“Yeah, still better than fluorescent anytime,” Edaro said.
Stephanie wasn’t so sure, but the idea of seeing what was out there intrigued her, too. What could possibly have landed softly in the ocean, yet was six kilometers long and two kilometers wide? Malone had said she didn’t know, but Stephanie didn’t think anyone could answer that question right now because none of this made sense.
She looked back at the ocean, which looked slate blue and unusually calm, almost as if trying to make up for smashing everything last night.
Almost.
3
Time: 9:15 A . M . Pacific Time
7 hours, 44 minutes after Arrival
Major Frank Lancaster sat behind his desk, waiting, his hands clasped calmly on top of the appointment book in front of him as the six staff scientists filed into his office and took seats. He’d slept very little last night, having been awakened at one-thirty by the shutdown sirens. He could feel that his eyes needed drops, as if there were tiny grains of sand stuck under the lids. His hands were shaking slightly from too much caffeine, but he knew that soon he would need even more coffee. This was going to be a long day.
It was lucky Downer and Peters had seen what they’d seen last night from the beach and that Sergeant Craig had acted quickly in buttoning up the facility. Otherwise, they’d be facing a lot more damage today than a lost guardhouse and some missing fence.
On the corner of his desk were the first reports coming in from Dustin Cove. It looked like they were going to lose a lot of good people there. But at the moment he couldn’t let himself think too much about that. He had other business that was even more pressing.
He nodded to the six scientists, then as Sergeant Malone came in, he said, “Close the door please.”
She did as he asked, then took up a position standing against the wall, hands behind her back.
The six people sitting in front of him were all experts in one field or another, some of the best the Union had. He didn’t especially like the idea of sending them away from the safety of this hill. But he had his orders. He looked at each one, nodding. He had handpicked them for their specialties, knowing they would make the best team available on such short notice.
Stephanie Peters was the youngest at thirty, an M.D. stationed at the facility to do research into the effects of radiation on the human body. After the Russians nuked Seattle and Detroit, the Union had stepped up its work to fight the effects of radiation. Since Seattle was so close, she was here.
Hank Downer, thirty-eight, was a physicist and also the world’s leading expert in laser technology and related areas.
Richard Lee, thirty-nine, was a master of computer languages and programming. There didn’t seem to be any computer he didn’t like. Actually, there didn’t seem to be much in life he didn’t like, since he always seemed to be smiling.
Kelly Bogle, thirty-nine, was a Ph.D. in angular physics, among other degrees. His work here was cutting-edge stuff concerning orbital weapons.
Jeff Edaro, forty, was a molecular physicist, currently researching nanotechnology. He was a golf nut beyond all reason. He and Dr. Bogle would head inland to a local course at every possible opportunity. Even now Edaro had that golf ball in one hand, nervously rolling it from finger to finger.
Bradly Stanton, thirty-seven, was also an expert in computers and had a dozen degrees. He had been part of the initial secret investigation of the Cache and had played a big role in successfully decoding the information they had found there.
The Cache was a planetoid that a Union explorer ship had discovered in the course of countless missions sent out to learn more about the Maelstrom. Alien ruins as well as the remains of high technology were scattered over the planetoid, including tapes showing how a race the Union had named the Pharons had destroyed the inhabitants of the planetoid. Lancaster had seen some of those decoded images, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Here at the facility, Stanton was still studying and testing some of the alien technology they’d discovered in the Cache.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” Lancaster said, starting the meeting. “By now you’ve heard about Dustin Cove, and I’m sorry to report that I still have nothing more on the situation there.”
All of them nodded, but no one spoke.
There was nothing they could say. Over the last six years, since the war had started and the planet had been sucked into this strange space, death had become a way of life for almost everyone. Many had lost friends and family when Detroit and Seattle were annihilated. Others in the mass destruction caused by the Earth being sucked into the Maelstrom. By and large, the scientists in the facility were a tough lot. They would keep working no matter what happened.
He quickly moved on. “But that is not the only reason I called you here this morning. I’ve been asked to assign you to a new, temporary duty. I’ve talked to a couple of you over the last hour, so some of you already know something about what’s involved.”
“We’re going exploring, huh?” Lee asked, smiling.
Lancaster nodded. “Exactly. You six, along with a squad of Union troops led by Sergeant Malone, will be heading out for the island that’s suddenly appeared out there in exactly fifteen minutes.”
“What’s the rush?” Bogle asked, his dark eyes focused and penetrating.
Lancaster smiled thinly. “Trust me, Dr. Bogle, we want to get there ahead of the Neo-Soviets. And since it’s only fifteen kilometers off our coast, I think that’s possible. We need to secure this island and determine whether or not it’s a threat to our security.”
“Okay,” Downer said, “you want to claim a new island for the Union. What do you need us for?”
“I’ve got orbital photos coming in,” Lancaster said, “good close-up stuff you can use. From what the brass in Colorado are telling me, we’ve got an alien city on that thing. An abandoned one.”
All six of them started talking at once, and he let them go on for a moment. Stanton looked as if he’d seen a ghost. Since he’d been on the team studying the Cache planetoid, Lancaster didn’t blame him.
Lancaster held up his hands for silence, and they all quieted down quickly, except Bogle.
“How can you know what’s on that island is alien?” Bogle demanded.
Lancaster shrugged. “I’m only repeating to you what I got from up the ranks. The experts, from orbital pictures, seem to think there’s something alien on that island.”
“An entire city?” Lee asked.
“Covering the whole thing,” Lancaster said. “At least that’s what they told me.”
Silence settled over the room as the words sank in. Clearly they were stunned, as he had been. After giving them a few more long seconds, he went on. “At this point, you now know as much as I do about that hunk of land out there. Except for how it got there.”
“It came down from somewhere,” Downer said. “Stephanie and I saw it.”
“Well, you’re half-right,” Lancaster said. “They tell me it actually did settle a half kilometer or so into the ocean. But it didn’t come from space. None of the orbital battle stations picked it up. And none of our early-warning systems caught it.”
“How can that be?” Stanton asked. “I thought nothing could get through our air-defense system these days.”
“I don’t think anything this size could,” Lancaster said, looking at Stanton. “And this island didn’t come through our defense system. It simply materialized out there.”
“Major, you lost me about two sentences back,” Bogle said, shaking his head. “An alien city, covering an island, materializes out of thin air. Right? I think the boys in Colorado have been watching too much late-night television.”
“I agree,” Edaro said, pocketing his golf ball for a change. “We’ve all seen and heard of some pretty strange things over the last few years, but this tops them all.”
Lancaster nodded. It was hard to believe, but he’d seen the tape decoded from the Cache. Alien life existed out there, and not so far from E
arth. But except for Stanton, the rest of them had no reason to be privy to that information.
Lee looked directly at Lancaster, his eyes intense, his smile gone. “So where did this island come from? Anyone have any idea?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Lancaster said.
“Let’s assume what the major is telling us is true,” Edaro said. “And an island just appeared out there. By my way of thinking, what can appear can disappear.”
“Damn,” Hank Downer said. “That means we haven’t the slightest idea how long it’s going to remain out there. It might be a permanent new island, or it may be gone in six hours. No way of knowing. Right?”
Lancaster could only shrug. He had no idea.
Suddenly some of the excitement he’d seen on their faces a moment before had turned to concern. And a touch of fear. He didn’t blame them in the slightest. He didn’t much like the idea of sending them somewhere that might vanish at any minute, killing them or carrying them off to who knew where. But he had no choice. The Union needed to secure this alien thing, and it was crucial to find out what those ruins might reveal. It was a matter of national security.
“So the mission is simple,” he said, again breaking the silence that filled the room like a heavy weight. “You go in, you find out what you can, you collect any tech or specimens for further study, and then get the hell out.”
“Just like we did on the Cache,” Stanton said softly.
Bogle looked at him and frowned, but didn’t ask. For the moment, Lancaster was glad for that.
“Which is why you want us along for the ride instead of just sending in troops,” Edaro said. “You need people who can identify whether alien technology is important or not on sight. Am I right?”
Stanton snorted. “If there is truly alien stuff out there, we’ll be lucky even to understand what it was, let alone what we could use it for.”
“Do what you can,” Lancaster said. “I’ll have a second squad standing by here, in case you need backup for anything. We’ll also be monitoring your every move, ready to pull you out quickly.”
Again that didn’t make any of their faces any lighter.
“Okay,” he said, taking a deep breath. This next part was the most important, since he couldn’t, technically, give these people orders. “None of us knows very much about this island, but in a few minutes I’ll show you the satellite photos and then you’ll be as up to speed as anyone can be on this thing right now. You’re scientists and not soldiers, but this is your chance to do something that will directly safeguard the Union as well as benefit in other ways we can’t imagine right now every single person living in it. Not many of us get the chance to do something like that in our lifetimes.”
Dr. Peters glanced at Dr. Downer, then turned back to Lancaster. “I assume you’ve included me as the team’s medic as well as for my work on radiation. I’ll go.”
Lancaster nodded. “Thank you.”
“Count me in,” Edaro said, the golf ball back in his hand.
“Me too,” Lee said, smiling again. “I’ve done stupider things, I suppose.”
“I’m in, too, Major,” Bogle said. “Like you said, it’s the chance of a lifetime.”
“Crazy is what they call this,” Stanton said. “I know. I’ve done it before.”
“Does that mean you’ll go, too, Dr. Stanton?” Lancaster asked.
“I can’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about the dangers that might await us in the Maelstrom,” Stanton said, “but I can’t say I like the idea.”
Lancaster nodded. “Thank you all. We’ll give you full support. Sergeant Malone is in charge of the overall military mission, but I have ordered her to follow your lead while on the island as much as possible. If push comes to shove, however, she is in command. Period. No questions asked. Everyone understand that?”
“We do,” Stanton said. The rest nodded.
“Dr. Downer, I’d like to ask you to head up the civilian team—unless anyone has an objection.”
Again silence. From Lancaster’s experience with any group of scientists, this was the quietest he’d ever heard.
He glanced at his watch. “Okay, people, food, weapons, and equipment are already being loaded on the transport. Dress warm and be outside in ten minutes.”
“How long will we be out there?” Downer asked as they stood.
“Plan on twenty-four hours. It might go forty-eight. But if it does, we’ll pull you back here at that time for a debriefing.”
“If the place stays around that long,” Bogle said.
“How about we don’t dwell on that point too long?” Stanton asked.
Bogle only shrugged.
“Good luck, people,” Lancaster said, then watched them file out. After they were gone he glanced over at the waiting Sergeant Malone, who was watching him with a serious expression.
“Keep them alive and bring them back, Malone. That’s an order.”
She snapped to a salute. “Yes, sir. I will, sir.’’
He returned her salute, then said, “I have to show you something before you go.” He clicked a button on the face of his desk, and a screen lowered into place out of the ceiling. “It won’t take very long.”
Malone stepped in closer at a gesture from him.
“There are aliens in the Maelstrom, Sergeant. We know that for a fact. You need to understand that fully to do your job out there.”
“I’ll do my job, sir,’’ Malone said.
He nodded. “I know you will. The island looks abandoned, but you’ve got to be prepared for the worst. It’s still possible that you might encounter alien life-forms out there. You need to be prepared for that mentally and psychologically.”
The sergeant only nodded slowly.
“This is classified information,” he said. “But since you’re headed for what looks to be an alien city, you’ve got a need to know.”
She nodded and faced the screen, still not speaking.
Lancaster tapped a button to start the five-minute playback of the decoded images brought back from the Cache, then watched it again with the sergeant.
And again, the images of what those aliens were and what they could do to another race chilled him to his very core.
4
Time: 9:35 A . M . Pacific Time
8 hours, 04 minutes after Arrival
Cold last night. Hot this morning. Hank Downer was starting to understand that the weather along the Pacific Coast was never something to take for granted. He wondered if it had been this unpredictable before the Maelstrom had taken Earth. He was from northern New York State, where the weather consisted of four distinct seasons. You could predict it, almost set your watch by it. He hadn’t been this far west in years, let alone lived there before his assignment to the research facility. He figured it would take him a few more years to get used to the weather, no doubt about it.
Hank stood next to Stephanie on the sand-covered landing pad to the right of the tunnel entrance and watched the final loading of equipment and supplies into the Hydra transport. Before last night’s tsunami, this pad had been well-swept concrete, surrounded by tall pine trees on three sides. This morning they’d found it covered with fallen trees and big piles of sand, both of which had been mostly removed. There hadn’t been enough time to sweep all the sand clear yet.
He wore a thick ski parka and carried a raincoat over his arm. He had a stocking cap stuffed in one pocket of the coat and gloves in the other. There was no chance he was going to get as cold out there on that island as he had gotten last night. But at the moment, in the morning light from the Maw coming up over the coast range, the parka was too much.
Way too much.
He could feel a small trickle of sweat start on his neck. And the parka made the morning air feel twice as warm, since it blocked the onshore breeze. He unzipped the coat and held it open, letting the ocean air cool him a little.
In a small pack on his back he had a change of pants, underwear, two shirts, and thre
e pair of socks. With luck that would be enough to keep him dry and warm until they were pulled out. He’d brought no food, since that was supposed to be supplied. He just hoped they remembered it.
Stephanie squeezed his hand, then let go to check something in her pack. She had also dressed warmly, with a thick coat, a raincoat, gloves, hat, and enough extra clothing to make it an extra day. She carried a small medical bag, since she would be the sole medical doctor on this crazy expedition.
And crazy described it completely. He didn’t know what he thought of Major Lancaster’s announcement that there was an alien city on an island off the coast of Oregon. It had been so matter-of-fact. And when a man like Lancaster could accept an alien city on an island as a hard fact, it was difficult to doubt it was true. Over the last few years Hank had speculated, as many people did, that other races might exist in the Maelstrom, but now that he was faced with it, the idea was disturbing.
He remembered back to the days when the Earth was suddenly seized and sucked into the Maelstrom. Then the outbreak of world war between the Union and the Neo-Soviets that had occurred almost simultaneously. It had seemed to him and millions of others that the world was coming to an end. They’d been torn from the solar system and hurled into a space that was truly a Maelstrom. At its center was the swirling Maw, which had replaced the sun in the sky.
No one seemed to have the slightest idea what had happened. He’d been teaching back at Georgetown University when everything went to hell. He spent two wild days trying to get away from the entire East Coast, along with hundreds of thousands of others, as panic overtook them. He had been convinced that Washington, D.C., was going to be bombed. Instead it was Seattle and Detroit that were hit.
After a few short weeks, he simply did what most everyone else did and went back to work. Over the next half year the Union tried to convince him that his mind would help the cause. They offered him a research position, and eventually he’d accepted. Now, almost six years later, most of the country had settled down, and life went on without a sun in the sky and stars at night. It amazed him how adaptive the human animal truly was.
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