These Few Brave Souls

by Rodney Manchester

  Three hours later, they arrived at the Arequipa street address of the British Embassy. The professionalism of the SAS team was evident by the way in which they contacted the Marines. A warning was followed by the appearance of rifle muzzles pointed discreetly in their general direction.

  Ten minutes later, Lieutenant Murphy sat with Captain Reginald Marsh. Together, they reviewed their orders. Travel together to Ancon, then on to the Pacasmayo Sand Dunes.

  After that was unknown, but governments don’t send their elite troops half way around the world to sit on their hands. Each was comfortable in the knowledge of their utility in dramatic circumstances. And these were shaping up to be quite dramatic.

  CHAPTER 23

  Pacasmayo Sand Dunes

  The Kajan awoke gradually. Her brain responding slowly to the increase in temperature; a common trait among cold blooded creatures throughout the galaxy. The automatic devices responded to her increased level of consciousness by altering the chemical content of her bloodstream. Power began finding its way into her limbs as she flexed joints unused for almost a year. Signals of pain traveled their way sluggishly through nerve fiber that wound its way to her brain. As her awareness increased, so did the information imparted to her.

  So, I'm finally in my new home, she thought. Let's see what home is like. Her three fingered hands began to caress the control module as her brain initiated contact. As she began to assimilate information, it came as a surprise to her that there seemed to be a low form of intelligent life already here. She quickly reviewed the surveyor's report and found the reference to the dominant creatures.

  Interesting, she thought. The report listed primitive tribal culture, probability 37% level 2 intelligence. This was not terribly important. As long as these creatures didn't cause problems, they were just one more detail to deal with before her companions arrived. Information coming in just now might allow her to confront that situation immediately.

  She mentally reached out to her blood sisters and made contact half a world away. She was slowly coming awake as well.

  32°43’44.10”N 1°51’55.98”W

  Near Bouafra, Morocco

  Quethia was becoming aware of her surroundings. Lights she thought as her eyes gradually opened. The long cold sleep was over as her body began to respond to the changing chemistry in her blood. Her pulse slowly continued its quickening as she mentally shook off the fuzziness in her brain.

  Her awareness expanded to her surroundings inside the ship, then outside. The mental contact with the machinery continued to grow as her brain expanded beyond her body. She was elated. It had worked! She was safely on the ground on her new home planet.

  Her plan had been followed she noted with satisfaction. Hot and dry, the desert beneath her was exactly as planned. Reviewing the status reports of her section to date, she noted some small inconvenience as the creatures of questionable sentience did appear to have some low level of technological achievement. Connecting with her blood sisters Wemar and Mayluth, they exchanged thoughts as they each grew in conscious expansion. The connection was comforting.

  Taklimakan Desert, China

  Mayluth stretched as scales rained down upon the floor. Her body temperature gradually returning to normal as fresh blood circulated through her drained muscles. Connected to her sisters after a difficult span of time, she reveled in her completeness. This just gets better as more of my brethren come back on mind, she thought to her sisters. Their agreement was immediate, again refreshing her soul with conjoining contact.

  Her patrol was up and beginning to examine her new domain. Unlike her sisters, she was alone. She began the process of expansion and acclimatization, her equipment beginning the process of making the earth into her personal backyard.

  Her property.

  Her Home!

  Pan American Highway

  Puente Piedra, Peru

  Ramon felt the tingle of vibration in the bones of his aching wrist. The pain and stiffness from the previous day had returned almost immediately, making it difficult to maintain a grip on the throttle. His attention was divided between the two lane paved road and the discomfort in his wrist. He didn't notice the object approaching until it settled down into his path.

  Ramon saw the shiny circular object in front of him and he couldn't believe his eyes. He stumbled to a halt, putting his feet down before the Honda had stopped. He stood, with the motorcycle between his legs, and stared opened mouth at the vehicle before him. While his mind tried to formulate a response, he found that he seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move. His heartbeat increased dramatically as his effort to move became frenzied. His mind strained in the attempt, but his muscles were unresponsive.

  Several minutes passed while he was in this madness of inaction. He found that he could not even control his breathing or the movement and blinking of his eyes. Each seemed to be in some kind of automatic mode. His eyes had relaxed into a forward, neutral position, focused at a point just beyond the round vehicle.

  He was still struggling with his body when his unfocused eyes fuzzily saw an opening slide into view in the slanting upper body of the 'flying saucer'. A ramp extended to the ground and a robot emerged and came toward him. The robot seemed familiar in its shape, but the approaching form became increasingly blurred as it came nearer.

  The robot left his field of view as it went to his right. He heard a soft crinkle as sand ground into pavement beneath the robot's tread. This noise stopped and he felt a stinging sensation in the back of his neck. The world around him dissolved into black.

  Special Forces Team Bravo

  Pacasmayo Sand Dunes

  Captain Victor Winfred was becoming adjusted to the rise in temperature caused by the appearance of the morning sun. He was startled into full attentiveness by the lift off of a round 'flying saucer'. The object hovered briefly before traveling several miles west, where it settled to the earth.

  Vic's field glasses were incapable of discerning what activity was taking place, although he could see some indistinct movement. Several minutes passed before the object returned.

  The binoculars were focused on the landed craft as a seam appeared in the smooth side. A ramp extended to the sand and a robot appeared, carrying a limp human body. Vic quickly pointed his camera at this transfer and took several shots. He quickly assembled his transmitter and uploaded the images.

  Sergeant Jerome whispered "Skipper, what the hell is going on?"

  "Beats me Mark, I'm not sure I believe what my eyes are telling me, but Washington's getting some incredible pictures."

  UFO Park

  Pacasmayo Sand Dunes

  Wemar moved to rub the scales on her left arm. The motion caused scales to crack and pop off in several directions from the elbow like joint. Her movements would be painful until her new skin replaced that which she had slept with. Motion on one of the numerous monitors caught her attention.

  She observed the mechanism enter the adjoining chamber with a native across its carrying bar. It carefully placing the human on a table and left.

  Wemar connected with Quethia and shared her new knowledge. Her sister noted no creatures were near her new home and urged caution in dealing with the inert creature.

  Caution? Perhaps. The Kajan were rulers of indisputable power and breadth. Caution was for lessor beings. Her sister might as well urge sloth

  Wemar slowly rose to her webbed feet as scales rained upon the floor. Tiny automated insect like robots immediately entered from compartments along the base of the wall. They scurried about the room, removing the fallen scales, yet careful to stay clear of the Kajan's footfalls. Others entered next door and traced the mechanism's path into the room, removing sand and other ancillary debris brought in from the outside. Special filters began operating, removing bacteria from both the human’s breath and his evaporating perspiration.

  The reptile stood seven feet two inches tall. Her heavy muscular torso accounting for most of her three hundred ninety pound weight. She bent a
t the waist and peered at the monitor, centering the picture on the creature on the table. Each new movement caused scales to fall and gave work to the tiny clean-up crew.

  She turned toward a panel set into a table along the wall. She directed her thoughts into a dark opaque glass module. Equipment hummed and the table upon which the human was positioned began glowing. A three dimensional object began to form in front of her. Constantly changing, the figure was that of the human, beginning first with its skeletal form and ending with the exterior view.

  Wemar returned to her couch and lay down, tired from the exertion. Information from the human’s examination began to enter her mind as the computers began the synapse mapping process necessary for a mental implant. She then shared the pathetic creature’s data with Quethia.

  Caution indeed.

  CHAPTER 24

  Headquarters Afloat

  1st Marine Expeditionary Force

  The USS Coronado, AGF11, is a command vessel of the US Third Fleet and part of the First Marine Amphibious Unit currently attached to the Carrier Battle Group centered on the USS Carl Vinson. She has a dock three hundred ninety-five feet by fifty feet built into it and has a crew of four hundred twenty Officers and men plus a compliment of eight hundred forty Marines.

  Major General Harvey Westbrook, USMC, stood watching in awe as the UFO broke the surface. It was surrounded by a net arrangement that was attached to the number three crane.

  Extreme care had been taken to transfer control of the UFO from the Houston to the crane. Nuclear Powered Submarines are not normally pressed into service as blue water tugboats and several 'incidents' were narrowly avoided that could have damaged the vessel.

  The crane carefully manipulated its cargo into the flooded dry dock where sailors quickly covered it with canvas. Water began pumping out of the chamber and the craft would soon settle onto the cold steel floor of the ship for the ride north.

  General Westbrook was relieved to be heading back to San Diego without landing any more of his troops. He was a 'can do' officer who realized the value of returning with all your men alive. The only Marines ashore were part of his 1st MAU and he was concerned with their safety. Although he was not turning tail to run, he was still leaving men of his command to fend for themselves and that troubled him deeply. There was ample support off shore and his presence was not required directly, he still felt responsible enough to be there. Orders were orders however, and there were higher priorities to be considered.

  Lima, Peru

  Without conscious effort, the men of the USMC Recon Platoon and the men of the British SAS had entered competition. Both Captain Marsh and Lieutenant Murphy were aware of this and each were amused, though neither had spoken of it.

  The training each unit had received was different. The SAS are trained to be Special Forces types, specializing in marine operations while the Recon Platoon were trained to land in advance of a larger body of troops and secure certain vital areas. While each train for a different mission, they are each nonetheless in excellent physical condition.

  They had traveled north along the Pan American Highway without incident. After passing through Lima proper, they had come to a series of shanty towns that rivaled the worst living conditions either group could imagine. These communities, referred to as 'young towns' or pueblos jovenes, were home to millions of people who came to the capital city in search of a better life. Leaving their rocky, mountainous farms behind, they found circumstances far different from their expectations. Lack of sanitation or running water were only the beginnings of the problem. Homes were built of anything found loose and covering the roofs with corrugated sheet metal was a luxury few found. Most roofs were almost nonexistent, and indeed, not really necessary in a climate of less than two inches of annual rainfall. This was a mixed blessing as none of the filth washed away either.

  Here, the powdery bodies of the innocent victims were evident in great numbers. Culture in the 'young towns' was a twenty-four hour a day living thing and many had died in their tracks, unable to even seek the shelter of their unsuitable homes.

  Lieutenant Murphy had never imagined anything so pitiful in his life. He focused on the mission and avoided thinking of the depressing landscape they were passing through. Unknown to the Lieutenant, virtually each man had similar thoughts.

  Captain Marsh, in nominal command of the combined force due to his rank, called a halt for the night near a small town called Puente Piedra.

  UFO Park

  Pacasmayo Sand Dunes

  Wemar was pleased. The native was not possessed of such a difficult brain to map. The synapse pattern was predictable and straight forward enough to enable minor thought transference. She was able to gain access to the emotional 'memories' of the subject with a minimum of distortion. The results were interesting.

  Fear was the strongest predominant presence, followed closely by shame. This subject had felt betrayed and alone, yet some underlying courage was evident. Wemar swam through the quagmire of vague, undefined feelings and centered her passage toward authority.

  Feelings of a society to the north, centered on a place called California. Authority was north of a great city called The Angel.

  She detached herself from the project and thought toward the orbiting storehouse. Sensors were activated and images were attained. Transference was quick and Wemar began to see overhead views of the cities of her subject’s memories. A coastal community set around an inland bay was the largest city North of The Angel. This must be were Authority lies.

  While synapse mapping is capable of many things, it is incapable of teaching language. The transference of communication skills requires a much more complex investigation of a thought center. Perhaps when this creature dies, I will dissect the brain and learn this, Wemar thought.

  Her knowledge was being shared with her blood sisters half a world away, condescension in each of the reptiles was growing as knowledge of the natives were quickly categorized and referenced against that collected in hundreds of other worlds across the galaxy. While each species found were unique, they always seemed to fall into the realm of lesser beings. Nothing new here.

  CHAPTER 25

  Onizuka Air Force Base

  Sunnyvale, California

  Christopher Jorgenson had fallen asleep at his terminal. Major Stewart had seen this and decided to let him sleep. With the news he had just been given, Stew changed his mind.

  "Jorg," he said, shaking his shoulder. "Jorg, wake up. You're gonna want to hear this."

  "Huh, what's wrong, what?" Christopher said, only half awake at best.

  Chris had struggled with the data burst messages for over 40 hours straight before fatigue had overwhelmed his enthusiasm. Still, he had made remarkable progress in his attempts to decipher the alien transmissions. His enthusiasm returned, brushing sleepy cobwebs aside.

  "Jorg. The Navy downed one of the UFO’S and recovered it earlier today. They want you to be on the crew to examine it!" Jerry Stewart had known Chris for several years and was as excited about his opportunity as Chris would be.

  Some cobwebs were made of strong fiber and resistant to mere brushing. These were crushed under the deluge of adrenaline pumped into Christopher's bloodstream.

  "They got one? No Shit! They got one! Damn! They didn't tear it up to bad, did they? If they shot it down, it’s probably dog meat by now!"

  "Calm down buddy! They got one, that's all I know, but it stands to reason that if it was trashed, they wouldn't need you," Jerry said, attempting to reassure him.

  "So, let’s go! How do we get there?" Christopher said, anxious to leave.

  "Listen Chris. You're not going anywhere for a while. The Navy has it on some ship and they're bringing it home. They will fly you out to it tomorrow, but for now, you need to go home and get some rest."

  "Rest, how can I rest now? You get me all fired up and then tell me to rest."

  "Then don't. Just get out of here! Tomorrow at 9 A.M., be at Moffet Field for a flight south.
That's all I know. Now go!" Major Stewart shook his head at the retreating genius. He knew how he felt because he felt it too.

  Christopher drove off the base, turning north onto US 101 for the drive to Mountain View. His mind was churning a thousand miles an hour and the trip was over before he realized it. He climbed the stairs to his apartment and automatically had the key in his hand as he reached for the door. He entered and immediately poured himself a stiff shot of Jack Daniels. He downed it in a single gulp, the fiery liquid singeing his mouth and throat on its journey downward.

  He poured himself a second glass, cutting this one with ice and water when he heard a knock at the door. He opened the door, swirling his glass to stir the contents.

  On the walkway beyond his front door stood his neighbor, Jacqueline. She was his sometime girlfriend/lover who lived two doors down.

  "Where have you been!" she demanded. "The world's coming apart and you're nowhere to be found!"

  "Calm down Jackie," he said. "The world's not going to end."

  "Fix me one of those and tell me why not."

  "Here, take this one. I'll make another."

  She took the glass and downed most of the highball in her first swallow. The second drink emptied the glass and she put it back in his hand. "Make two more," she said.

  Christopher shook his head and walked back to the kitchen. He began to make more, this time leaving the bottle on the counter.

  Jackie, now sitting down on his couch, gratefully accepted the second drink as Chris sat next to her.

  "Now, listen to me. I know what I'm talking about. The only thing happening is going on in Peru. That's a long way from here so don't worry about it."

  "That's easy for you to say."

  "No, really, there's nothing for you to worry about. Things are under control." He spoke with more conviction than he felt.