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This planet looks a lot like Genesis; did you ever get to visit the planet Dave?” Tyler asked.
“No I never did get to land there Tyler.” David Reynolds replied.
“From what our own sensors are showing the people are just about entering the Neolithic era, that is to say they have permanent villages that are made out of mud and straw bricks, rather than a hunter gatherer society, although from the look of it they probably practice a little of both lifestyles. It is how Genesis was before the colonists arrived, but without the ancient city computer that liked to fire at anything that moved.” Tyler said.
The Helionian fleet had now departed leaving the planet to the starship Freedom. Down on the planet below them they could see the beginnings of small towns with fields of a wheat-like crop growing all around them. Further from the towns the jungle still prevailed and within it they could see people living in temporary encampments, but they didn`t know if these were men from the towns out hunting, or other tribes who as yet had not yet progressed up to the Neolithic age.
“This is on a much larger scale than Genesis, but it would be interesting to visit it in another ten thousand years, to see how they are getting on Dave.” Tyler said wistfully.
“We could have, but if memory serves me right you destroyed the only operational time machine Tyler. So what do you want to do now, go or stay?” David Reynolds said in jest.
“Let`s head back to Orion, I miss my family and I`m sure that the others miss their families too. I suggest we leave in a different direction and pass through the nebula closer to the wormhole, so that we can turn our cloak off and save some power, the amount of time that you have been forced to use the cloak must have cost you a lot of energy?” Tyler said.
“No problem I filled up at Orion as we came through Tyler.” David Reynolds said with a huge grin upon his face.
“Well for once we will not charge you.” Tyler said in jest.
“I should think not.” Dave said laughing.
“Captain I have found a weak signal coming from the fourth planet, it is definitely man made.” The science officer on board the Freedom, Simon Lee said excitedly.
“Take us towards that planet helmsman, Simon, keep on tracking that signal, and please let me know immediately should it change in any way. Number One will you please turn on our defence shields, Tyler we may have found something that our friends from Helionia missed.” Tyler moved over to the science station and looked at what Simon Lee had found.
“We were lucky, if we were any further away we too would have missed it Tyler.” The science officer said to him.
“It is definitely worth a visit Dave, the signal seems to be coming from a tall tower like structure which has a small flat ledge at its very peak and what looks like a small single roomed building. We shall need to wear space suits though, it is a desert planet without any atmosphere, and it has been that way for a very long time.” Tyler said feeling just a little excited by their chance discovery.
“Who are you sending down Dave to have a look around?” Tyler asked.
“Well I know you want to go for a look around the place, and Simon should join you as our science officer, plus Data who should be invaluable to you. Does that suit you Tyler?” David Reynolds asked.
“Yes it sounds fine.” Tyler replied.
“If there aren`t any objections from the science department take us into orbit above that signal helmsman.” Not hearing any objections the helmsman did as he was ordered.
“Tryon and I have never stood on a rocky tower, so we will go too, if that is alright Dave Reynolds?” Appolon said to the starship captain.
“Sure no problem Appolon, now if our landing party would put on a space suit each and walk across to the Matter Transporter, I will send you all down to check out that signal.” Dave Reynolds replied. Tyler and his friends were soon standing before the small building atop the rocky tower.
“There is a very weak force field around the building Tyler, probably intended to stop dust from accumulating inside the room, although as the planet hasn`t an atmosphere it was hardly worth the effort. The signal would seem to get its power from the solar panels fitted into the walls and roof of the building Tyler. If you will wait for just a moment I will enter through the open door to ensure that the weak force field is not in fact something else.” Data said and without waiting for an answer, he walked through the force field and into the small room.
“It is fine Tyler you can all come in. The force field is not what I thought it was; simply a dust preventer, it is also to keep micrometeorites from damaging the building. I believe that anything travelling above a certain velocity is stopped by the force field,” Data said.
“Tryon and I will stay out here Tyler, to take in the view, you go and enjoy yourself.” Appolon said. Therefore, Tyler and Simon Lee also entered through the open doorway and took in the interior of the room.
“There appears to be just this small device here on the table, apart from the view screen fixed to the wall in front of us.” Data said to the two men who had now come through the doorway.
“So maybe we should press this button and wait for the show to start.” Tyler said smiling at the other two.
“Yes I think that this room was constructed to house the machine on the table and the screen, I have scanned the rest of the room and cannot find anything else, apart from the controls for the force field and the solar panels against the wall behind you Tyler.”
Tyler turned to look at the controls mentioned by Data, but as he had said, that appeared to be it, so reaching out his hand; he pressed the button in the middle of the machine. A small humming noise came from the machine and then the view screen burst into life showing a man seated at the table on which the machine sat. Moments later, he began to talk in a language that was unfamiliar to Tyler and to Simon. The recording lasted for ten minutes, and then the machine went blank for the show was over.
“I have recorded everything that we saw and heard and I have also been able to translate the language with the help of the universal translator aboard the Freedom, would you like me to play the recording for you Tyler.”
Tyler looked at his new friend and smiled. “When did you make a connection with the universal translator Data?” Tyler asked, thinking that Data was fitting in just fine.
“As soon as the man appeared on the screen, it was obvious that he would be speaking in the language of the Planet of the Light, and that we would need help to understand his words Tyler.” Data replied.
“Well my friend, you are indeed paying for your keep Data. Yes please play the recording back in English so that Simon and I can also understand all that was said.” Tyler ordered.
“Paying for my keep Tyler?” Data asked a little baffled at the expression.
“Yes Data, it means that you are making yourself more than useful, and giving back much more than you take.” Tyler explained.
“I have taken nothing Tyler.” Data said in a slightly mystified voice.
“I will explain it to you later Data, for now just take it as a compliment and replay the recording that you made of our alien friend.” Tyler said, smiling at the android.
“The recording will only be in audio, should you wish to see the visual recording Tyler then you will be able to do so when we are back aboard the Freedom. Here is the recording.” A voice sounding much like the alien`s came from Data`s body.
“This is a recording made by the last crew of our once grand fleet. I will start at the beginning of the terrible ordeal undergone by my people and finish with the demise of our once great civilisation. One of our agents on a planet named Heliot, which lies beyond the dark nebula, brought us news about the people of that world. Our agent had witnessed a rise in nationalism and violence for some time, it is against the planets and their people that are near to the Heliot star system, and the Heliots have won a sizable empire, which made us a little worried about their intentions regarding our own system. Then our agen
t brought us even graver news. The Heliots were beginning to prepare to conquer our world next, and to enslave our people. We in turn rushed to improve our defences against the eventual onslaught of their massive war machine. Then the day arrived when the Heliot fleet arrived in our planetary system. Our fleet lay in front of our planet awaiting the enemy fleet as it rushed towards us, only to see it ensnared by a space storm that came out of nowhere, and then disappeared from our system, taking with it our enemy, as quickly as it appeared. Our people were relieved at being saved from having to endure the terrible war, which had haunted and terrified their thoughts for so long. However, our joy was short lived for we too were seeing a rise in violence on our planet. Then came the fateful hour when our government decided to ensure that the Heliots would never rise to attack us again. Our government had been secretly working on virus that would destroy all human life with which it came into contact. A starship was sent to the star systems beyond the dark nebula and the virus was released upon each of the planets found there. After six months our government then decided to destroy not only what remained of the virus on these planets, but any people that had survived the plague. They sent missiles into the suns of these planetary systems, which released a large dose of certain heavy metals, causing the stars to fade for a period of a thousand years. The effect was to ensure that all of the planets that orbited these stars would enter into a long ice age that would effectively destroy any civilisation that remained there. The population of our world instead of feeling happy that the Heliot risk was over, began to afflicted with feelings of guilt, and violent protests against the genocide of the Heliot people began to erupt all over our once peaceful planet. This soon turned to civil war and only ended when a religious fanatic exploded a bomb inside of the laboratory that manufactured the terrible virus, spreading it across our planet too, and effectively ending our own civilisation. Any people that are still alive today, have left our ruined cities and are living within the countryside, a world that is already returning to a land of forest, or even the darkest of jungles in the warmer parts of our planet. This is a record of the end of a once great civilisation. I give it as a warning to whom so ever finds it to pass it on to their civilisation, and hopefully they can learn from our mistakes.”
Back on board the Freedom, Tyler was talking to his friends.
“This is exactly what happened on Genesis, a self-destructing war that destroyed a civilisation. Fifty thousand years ago, three great civilisations were all destroyed at around the same time, and they were all quite close to one another, assuming that the wormhole was in existence then, that is.” Tyler said.
“I researched the wormhole the first time that I journeyed through it, and I can say that it probably was in existence back then, a remarkable coincidence isn`t it Tyler that all three should fall together.” Data said, hoping for more from Tyler.
“Maybe the violence that sprang up on all three worlds was caused by a space born virus that was killed off by the ice age on Helionia, but survived for a longer period on the other two planets, and so trapped their people in the stone-age. As their doesn`t appear to be any violence occurring on either planet now perhaps the virus finally mutated into another non-lethal form.” Tyler hazarded. “Without a lot more research on all three worlds we will probably never know unless we are unlucky enough to stumble across another such world, which would stretch the chances of coincidence too far.” Tyler said.
“Don`t tell the Helionians, they would say that the virus originated on our side of the wormhole, and start up the trouble all over again.” Dave Reynolds warned the others.
Almost one day later found the Freedom passing close to Helionia, as Tyler wanted to send a copy of the recording down to Marot Pallas. Ares Fortuna was on the bridge of his starship when Marot in turn passed the recording on to Trajo, as a gift to assist in reconciling her family to the foregone conclusion of the loss of the election to the conservative party, and who in turn told her father about the magnificent find.
“Trajo, I never thought that he would still be in our quadrant of space, now I can revenge our people on the Orionists.” Fortuna said.
“Don`t be a fool father, drop the matter. The Orionists have successfully proved to the people of Helionia that they were not the murderers you painted them to be, the only people guilty of the genocide of the Heliot nation is scrambling about their planet in search of roots and nuts to feed their hungry families on.” Trajo said, anger with a fair amount of concern showing in her voice.
“You may believe them to be free of the stigma of guilt Trajo, but I do not, goodbye daughter for I go on my own trial by ordeal, and whoever comes out alive will indeed be the one who is chosen by the gods.”
Day 164 Helionia Calendar
As the starship Freedom, approached the wormhole that would take it home the science officer called to his captain.
“Sir, three Helionian space cruisers are ahead of us, they are blocking the way through the wormhole.”
“Helmsman, all engines full stop for the moment, Sparks send a message through to them, ask their intentions.” The communications officer soon had his answer.
“Sir, it is Ares Fortuna, he states that we must surrender to them or be ready to die.” The officer anxiously looked at his captain awaiting his reaction to the news that they were at war with Ares Fortuna and his small squadron of cruisers.
“Battle stations please sparks.” Alarm klaxons spread their message throughout the ship and brought Tyler back on to the bridge.
“I had hoped that we had seen the last of him Dave.” Tyler said angrily.
“What do you suggest we do now Tyler?” Dave Reynolds asked.
“Those three ships are at a distinct disadvantage in that they have to sit there blocking our way through the wormhole. I would suggest that we move forward at maximum normal space speed targeting the Dark Nebula first. When we are in range, we can de-cloak and then fire a salvo at her. Aim for her shields, weapons and engines, we will be moving too fast for their weapons to be able to lock on to us in the short time that we are not cloaked.” Tyler replied.
“Exactly what I was thinking Tyler. Helmsman, program our computer to take us out of hyperspace just out of Phaser range and to then move us forward at maximum normal space speed, be ready please move us out as soon as I give the word, Mr Read arm the Phasers, Commander Lee raise our shields.”
Five minutes ticked by and then Captain Dave Reynolds went to war. “Take us into hyperspace now, Simon de-cloak our ship as soon as we enter normal space, Mr Read open fire on the Dark Nebula as soon as we are in range. As Tyler suggested, take out her shields, her weapons and her engines.”
The starship Freedom leapt forward for just an instant before coming out of hyperspace, and within just a few seconds it unleashed bolts of energy of such power, that all rained down upon the starship Dark Nebula, Ares Fortuna was stunned as first his shields failed and then his main engines went off line.
“My god what sort of ship is that.” He moaned as his two consorts broke the line and moved off after the Freedom, which had re-cloaked and entered hyperspace. However, by the time they had got moving the Freedom had turned about and was hurtling back towards them.
Once again the Freedom dropped out of hyperspace, and then turned off its cloaking device, on seeing the starship the two Helionian space cruisers managed to fire some of their own energy bolts, these struck the Freedom`s defence shields, but the shields held. The Freedom`s own Phasers fired another salvo of deadly energy bolts that left the Vengeance dead in space, its crew trying to get something working as the captain sat there calling down to the heads of his departments, to tell him when his ship would regain some power to allow him to either run or fight back. The Shield was now alone, and its captain had had enough, so he didn`t order his helmsman to bring his ship about and re-join the battle, he simply kept on moving forward, and back to Helionia and safety.
“I suggest that you put a call in to Marot and ask him to send some
space tugs out here to tow his two ships back to space dock, and before we tire of looking at the Dark Nebula and turn it into so much space debris.” Tyler said smiling across at the Dave Reynolds.
“Please send that message sparks, and also send our apologies along with it.” Dave ordered. Minutes later and Sparks turned around and called out to his captain.
“Sir, it seems that they are already on the way, the other ship that we took out called them, Marot has added his thanks for the restraint that you have shown in not simply blasting the Dark Nebula out of the way.” The communications officer was all smiles as were the rest of the bridge crew.
“And I think that we can cancel battle stations now.” The noise that was beginning to make Tyler`s head ache was quickly silenced by the communications officer, and all was silent for a moment as the crew thanked god that they had got through the battle unscathed, and then normal life returned to the bridge.
The reputation of Ares Fortuna fell to its lowest point ever following his ignominious defeat, while as Tyler had not destroyed the two Helionian starships, but simply disabled them, Marot Pallas`s reputation had soared to its highest point.
The starship Freedom assumed orbit around Orion the next day and beamed Tyler and his friends down to the planet. The entire village of the red plains turned out to welcome the heroes back, especially their five wives and their children. Caroline rushed into Tyler`s arms and kissed him furiously at first and finally gently.
“I love you Tyler but please, please, please, stay away from all these alien women who want to steal you away from me.” She said laughing.
Tyler looked in to her eyes and smiled. “I will try darling, I will try very hard.” Caroline then went up to Dave Reynolds who had also just arrived and kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you Dave for bringing them all safely home, you are our friend now and for always, please remember that.”
The End
If you enjoyed this collection of stories then please leave a positive revue, your support really does make a difference.
About the Author
I was born in London, England. Like most of the world I had to work hard to pay my mortgage and all the other bills, so I only had the time and the energy to write some short stories. My wife and I have a son who is now married to a lovely wife and they have five children of their own. Since retiring to the Greek island of Crete I have finally found the time and the energy to write some full length Science Fiction stories.
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Other Books
Colonies of Earth Series in order
Galaxy Spies
Time Storm
Rebirth
Trial by Ordeal
Horror Stories
Strange tales; three short mild horror stories
Kidnapped and Bound for Hell; A full-length story
David Charlton stories, a science fiction series
Rescue Mission to the Stars
The Treasure of Altaraus
Return to Mazere
Other science fiction stories
Quasar
The Venetou
Short children`s stories
The Haunted Abbey
The Pirates Treasure
I am working on a new story entitled Invasion Earth, it should be finished sometime this year, if you enjoyed this collection of stories please look out for it.
Trial by Ordeal Page 46
