chance to realize what was about to happen. The shot split the air and echoed along the beach. For a split-second, it seemed as though he’d missed because nothing happened. Sinclair took several more steps forward as if nothing was wrong, but then his steps became broken and as the momentum carried him forward, his body crumpled to the ground. It was surreal watching his body go down. With each broken step Sinclair took, his body wobbled and jerked as he went down in segments until his head hit the ground with a little bounce. His face was frozen with a creepy expression from his eyes being wide open and the idiotic self-assured grin he always wore. The quarter-size hole was slightly off center on Sinclair’s forehead which dripped only a few small rivulets of blood down the ridge of his nose and across his lips. The exit wound on the back of his head however, was nothing short of catastrophic. There was a red mist that coated the sand behind his body, along with hair and fragments of bone scattered throughout the red mist.

Finn and Dutch were both frozen in place staring down at Sinclair’s body, it was a lot to take in and process all at once. Daraz snapped them back to reality by casually holstering his weapon and taking a few steps closer to them and nonchalantly saying. “His usefulness had run its course.”

Jerking his thumb towards Dutch, Finn demanded, “Let her go. It’s me you really want. She’s an innocent in all this.”

Finn wasn't sure if a Ludak was capable of smiling. Their lizard features seemed incapable of displaying any recognizable form of emotion, but in that moment he believed Daraz managed to fix his face in what at least passed for something close to amusement.

“There lies your weakness. Your race places way to much value on a single life.” Daraz stated, “in fact, it was that very flaw in your character that allowed us to overtake our own planet and push humans to the bottom of the food chain.”

“Weakness?” Finn replied with raised eyebrows, “we see it as one of our greatest strengths. Every single life is sacred to us.”

“Exactly.” Daraz countered, “you humans are willing to sacrifice yourself to that end. Our culture views every individual simply as a tool, a means to an end. If tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands must fall in order to achieve an objective, that is simply the price that is paid. There will always be others to take their place.”

With a quick hand gesture Daraz signaled one of his guards to approach. Walking up behind Dutch, the soldier raised his rifle and before Finn could even attempt a word of protest, fired a single shot into the back of Dutch’s right calf muscle. Dutch collapsed to the ground in a cry of agony, blood spurting from both an entry and exit hole straight through her leg.

“Now.” Daraz continued, “We are going to truly test your resolve on the matter. Starting now, I am giving you a one hour head start. At the end of that hour, the hunt begins.”

“Ugggh!” Dutch howled as she dropped to the ground grasping at her wounded leg. “I can’t keep this up. Leave me!!”

Finn crouched down next to her, struggling to catch his breath. They were already well past the hour deadline, and he had supported and carried Dutch through the thick woods, only taking short breaks when Dutch needed to catch her breath and rest for a minute or two. Finn was silently thankful for those short breaks because the afternoon heat and the crushing humidity were thoroughly kicking his ass the whole way. He was trying not to show any fatigue so Dutch wouldn’t worry and feel guilty about slowing them down, but it was getting very difficult to do with each passing moment.

At the one hour mark, two things had occurred, the crack of a single gunshot from the beach had signaled the start of the hunt and several moments later one of the Ospreys had appeared in the sky overhead. The plane maintained its distance several hundred yards away directly over the tops of the surrounding trees. As soon as it had appeared Finn understood its purpose, it was keeping track of them and providing Daraz a crystal-clear point of reference to their location. Any thoughts of this being anything close to a fair ordeal immediately evaporated at that point.

“I’m not going to leave you Dutch.” Finn huffed as he struggled to catch his breath. “That’s final, I don’t want to hear any more talk like that.”

She was growing paler by the minute as blood continued leaking at a steady pace from the holes in her leg. A splinter of shattered bone extending from the wound ensuring that any natural clotting was next to impossible as long as she was unable to lay completely still.

“My head is spinning and my vision is getting blurry, pretty sure I’m close to passing out. You’ll be carrying dead weight before long.” Dutch groaned, even her voice sounded distant and weak as the blood loss drained every ounce of her physical reserves.

Glancing over his shoulder, Finn cringed at the vivid trail of blood they were leaving in their wake. Stained leaves, tree branches and droplets all along the forest floor was more than enough for even a partially blind hunter to follow, having the Osprey keep track of them was simply overkill and likely just another form of intimidation. Either way, with the amount of blood she was losing, it was a wonder she hadn't passed out already.

As he steadily caught his breath, a familiar sound floated through the trees. The sound ignited a small ember of hope and lifted his spirits in what had otherwise seemed a pointless effort to try and keep going and delaying the inevitable.

“Dutch! Listen! Do you hear that?” Her head lolled from side to side as she fought a losing battle against the coming darkness. “It’s the river. We’re closer than I thought. If we can get there we might just have a fighting chance.”

Without waiting for a response, Finn clambered sluggishly to his feet pulling Dutch up along with him. Tucking his arm tightly around her waist, he half pulled and half dragged her along through the woods. It took nearly fifteen minutes of struggling along before they finally collapsed amongst a group of boulders along the muddy bank of the whitewater filled waterway. Helping Dutch prop herself against the face of a tall rounded rock, Finn suddenly spotted a shadow creeping past from the corner of his eye. A quick glimpse behind him revealed the Osprey now hovering only a few hundred feet upstream. The pilot had pulled in closer the moment they reached the river bank and Finn had a sneaking suspicion the river itself was considered an out of bounds area for the purposes of the hunt. For the time being the plane simply hovered in place, neither advancing closer or backing away. The rotary nose cannon remained angled downward and trained directly at them, a clear indicator that a fiery death was only a few ounces of a trigger pull away.

For the time being he put the Osprey out of his mind, if they were breaking an unspoken rule and the pilot decided to fire them up right then and there, so be it. Nothing he could do about it. What he could do however, was anything within his power to prevent Dutch from bleeding out.

“Dutch!” Finn shouted with a gentle slap across both of her cheeks. “I need you to stay awake! I’m going to step over to the mudflats for a quick minute, but you stay with me!”

He picked his way through a sea of refrigerator sized rocks until he found a damp mud slick several yards short of the river’s edge. From a side cargo pocket he pulled out a small multipurpose tool and opened the folding three inch blade. The Ludak had found the tool and a rechargeable flash light when they patted him down for weapons, but had allowed him to keep both. Either they weren't sure what it was or more likely simply didn't consider such a small blade any threat given their dense outer hide covered in a layer of scaly membrane.

Finn cut both sleeves from his flight suit, using one as a makeshift container that he scooped full of the thick mud. Returning to Dutch’s side he had to shake her several times before her glassy eyes took on even the slightest glimmer of focus.

“Come on Dutch. Hang in there!”

Tearing the clean sleeve into three equal strips he set them aside for a moment. With his fingers, he scooped up a generous portion of the mud before locking eyes with Dutch and warning, “I’m sorry about this. I’m not going to sugar coat it, but this is going to hurt like a bitch.”

Working as quickly as possible, he packed the mud as deep as possible into both the entry and exit wound of her leg. Dutch gritted her teeth hard and groaned in pain as Finn probed and prodded at her ruined calf. With the wound temporarily sealed, he carefully folded two strips of the fabric into wadding and pressed them gingerly against both sides of the wound. With Dutch holding the patches in place, he wrapped the final strip twice around her calf before cinching a tight knot carefully off to an uninjured side of the leg.

“Alright. This is far from ideal, but it should help slow the bleeding.” Finn offered.

Grasping Dutch under the arm, he helped pull her to her feet and then guide her across the rock-strewn shore to a knee-deep pool of clear river water. Finn helped her into a sitting position at the edge of the shallow pool and said, “drink as much as you can. We’re both at risk from dehydration as much as anything else out here.”

Cupping his hands together he scooped one mouthful of water after the other while Dutch slowly and awkwardly followed his example. They sat together at the edge of the river allowing their tired muscles a few moments of much needed rest. A splash several feet down stream caught Finn’s attention. The churning river had carried a shattered trunk from a large tree and was holding it in place up against a tall mud wall ringed with low hanging branches. The flowing waterway was battering the tree trunk against the wall, and for the moment it was trapped there. Finn was struck with an idea and started to visualize a plan in his head.

Taking a closer look down stream, he saw the white capped river stretching along into a long shady section that was covered by a thick tangle of towering tree tops. He had a vague idea of where they were and if his memory served him correctly, this particular stretch of river eventually connected with a wider branch that ultimately fed into the ocean not far from White Bluff. He thought they were still at least 15 or 20 miles away from the colony, which would be an impossible distance to reach on foot while being chased especially with injuries and exhaustion. He doubted they could actually reach the colony, but if they could put some distance between themselves and Daraz, they stood a chance of losing both him and the Osprey sometime after night fall. It was a long shot and he had no illusions of their actual chances, but it was a goal, something to shoot for, and sometimes that’s all that was needed to keep them focused and moving.

“Look, we don’t have much of a chance keeping up the way we’ve been going.” Finn explained, “I’m not sure how far Daraz is behind us, but he’s got to be catching up.” Finn then outlined his plan to Dutch.

“You’re crazy.” Dutch exclaimed, “if we don’t drown, we’ll get eaten alive by some crazy sea monster, if we don’t get eaten alive, that damn plane will blow us to pieces.”

“It’s all I’ve got.” Finn said, “now, I’m going to stay here like I’m washing up, you limp downstream and wade out to that log. As soon as you’re settled, hold on tight because I’m going to hit it with all I have. That should push us out into the flow and it’s going to be a white-water adventure from there.”

Rising to her feet, Dutch kept a hand pressed firmly against the face of the boulder as she felt a wave of dizziness threaten to push her back down. Drinking the water must have helped, as she was able to retain her balance and begin a steady and slow limp towards the log.

Finn put on a show of washing his arms, face and head while gulping more water. Out of the corner of his eye he was keeping a watch on the hovering plane, waiting for his moment.

Dutch reached the log and after considerable effort, managed to pull herself on top and wrap her arms around the sides.

Hovering as it was over the river and between the banks of trees to either side, the plane was subjected to the occasional down draft forcing its nose to one side or another for several seconds until the pilot finally compensated. Leaves and branches several feet above the Osprey fluttered as the next downdraft buffeted the gap in the canopy over the river. Finn was on his feet and hit top speed at the same moment the current of moving air gently knocked the nose of the plane down and to the left. As his feet hit the edge of the river bank, he propelled his body through the air, hitting the log with enough force to knock the wind from himself while also jarring it loose from the mud bank and start it on its way into the edge of the rapids.

They had a good head start downstream and gaining speed by the time the pilot recovered from the downdraft. Neither of them risked losing their grip to look back, but if they had they would have seen the entire nose of the plane come alive with a fountain of flame as the chain gun opened fire. A short distance ahead of them the forest canopy constricted overhead creating a dense ceiling that the Osprey was unable to penetrate. In a show of frustration, the pilot was firing off a torrent of rounds in their wake. The rain of bullets did nothing more than churn the rushing water and shred a handful of trees along the distant bank as they slipped away downstream.

“Hold on!” Finn shouted at the top of his lungs as the log rapidly gained speed while it bounced and careened along with the swift rapids. They were spun and tossed around like rag dolls, slamming into underwater obstacles at random intervals hard enough to rattle their teeth. Several times the log was forced under the waves and each time they emerged Finn was both surprised and relieved to see Dutch still clinging on. In her weakened condition it was a wonder that Dutch was able to maintain her grasp on the log, but Finn knew that wouldn’t last for long. He silently willed her to push as deep as she could for just a while longer.

Two minutes after the start of the roller-coaster ride downstream, the river began to widen and the rapids gradually dissipated. They’re makeshift boat continued floating along at a good clip, putting valuable distance between them and their pursuers. Finn was starting to think they could actually ride the log most of the way to White Bluff and safety when he caught a flash of movement just under the water’s surface off to his right. One silver streak was shortly followed by another and then another until he counted at least ten fast moving objects racing back and forth a short distance away.

“Flashers!” The name echoed in his head. He’d heard the stories and knew the dangers they posed.

Laying across the log the way they were, it would be next to impossible to pull their legs from the water and continue maintaining their balance. These thoughts quickly ran through his head but were followed a moment later by confusion on why the deadly fish had yet to swarm them. He got his answer a few moments later when the surface of the water suddenly erupted in an explosive geyser of spray. The dark shape that crested the top of the river filled his vision and sent waves of terror down into the very depths of his soul.

The Revati often told the tale of the fearsome River Boss, the elusive and horrifying beast that only a few had ever seen and lived to tell the tale. From the tip of its snout to the end of its long and winding tail, the prehistoric crocodiles were larger than the average sized whale back on their home world. It was like watching a submarine rising to the surface less than a stone’s throw away.

Finn realized that the school of flashers was swarming around the leviathan in a futile effort to overtake the fearsome beast. Even with their long, needle like teeth, the flashers were having a tough time penetrating the thick outer hide of the River Boss. The Croc tossed his head from side to side in irritation at the pesky disturbance and each time it opened and closed its mouth it inhaled dozens of its annoying attackers. The water all around them was quickly turning into a thick soup of blood, guts and floating chunks of fish meat. They were now floating amidst a rapidly spreading pool of chum that was certain to attract any and every hungry predator for miles around.

Turning his attention downstream, Finn saw that they were approaching close to a sand bar along the river’s edge. Directly before the start of the sand bar a grove of willow trees dipped down close to the surface of the passing waterway. As they neared the trees, Finn stretched his upper body as far as possible and snagged the thin upper branch of one particular tree. The thin little strip of wood felt particularly brittle in his grasp as it grew taught and threatened to snap under their sudden weight. Holding his breath and pulling as gently as possible, he was able to guide the log away from the center of the river and towards the shallows near the sand bar. They were still moving along at a descent clip but were now close enough to the river bank to chance a break for it.

“Dutch. We need to get to the shore right now. Can you make it?” Finn cried out as they pulled along parallel to the sandy beach.

With a wave of acknowledgment Dutch rolled her body to the left and splashed down into the ankle deep water. Finn followed immediately behind, he managed to keep his footing and proceeded to grasp Dutch under her arms dragging her limp body clear of the water. They collapsed together in a breathless heap a few feet up the bank, but still too close to the water’s edge for any reasonable degree of safety. The River Boss and any friends it might have nearby still posed a major threat.

Clambering to his feet, Finn grabbed Dutch by her arm as he said, “Come on, we have to get to high ground. We can’t stick around the beach.”

“I can’t. I can’t go any further.” Dutch sputtered, “Just leave me here.”

“Bullshit!” Finn exclaimed as he dragged her onto her rubbery legs and pulled her along beside him as he slowly worked his way further onto the sand bar towards the mud banks beyond.

“Climb! Pull yourself along with me.” Finn shouted as he nudged, lifted and pushed her along.

The bank was steep and slick with slimy mud turning the path into a long and treacherous climb. It took nearly thirty minutes to reach the top, afterwards, Finn refused to simply allow her to collapse. He pushed them ahead, crashing their way further into a sparsely wooded area that continued on a gradual incline to the west. They reached a point a couple hundred feet above the sparkling waters of the distant river where Finn felt they were relatively safe from pursuit from the monstrous crocs. Finding a patch of soft moss-covered shade, they collapsed side by side and labored to catch their breath.

Despite the hasty conclusion of their river excursion, Finn knew they had put at least two or three miles in the rear view mirror. While it wasn't all he’d hoped for, it was a reasonable head start and he was starting to think that if they spent a few more minutes resting and gathering their strength, they might just be able to push on until nightfall. His renewed sense of optimism was crushed like a bug only a few moments later when the Osprey suddenly crested the hill behind them and settled into a hover a short distance away.

Both Finn and Dutch stared up at the hovering Osprey in disbelief as their last snippet of hope was flushed down the proverbial toilet.

“Son of a bitch.” Dutch groaned both in pain and hopeless frustration.

Finn remained silent, his mind whirling but coming up empty with any fresh ideas. Both physical and mental fatigue were taking their toll and the futility of continuing to run was now becoming more and more of a reality.

A high-pitched whirr started to gradually overtake the steady hum of the plane’s engines. Situated on an upward slope as they were, it took some time to isolate the sound as it bounced and echoed all around them.

“YES!” Dutch screamed as she gestured to a small, fast moving shape careening into view from the reverse side of the rise.

A little larger than a briefcase and moving at a fast clip, it was difficult to visually track the object as it whizzed into view hugging the ground and coming up along the underside of the Osprey.

“What the hell is it?” Finn asked as he watched the shape rapidly chewing up the distance to the hovering aircraft.

“A drone! One of the kamikazes Marcela’s been working on.” Dutch exclaimed with growing excitement as the small object closed to less than a hundred feet from the plane. “Come on baby!! Do it!!!”

Finn knew that Marcela had been working around the clock cooking up tech support measures to aid in the coming fight. While drones were a standard observation and intelligence gathering asset, he had no recollection of being briefed on what he was seeing in that moment.

The drone was directly under the plane now and climbing rapidly towards it. It appeared to be targeting one of the forward engine cowlings and was honing in like a guided missile. The plane itself maintained a steady hover, the pilot clearly unaware of the approaching drone or any potential danger it may pose.

“Go, go!” Dutch urged the drone on.

A bright flash of white light ignited in the sky directly under the engine as the drone exploded. Superheated shrapnel was thrown in all directions and pelted the entire engine assembly like a close range shot gun blast. The concussive force of the blast knocked the engine free of its mounts and sent it flying towards the ground in a brilliant ball of flames. The abrupt loss of power and cascading damage from the explosion sent the plane into a sudden out of control downward spiral.

At the last second Finn hurled his body overtop of Dutch as the Osprey slammed into the ground barely fifty yards away. The thump of the impact was followed an instant later by a roaring blast as the plane exploded into fragments. Fiery debris rained down all around them as Finn pulled them into a tight ball and rolled as close to the base of a nearby tree as possible.

“What the hell was that?” Finn exclaimed as he finally risked a peek around the tree to stare in surprise at the burning wreckage all around them.

Dutch offered a weak smile as she said, “you can thank Marcela for that. She worked up the idea of packing a few drones with that new explosive compound they unearthed around White Bluff. It’s as pliable as C4 but packs a much bigger punch when exposed to an electrical charge. We never had the chance to test them out though, but thought a few suicide drones might just give us an edge against the Ludak air support.”

“Looks like you were right!” Finn said as he pulled himself to his feet and dusted off a layer of soot and plane fragments clinging to his tattered flight suit.

“Even better.” Dutch said as she accepted Finn’s hand and allowed him to help pull her onto her shaky legs. “That drone operator can’t be too far off. I’d say within five or six miles at most. The payload severely limits the range, Marcela may actually be nearby. We might have a chance after all!”

“The drone came in from over the top of the rise. Let’s get up there and maybe we can spot something.” Finn said as he wrapped his arm around Dutch’s waist and began easing them up the gentle slope.

It was a harrowing climb, dodging burning fragments of plane and occasionally being forced to drop for cover as ordinance cooked off in the wreckage. It took nearly twenty minutes to crest the top of the embankment, but when they did, they found themselves staring over a magnificent ocean view. The rise ended at the top of a tall cliff face overlooking the eastern shoreline. The rock wall dipping down below them was coated in the same rich white salt deposits responsible for White Bluff’s namesake. In any other situation it would have been a magnificent vista to take a few moments of silent reflection at the beauty around them. Finn saw it differently however as he lamented, “Shit! The river must have curved us back towards the beach. We’re not as far along as I’d thought.”

“Wait. Listen. Do you hear that?” Dutch offered as she cupped a hand over her ear, squinting her eyes tightly shut and concentrated.

Sure enough, after a few moments a muted boom carried across the waves, over the beach and up the rise. Finn scanned left and right, up and down the coastline, finally, in the distance a wink of flame was followed by a puff of smoke and a few seconds later another dull thump.

“There! Between those two islands.” Finn cried as he pointed into the distance.

“It’s a ship! One of White Bluff’s sailing ships. She’s firing her cannons towards the beach.” Dutch replied excitedly. “That’s got to be where the drone came from. Marcela’s aboard that ship right now!!”

Underfoot they could just detect the subtle rumble of impacts as the heavy shells pummeled a target too far up the coast for them to see. Even without eyes on the prize, Finn immediately knew what they were shooting at.

“They’re shooting at the other Osprey and Ludak troops back at our shuttle! They’re giving em hell!”

“We need to get down there, signal the ship somehow.” Dutch proclaimed as she desperately searched the bluffs for a way down to the beach below.

Finn approached the edge of the bluffs and surveyed the drop downward. They were at least two hundred feet above sea level and the steep, craggy ridge would present a challenge even if they had climbing gear. Trying to pick their way down with Dutch’s injury and both of them teetering on the brink of exhaustion was a recipe for disaster. The point was driven home even further when he spotted a lone figure sprinting around a bend on the beach between them and the distant ship. Daraz was moving with the speed of an Olympic athlete, hurdling obstacles in his path with the grace and ease of a Gazelle. He was coming on fast and Finn had little doubt that the same cliff face hindering them for a climb down would present little obstacle for the nimble lizard rapidly approaching along the beach. It was evident the hunt was far from over and even without the Osprey continually marking their progress, the rising plume of smoke from the downed aircraft served as a homing beacon.

“We’ve got to move.” Finn groaned as Daraz drew closer with every passing second.

The terrain had morphed from the gentle grass strewn rise to rugged ups and downs across a wide plain pocked with zig zagging gorges. Some of the mini canyons rose only as high as their shoulders, while others dropped considerably further below the ground. Crossing the fairly open ground was a calculated risk. They were moving slow, a brisk walking pace at best, and Finn reasoned that cutting through the rougher terrain in a forested area would slow them even more. At least they had some degree of cover in the maze of gorges, he was betting that Daraz would have to slow down and concentrate on keeping up with their trail.

“This is just delaying the inevitable.” Finn growled in frustration as he helped Dutch lean against a dirt wall while he took a minute to catch his breath and massage a nagging cramp from his thigh.

They had been going hard for nearly an hour straight. Even though some color had returned to Dutch’s face as she was no longer suffering uncontrolled blood loss, she remained unable to move without assistance.

“How far back do you think he is?” Dutch asked.

“As fast as he was moving along the beach and with that cliff he had to climb. I’d say no more than two miles back, three at best.”

Dutch slumped back against the dirt wall and sighed in resignation. Her mind a clouded mess from the pain and blood loss. Through tear filled eyes she gazed out at the clear blue of a beautiful late afternoon sky. She spent a moment reflecting on her life and how it was soon to be cut short leaving so many dreams unfulfilled. It was in that moment of reflection that something caught her eye and the spark of an idea exploded through thoughts of despair and defeat.

“I’m so stupid!” Dutch uttered excitedly as she slammed her fist against the dirt.

Caught off guard in a fog of his own, Finn jerked back in surprise, “What? You see something?”

“You're a soldier. What do you know about Claymore mines?” Dutch asked mischievously.

Finn was now getting worried that she was starting to give in to delusions and possible psychosis brought on by the stress and blood loss to her brain. He played along anyways, “it’s a devastating weapon against personnel. I wish we had one right about now.”

With the tips of her finger, Dutch dug into a deposit of clay along the side of the gorge. Rubbing some of it together in the palm of her hand she sniffed at it and then studied it intently before smiling and locking eyes with Finn, “we might just be able to make one ourselves.”

Following Dutch’s instructions, Finn made a dash back down the embankment towards the river until he reached a thicket of bamboo shoots. Selecting a nice hallow stalk with a wide body, he used the blade of his utility knife to cut off a section about eight inches long. Next, he scoured the ground picking up small rocks and filling his pockets to the brim. She’d yet to explain exactly what she had in mind and he was still skeptical if she could be hallucinating or simply on the cusp of a mental breakdown, but he was out of options of his own. Her life was at risk as much as his own and he figured he owed it to her if she decided to spend her last few minutes on whatever futile idea she was dreaming up.

Picking his way back to Dutch, he found her with a mound of freshly dug clay stacked in a pile beside her.

“Hand me the bamboo and pile the stones next to me.” Dutch instructed.

Finn did as she instructed and then sat back watching as she began melding the stones into the pile of clay. She then began tearing off handfuls at a time and stuffing it into the bamboo shoot.

The light bulb moment hit him out the blue when it dawned on him exactly what she had in mind. “That’s the same compound Marcela used in the drone! The local equivalent of C4. The stones are added shrapnel.”

Dutch smiled like a proud parent as she continued stuffing the shoot full of clay and stones. “Bingo! It might not be pretty, but concentrated in the bamboo shoot, we should be able to direct the blast into a pretty wide kill zone.”

“You’re a genius!” Finn exclaimed leaning over and planting an excited kiss on her check. “But how do we set it off? We don’t have any igniter's, fuses or detonators.”

Reaching into her pant leg cargo pocket she pulled out a compact flash light identical to the one Finn was carrying. “I’ve got that covered, give me your flashlight and knife.”

Dutch made short work of stripping both flashlights down to their base components, removing every inch of wiring and splicing it all together. In a few minutes she had a complete electrical circuit wired to the on/off switch from one of the lights. Burying the spliced ends of two bare wires into either end of the putty filled length of bamboo, she presented Finn with the switch.

“Only problem is, we only have about 3 feet of wire to work with.” Dutch proclaimed as she held out the small length of wire connecting the switch to the improvised detonator.

Finn hefted the makeshift mine, testing the weight. He’d seen the explosive force of the kamikaze drone about half the size of what he was holding in his hands. He knew that even if they had managed to correctly shape the charge to blow in a directional pattern, the area all around the blast site would still be subjected to significant back-blast damage.

“It’s more than we had ten minutes ago. We’ll make it work.”

Crawling to the top of the gorge. Finn studied their surroundings, making mental notes of the key terrain features before ducking back into the trench line. For the first time since the hunt began he was pleased to note that their route had left a distinguishable trail that even a novice tracker would be hard pressed to miss.

“Alright, on your feet.” Finn exclaimed as he tucked the improvised explosive under one arm while helping Dutch limp along with the other.

They continued on for another fifty feet through the winding maze until reaching a spot that looked promising. They were at the edge of a natural junction where the gorge split in two directions. Crawling to the surface once again, Finn used his hands to dig out a narrow trench along the top of the junction. Wedging the length of bamboo into the trench, he adjusted it up and down and left and right until he was satisfied it was directed back along the main trench line behind them. After pushing a thin layer of dirt over the device he climbed down and reviewed his handiwork from several feet away.

“It’s not pretty, but it’ll do the job.” Finn exclaimed.

With the bomb in place he took the detonator and pulled the wires to their extreme, while wedging his own body just beyond the dirt wall that separated the junction split.

“You’re crazy.” Dutch proclaimed, “that little screen of dirt isn't going to protect you from the blast.”

Before Finn could offer a counter argument the clap of a gunshot split the air and a geyser of dirt exploded along the lip of the gully only inches above his head.

“No time to argue!” Finn proclaimed as he pulled Dutch to her feet and guided her further down the trench. “Stay here and keep your head down.”

Finn darted back to the junction and grabbed the modified detonator. Pressing his back as deep into the dirt wall as possible, he peered around the corner and waited. He didn't have to wait long, Daraz was coming on at a sprint, a rifle pressed to his shoulder and methodically moving from side to side following his line of vision.

Finn tracked his progress, watching…waiting.

“That great weakness of ours, you know, our one big flaw!” Finn cried out as Daraz closed to within thirty feet, “it just killed you.”

Finn pressed and held the button.

CHAPTER 21

Finn’s eyes fluttered open revealing a brilliant explosion of bright white light that burned into the back of his skull like a laser. He forced his eyes shut and tried raising his hand up to rub his throbbing head. He was surprised when neither arm responded as directed.

“Hold still. Don’t try to move just yet.” A disembodied and vaguely familiar voice spoke softly from nearby. “Can we adjust the lights down a few notches? He’s going to be sensitive to bright lights for a while.”

The explosive brightness suddenly gave way to a more demure shadow and the pulsing assault on his skull gradually faded into the background. His mind was a confused jumble of disorganized thoughts and memories along with a collage of bizarre imagery and sensations streaming in and out of his consciousness like a runaway movie projector. Completely on its own, his brain was simultaneously reviewing, analyzing and cataloging scientific notations, mathematical formulas, binary data and complex algorithms that he’d never been exposed to before but somehow instantly recognized and understood.

Pushing his thoughts away from those images, he concentrated on his physical being. Somewhere, somehow, he understood that his body had been seriously damaged. Lingering sensations of pain along with flashes of memories came and went so quickly he couldn't lock them down for study.

“Finn.” The smooth feminine voice spoke from somewhere out of his line of vision. “Are you in any pain?”

“Pain?” Finn considered the question, “no, not pain. Discomfort, maybe, but not pain. I feel as though I should be in pain however. I feel…I feel strange.”

“You suffered severe injuries.” The voice continued, “what’s the last thing you remember?”

Finn squeezed his eyes shut again and searched his memory. Oddly he found his memories strangely sorted and organized in a manner that was alien, but also refreshingly convenient for his purposes. It took a few seconds to find what he was looking for.

“Dutch and I were floating down a river. She was injured and we were being chased.” That was it, the images rolled over to blank slides both before and after that one fleeting moment.

“That’s good, very good.” The familiarity of the voice sparked a sudden flood of emotions and feelings deep inside him. For a moment he was nearly overwhelmed with an onslaught of unmanageable sensations.

“Lauren? Is that you??” Finn asked, his voice catching in his throat.

A shadow fell across his face and he felt the warmth of a hand gently caressing his shoulder. It was then that he realized he was naked, his body covered only by a thin blanket. He was on a bed, a soft yet thin mattress underneath him. There were other sounds now, mechanical, digital, fluidity, a cacophony of intermingling noises. Additional voices talked in hushed tones nearby, he counted three distinct vocal dialects, each familiar but still illusive.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m here. Tayte, Marcela and Dutch are here as well.” Lauren explained.

There was a measure of excitement in her voice, something else as well, his mind identified a lingering tone of reservation almost to the point of apprehension mingled into the inflections of her words.

“What happened? Did it work?” Fragments of memories, bits of conversations, pieces of images all flashed through his mind at the same moment. The information swirled together in a confusing mesh of incomplete data.

“Yeah, it worked. We took back the colonies and drove the Ludak to ground.” Lauren replied softly.

“And Daraz? Did we get that bastard?”

“We got him Finn. Blew him to hell and back. There wasn't even enough of his scaly hide left to stitch together a coin purse.” Dutch chimed in.

He tried sitting up and then turning his head but was held firmly in place by what he now realized were restraints applied to several locations over his extremities and torso. “Why can’t I move?”

“The restraints are for your own safety.” Lauren replied, apprehension now taking center stage in her voice. “Your injuries required some…unusual treatment. You may experience some shock and even anger.”

Finn allowed his body to settle back against the restraints. He began a methodical search of his memory trying desperately to recall any sliver of the incident and the resulting damage to his body.

“Left arm amputation two inches above the elbow. Left eye perforated by foreign object further resulting in traumatic brain injury. Numerous puncture wounds along upper torso, neck, and face. Second and third degree burns on face, neck and shoulder.” Finn rattled off the slew of catastrophic injuries as though he was reciting a pancake recipe. One final piece of data flashed across his mind, “Long term survival probability, less than 2%”.

He was starting to understand, by all measurable medical knowledge, he should already be dead. But he wasn't. Not only wasn't he dead, and despite some minor discomfort, he couldn't remember ever feeling more alive in his entire life. This was simply impossible. Suddenly it dawned on him. The light-bulb didn't just go off, it exploded with the force of a nuclear flash in his brain.

“No! What did you do?” Finn exclaimed.

“Finn, stay calm and just listen for a few minutes.” Lauren’s soft and reassuring voice gently urged.

Breathing deeply in and out several times Finn suppressed his growing anxiety before asking, “I want to see.”

The restraints holding him in place were loosened one after the other and guiding hands grasped his sides easing him into a seated position at the edge of the bed. He found himself in a sparsely furnished room. He was seated on a hospital type bed, an array of medical and computerized equipment to either side. Cables, hoses and wires ran from points all over his body to the bank of equipment. The walls on all sides were bright and bland, there didn't appear to be any windows or doorways that he could see. Realization dawned on him as he searched his memories for references to help identify the room. It had been many years since he’d last set foot in a similar facility, but the realm of the Creators underground sanctuary were simply too striking not to recall.

At the foot of the bed, Tayte, Marcela and Dutch stood together staring back at him, the look on each of their faces telling a tale all its own. Dutch was supporting herself on a pair of wooden crutches, the calf of her leg wrapped tightly in a wad of gauze. Lauren was standing next to him fussing with a small rolling table full of equipment and tools, reaching into a drawer, she withdrew a handheld mirror and turned to look at him.

The reflection gazing back at him was that of a terrifying and complete stranger. Half of the left side of his face, including the eye had been replaced with metallic cyborg implants. Where his eye should have been a dull red orb stared back at him. The skin around the edges of the implants was tortured looking, red and raw where it had been pulled taught in an effort to meld with the invading metal. Pock marks marred the rest of his face and neck, numerous scabs in all shapes and sizes already well into the healing process. The next shock came when his eyes dropped to his side and fell on his left arm. The robotic appendage started at the bicep all the way down to include a perfectly fabricated shaped human hand. It came as a shock when both the arm and hand moved in perfect sync with his thoughts. Despite the mechanical and alien appearance, the limb functioned exactly the same as the original.

“How?” Finn mumbled in surprise as he held the hand in front of his eyes opening and closing a fist and extending each individual digit in turn.

It was Marcela who stepped forward to reply, “It’s hard coded into your neural network. For all intents and purposes it should act and feel the same as your actual arm.”

Finn locked eyes with her, the cybernetic implant on her own face a feature they had all grown so accustomed to that most of them simply forgot it was even there. Of all of them, Marcela understood best the confusion, shock and disbelief he was experiencing. While her own experiences with the cybernetic tech were borne of a completely different set of circumstances, she’d eventually made the adjustment and had long ago learned to live with the modifications.

“The neural processor and ocular implant may take a little more practice to get used to. Just give yourself time to adjust. The most important thing to remember is that it’s your choice whether or not to enable the enhanced features.”

Turning back to Lauren, Finn asked somberly, “What did we give up for their help?”

The lump in her throat was evident as she took a deep swallow before answering. “It was a tradeoff. In exchange for helping Marcela detect and isolate the Ludak mothership as well as saving your life. We agreed to allow them to integrate their DNA into the embryos carried aboard Sky and Reality’s ship.”

“In other words, we are helping perpetuate their species.” Finn replied flatly.

“Yes and no.” Lauren quickly shot back. “Those embryos are now half human and half Creator. The end result will be an entirely different race of humanoids, both separate and distinct from either donor species.”

Finn’s head was spinning. His brain was still adjusting to the presence of the neural processor, and incoming data was moving so swiftly that he couldn't regulate it fast enough for it to be of use. He sat back and squeezed his eyes shut tight.

“Relax. Don’t fight it.” Marcela offered as she stepped up to his bedside. “I know what you’re going through. Right now, its information overload, like a computer hard drive that can’t keep pace with the data stream. It will take a little time, but trust me, you’ll adjust. The best advice I can give you right now is don’t try and piecemeal the information. You’re struggling to compartmentalize vast amounts of raw data between your brain and the implant, try to stop that. Once you accept both the organic and cybernetic features as a single entity, the fog will lift and you’ll find processing the data is just as natural as breathing.”

“Why don’t you get some rest.” Lauren offered. “We’ll be taking you home in another few days, but for now we need to continue closely monitoring your recovery.” She withdrew a syringe from the top of the small table and connected it to the IV line hooked to his right arm.

Finn was barely listening as Lauren administered the sedative. Had he been given a choice on the radical treatment to save his life or simply being left to die, he would already be dead. What bothered him the most in that moment was that he recognized that fact. However, with the implants actually in place, he suddenly felt different. The question that he was wrestling with was whether his thoughts on the subject were being influenced by the Creators or whether he was consciously leaning towards acceptance of the situation on his own.

A warm sensation began flooding across his body and his thoughts grew distant as the sedative starting taking hold. In the final instant of consciousness, before surrendering to the darkness he locked eyes with his wife and understood the pain and struggle she’d undergone in allowing him to reach this point. Finn knew in that single fleeting moment that no matter his feelings about it, he was willing to make the most of it for her.

Even though his legs were fine, he walked with a limp two weeks later. Lauren explained that his body was still acclimating to the brain implants. When the same process had been applied to the army of drones and slaves under control of the Creators, those individuals were little more than puppets lacking all independent control. Finn was actually the first of his kind, fully autonomous from the very beginning. Despite his ability to interact to the Creators network, he did so of his own free will. The Creators offered nothing in terms of input or guidance, it was up to Finn to decide if and how he chose to utilize that connection. As a result, his body had to learn even the most basic functions from the ground up. While the technology in his brain helped the process move along, it was still a process and would take time to fully master.

At Finn’s insistence, they had returned to Fort Redding where his rehabilitation would continue. Remaining underground, in the realm of the Creators brought with it ill feelings and resentment despite assurances that they would fully honor the arrangement set forth with Lauren and Marcela.

“So, let me see if I have this straight.” Finn began as he eased down into a chair in the Operation Center briefing room. Seated at the table around him, Lauren, Dutch, Marcela, Dr. Hughes and Linc all waited intently as the conference got underway. Joining remotely, both Tayte and Bew were visible on the large screen at the front of the room. “Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, we kicked the Ludak’s ass with less than a hundred casualties of our own?”

“Damn right!” Tayte offered with typical fanfare.

“To be honest, we caught an unexpected break.” Lauren interjected, “Things could have gone much worse.”

Finn had already been briefed on the overall success of their rebellion. What he wanted now was to put everything out there on the table with all hands involved in the final debriefing now that he had regained enough of his faculties to fully process everything.

“A smallpox outbreak?” Finn bellowed. “How exactly do you explain that?”

“Luck, if you want complete honesty.” Lauren replied, “the inoculations we were administering at the time were done without council consent or knowledge, the Ludak simply had no way of knowing that their human ‘cattle’ were actually carriers of the disease. The cultures I developed to produce the vaccine were grown from actual samples of the virus. For a period of two to three weeks following inoculation, we all contained enough active spores to act as hosts for transference.” Lauren gulped visibly as her face contorted with pain and disgust as she continued, “but consuming human flesh and organs, they exposed themselves to the virus. Since it retained most of its basic properties, it was airborne right away and spread through their ranks like wild fire.”

“Wait a minute!” Dutch said, “there was an actual risk of a smallpox outbreak within our own population?”

“Not exactly.” Lauren quickly countered, “After reviewing blood and tissue samples from Ludak corpses. We found that the variant of Smallpox that infected them was a very specific mutation. Basically, it proved harmless to both human and Revati but deadly to the Ludak.”

“According to Jenna’s report, after they directed the stampede through the Ludak camp.” Tayte started before looking at Finn and adding, “a truly brilliant move by the way.” Finn acknowledged the compliment with an exaggerated nod before Tayte continued. “Any way, after the stampede took out the perimeter defenses and both flanking elements converged on the site, the lizards really didn't have much fight left in them. They found bodies stacked three deep in most of the tents and ships. From what we were able to piece together, most of the forces assigned to our colonies had been slowly scaled back to try and help tend to their sick and dying. In fact, that’s why Daraz, Gruz and most of their leadership suddenly left Fort Redding.”

Finn looked over a two page document on the screen of his tablet identifying the dead and wounded they had suffered in the fighting. He paused near the top of the second page as he read Phoenix’s name listed amongst the dead. With a shake of his head he added, “If we’d waited only a little longer. We might have taken our colonies back without firing a shot. These deaths may have been unnecessary.”

“Actually no.” Tayte countered, “thanks to the interface between Marcela and AVA, we intercepted a handful of transmissions between Daraz and their orbiting station. It seems they had a contingency plan for a catastrophic military defeat. That ship was armed with a slew of tactical warheads. They were planning a scorched earth scenario for the surface. If we had waited any longer it would have been game over for everyone.”

“How about Jenna? How is she doing out there?” Finn asked as he tried to get a better handle on the larger picture of things.

“She’s still got a platoon strength element pulling security on the remains of the Ludak encampment. We captured all four spaceships along with five of their Osprey style aircraft. Sky and Reality have offered to provide our people with orientation and training on the space craft and Marcela is working on extending the AI features to further aid in that process.” Tayte referred to a rough inventory sheet on the table in front of him as he continued. “Eleven wheeled vehicles, a wide assortment of weapons from mortar systems to small arms and RPG’s. Four fixed, surface to air missile systems to include radar and telemetry gear along with secure communications rigs. There is also a long list of construction, mining, drilling and assorted bivouac gear they are still sorting and cataloging.” All in all it was a treasure trove of new gear that would greatly enhance their own capabilities on the planet and if they chose, for future space exploration. “I’ve offered to send someone to relieve Jenna, but she’s continually declined. To tell you the truth, I think she’s simply having the time of her life running a field operation of this scale. She’s a natural leader and I really couldn't think of anyone else I’d rather have on the ground heading things up out there.”

“No question there. As far as I’m concerned, that’s her project and she can run it as she sees fit.” Finn replied.

Leaning back in this chair Finn yawned and stretched, the long days coupled with the ongoing healing process kept him perpetually tired. Lauren had been a tyrant with ensuring he stuck to a strict routine of diet, exercise and rest. He was growing stronger with each passing day, his wounds giving way to scars and his body gradually adapting to the cybernetic implants.

Outside the Op Center, Finn stopped and stared into the distance. Almost a mile further on, beyond the gently swaying tassels of ripening corn he focused his attention on a distant cluster of trees. He was developing more and more confidence in the use of his cybernetic implants, the various modes available for vision were very complex and he still struggled with some of the finer points of their use. In that moment however, something in those distant trees caught his attention, without even thinking about it, his left eye entered both telescopic and thermal modes. Small figures darted in and out from the cover of leaves, the playful tribe of monkeys remained oblivious to the conflict and suffering of their human and Revati neighbors.

“Something wrong?” Lauren stopped alongside him and asked. The trees were too far off for her to see anything with her naked eyes, for that brief moment it was one thing he had all to himself.

“Nope, not a thing. Just watching life starting to return to something close to normal.” Finn mused as he watched the furry monkeys running and playing with one another.

Off to the side of the path several yards ahead of them, Marcela and Dutch were having a quiet conversation with Myrna and several members of the newly formed council. While they couldn't hear what was being said, the couple’s sudden shouts of glee followed by a warm embrace told the story.

“Ahhh. I see the ladies got the news.” Lauren said with a conspiratorial smile.

Finn looked on in confusion before she explained, “Myrna has really stepped up and taken a much more active role in council affairs. Last night she forwarded the motion that we shred our original charter. She made the case that it was those same laws and regulations that eventually led our race nearly to extinction. By unanimous decree it was decided that from this point forward, we are going to start a new path, with the council in place only to serve as an arbitrating body. We will leave it up to the popular vote to make any future laws and rules.”

“That’s certainly a step in the right direction.” Finn replied, “But I’m surprised to see Dutch and Marcela so excited at something like that.”

“Oh, they don’t give two shits about politics.” Lauren laughed, “but they did just learn that they have full council approval to marry if they still wanted to.”

Finn grinned broadly, life was finally starting to move in the right direction for all of them. Grasping Lauren’s hand he eagerly directed them towards their home. He was looking forward to giving their babysitter the night off and enjoying a peaceful evening at home with his own growing family.

EPILOGUE

“Is the data analysis complete?” Dr. Hughes asked eagerly as he slid into the cushioned seat of the ships engineering station.

“Yes doctor.” AVA replied flatly.

The computer screen at his station winked to life as AVA directed the data stream to the terminal.

Dr. Hughes studied the findings in silence for several long minutes before sighing loudly and slumping back against the backrest. “Is the data confirmed?”

“Yes, as requested, the findings have been validated and confirmed.”

“Be a dear and summarize it verbally if you would.”

“Of course doctor.” AVA replied, “a planetary body has been detected on the far reaches of the solar system. Telemetry indicates that this planetoid is on a course that will bring it within close proximity to this planet. This event will alter the planets orbital movement around the sun by several degrees.”

“What impact will the event have on planetary conditions.” Dr. Hughes asked, even though he already knew the answer.

“As the distance from the sun increases, the planet will enter an ice age. Surface temperatures will plummet to an average between 100 and 200 degrees below zero on the Fahrenheit scale.”

“How will this event effect human, animal and plant life on the planet’s surface?”

“Surface conditions will no longer be conducive to supporting any form of organic life.” AVA replied bluntly.

“How long until the planetary body intercepts with our orbit?”

“52 years, 4 months and 2 weeks at its current velocity and course.”

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Scott Ganley

© 2021, S.Ganley

sganley@yahoo.com

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