Tara

by J G Possum

  “Andy, take us over the area we pinpointed on the map, let’s see what it really looks like.”

  “Affirmative, Captain, “Andy replied. “I also notified Zor that we were going to land the Aquarius.”

  Traveling at over 1000 mph, it took two hours to reach land. Andy slowed down to 500 mph, and then slowed to 200 mph. They noticed a level area in the valley at the base of two mountains. It looked like it could have been an ancient lava bed. As they approached, they could see it was a low plateau; it was where they had selected a possible landing site on the map. Andy slowed down to 100 mph and circled low over the area to get a better view of the surface.

  Lance said, “This looks good. Aqua, what is the basic geology on the surface directly below us.”

  Aqua replied “This area’s surface consists of igneous materials-- basically silicate minerals, feldspar, olivine, pyroxenes and quartz. Would you like more specifics, Captain?”

  “Not required,” Lance replied. He thought, I like it; the surface is hard with good visibility and not far from the ocean, and we have a river. He said, “Andy, bring her around and land in this area.” He pointed to the screen with his finger and said, “The high ground near the river.”

  The Aquarius slowed down, hovered, extended its five support legs and gently settled onto the surface of Tara. Andy, made minor leveling adjustments and stabilized the ship.

  The operations crew let out a cheer, and everyone rejoiced. They had finally arrived on solid ground; it felt great. Lance announced to the entire crew, “The Aquarius has landed. No one may leave the ship without prior authorization. For safety reasons, we must secure the perimeter immediately. Do not leave your stations. I will keep you informed.” He thought, Thank you, God, and felt a sense of relief.

  Ashley grabbed Lance by his arm; she wanted him to herself. She said, “Andy, you have control,” and left the room.

  Andy addressed Aqua. “Initiate exterior sensors, including video surveillance, extending to a one-hundred-foot radius around the ship.”

  Aqua replied, “Affirmative, Andy.”

  Frank commented, “Nice work, Andy. I’m on my way to the dome.” Frank took the lift to the top of the ship. He climbed into his seat in the mega laser turret and visually surveyed the area.

  He scanned around the ship in a 360-degree rotation. He had excellent visibility. The Aquarius had landed on top of a level plateau located in a valley. There was a large river running east toward the ocean one hundred feet below. The Aquarius had landed near the river close to its southern bank. On both sides were high mountains covered in heavy jungle growth. The level surface around the ship looked like a green field covered with low to heavy growth, having various shades of light and dark sections of green grass and plant life. There were all types of tropical plants and some trees both small and large. It was definitely a lush, tropical area and quite beautiful.

  Frank noticed the sun was bright and looked almost twice the size of Earth’s sun. He asked Andy about that.

  Andy explained, “The sun is almost the same size as Earth’s but looks larger.”

  Tara was in an orbit much closer to its sun. It didn’t overheat because Tara’s sun was older and not as hot as Earth’s.

  Frank looked up the valley and could see a large single moon visible on the horizon as he looked west. Frank called Andy. “Can you see any signs of life?”

  “No,” Andy replied.

  Frank asked, “What does Aqua have to say?”

  Andy said, “Our heat sensors indicate signs of life all around us--some are large, and some are small. They know we are here, but they keep hidden. That tells us whatever is out there has a level of intelligence.”

  Frank announced, “I will post observers in the dome and come back down to check outside the ship. We need to know what’s out there. Keep me posted if anything changes on your sensors or you see movement. When the captain returns, I will set up an electric fence around the outside of the ship. If we are attacked, it will be after dark. I want cameras and flood lights available. We must be able to see what’s there. I will post armed guards outside the ship as soon as I can arrange a schedule.”

  Lance and Ashley returned to the operations control center. Frank updated both of them and received permission to take all action he felt necessary to protect the ship. Lance had full confidence in Frank, who had the experience needed at this point in time. The electric fence was a good idea.

  Zor and his council watched as the Aquarius entered Tara’s atmosphere and streaked low across the great water at high speed. He had received the message from Andy that he expected. He remarked, “The humans will find it difficult to survive on the north land mass, but I believe they will find a way. They are motivated, like we were. Our ancestors must have been a lot like them. Survival is the most powerful drive in all of nature. I hope they succeed; they seem to have a good, thoughtful leader.”

  Frank secured the perimeter outside the ship. An electrified fence was constructed and guards posted as planned. The entrance ramp to the ship was kept open but guarded, and the underside of the ship was illuminated at night.

  The guards were instructed to immediately return to the ship in the event they were attacked and close the ramp. They were not to fire their weapons except in self-defense. Ashley was pleased the ship was secured before the sun set. Frank took the first watch in the dome. He couldn’t sleep anyway.

  Strange sounds could be heard throughout the night; some were like screaming, others like tortured crying. The heat sensors showed movement outside the fence around the ship. A short time after nightfall the wind picked up speed and whistled down through the valley. Not knowing what to expect, Frank, and Lance were worried the electronic fence might not hold up, but because of its open construction, it survived without a problem. After approximately two hours, the winds died down and returned to normal as if nothing had ever changed. Everyone was on high alert listening to the sounds and wondering what was out there. It was obvious some creatures were being zapped. They screeched when they came in contact with the fence but were quick to learn a lesson and avoided touching it.

  Frank continuously talked to the guards throughout the evening asking if they saw anything. Whatever was out there kept hidden, and out of sight. The night passed slowly. The crew slept in shifts but had a problem sleeping when they were not on duty. The unknown can greatly influence your mind.

  The huge sun came up over the mountain and bathed the landscape in brilliant golden light, displaying a remarkable landscape. Almost immediately, as if someone threw a switch, the creatures around the ship were gone; they apparently disappeared back into the jungle depths where they came from. There was a temporary silence throughout except for some strange bird calls that gradually increased in intensity as it became lighter.

  Lance called the operations crew together and said to Frank, “I want guards posted in place at all times around the ships perimeter, effective now.”

  Frank replied, “Already in place, Captain.”

  Lance smiled and said to Mike, “Select an exploration team and using one of our ATVs, slowly inspect the area around the ship. Report directly to Captain Ashley.”

  Mike replied, “I’m on my way, Captain.”

  Lance then asked Frank to inspect the security fence for possible damage from the winds and make improvements as necessary, and also ensure that anyone outside the ship for any reason was armed at all times.

  Mike selected his exploration team: two armed soldiers, a biologist, a geologist, an anthropologist, and a surveyor. Mike’s team assembled on Deck One. They took survival gear, a laser weapon, and some handguns and climbed into an armored ATV. Mike rode in the front seat with one of the soldiers who drove the vehicle. He notified Ashley that he was leaving and headed down the ramp onto the jungle surface. He motioned to the sentry near the ramp.

  “We’re going outside the fence.”

  The power to the fence was interrupted. They drove through the temporary gate t
hat closed behind them and the power was immediately turned back on.

  The fence that Frank set up consisted of ten-foot-tall metal poles placed thirty feet apart that transmitted an electrical signal from pole to pole. If interrupted, it would fire an electric pulse capable of stunning any living creature, man or beast. There also was a four-wire mesh strap that ran from pole to pole that was electrified and would shock anything that touched it. Some of the poles also held floodlights and included some cameras and alarms.

  Frank had a crew reinforcing the poles as necessary and making improvements. It was their first line of defense. The soldier driving the ATV said to Mike, “Sir, where are we headed?”

  Mike replied, “Let’s start along the perimeter, just outside the fence. Drive to the right and make a slow circle around the Aquarius. Watch for any tracks or signs of life that may be visible.”

  They moved slowly along the outside of the fence. It was apparent that creatures had visited the area, the vegetation was disturbed around the ship. They made a complete circle around the fence and Mike had the driver move out another twenty feet and make another round.

  They continued to drive slowly around the ship in an increasingly widening circle, examining the surface for signs of life. The vegetation was trampled down in some areas, but no pattern was evident. They noticed an area that seemed to be used as a path.

  Chapter Seven

  On the north side of the ship, toward the river, there were many tracks; some looked fresh and the foliage was trampled down. The driver stopped the ATV and the other soldier jumped out, watching the surrounding area for any movement. The tracks were present in patches of almost bare ground. Mike stayed in the ATV while the others examined the tracks. Jim, the archaeologist, said, “Mike, these tracks look like they are from a large bipedal creature.”

  Mike replied, “You mean like a dinosaur? Everyone back in the ATV-- we must be cautious.” They sat in one spot for a long period of time just observing the area around them.

  Jim Carson remarked, “Mike, it looks like the tracks came up from the lower valley near the river below.”

  Mike said, “Let’s follow north to the river below; keep on high alert.” The terrain leading away from the ship gradually dropped down toward a lower plain heavily covered in thick tropical growth that dropped further down to the river. They drove on what looked like an animal path. The foliage was flattened down. There were a variety of trees, with strange birds. Flights of birds flew high above the river. Some small animals that looked like pigs were running around and small wolf like animals ran for cover as they progressed.

  The path headed toward the river and opened into a small grassy area. They drove through the grass onto a high sandy beach and stopped. The river was a sight to see, having clear blue water and a gentle sound. looking back, they could see the ship on the plateau above. The trees near the river were tall and looked like various types of palms. They found what looked like large animal droppings. There were many tracks of all types along the shoreline. A large lizard like an alligator slithered into the river up ahead. Jim noticed various bones scattered around, and the ground was scratched up in several places along the riverbank.

  The huge creature watched the ATV leave the plateau and follow the path to the river. It kept hidden in the dense foliage, waiting.

  Mike called Lance on his communicator. “Captain, we are below the ship, located on the shore of the river. We found many tracks of all types along with miscellaneous bones--some old, some new. There are a number of lizard-type creatures along the riverbank. The river is large and runs deep. We believe there are--”

  Suddenly, the creature charged forward from the tall trees. Jim was bent over examining some bones, Mike was standing next to the ATV, the two soldiers were facing the creature head-on. The others were concentrating on the many tracks. Everyone, hearing the noise of the foliage being crushed, jumped behind the ATV. Jim rolled under it.

  The creature looked at least fifteen feet tall. It took a swing at the ATV with its huge arm and turned the vehicle over, pinning Jim to the ground underneath. Both soldiers opened fire with their laser guns, catching the creature in the chest. With a loud scream, it turned and caught one of the solders in his jaws, and with its dying gasp, tore him in half, shaking its huge head, then slumped over the ATV, dead. The team had their back to the river and no way out. Mike tried to pull Jim from under the vehicle but had no luck.

  Lance heard the sounds of the attack on his communicator. He called Frank, who was already outside. Frank quickly ran up the ramp, jumped into another ATV that had a mounted heavy laser, and drove back down the ramp outside the ship. He called to his men, who came running toward him. He picked up four soldiers, and following Lance’s directions, went through the fence and headed toward the river. Frank, driving as fast as he could, followed the fresh tracks made by Mike’s ATV.

  When they approached the area, they saw three huge creatures running toward Mike’s overturned ATV next to the river. They quickly stopped on a knoll. Frank aimed the heavy laser and opened fire, dropping two of the creatures in their tracks. The third creature turned and ran back into the heavy jungle where it came from. They continued to the overturned ATV.

  Mike had seen them coming and was waiting for them. “You guys didn’t have a minute to spare. We wouldn’t have made it.” The dead creature was draped over the front of the overturned ATV. Jim was still pinned underneath the vehicle.

  The dead soldier was covered with a tarp. Together, they managed to slide the huge beast off the ATV onto the ground and with an effort rolled Mike’s ATV back onto its wheels, freeing Jim, who had a broken leg.

  Frank shook his head and remarked, “It’s a damn shame this had to happen--he was a brave soldier. We won’t forget him. Keep a sharp lookout; they may decide to attack again at any moment.”

  Jim remarked, while they were wrapping his leg with a bandage, “This is a type of dinosaur similar to what we had on earth during the Jurassic period, except it has a short tail and huge arms. They are carnivorous pack hunters and are probably at the top of the food chain on this planet.”

  Frank answered, “It seems they are fast learners; one of them, observing it was overmatched, turned and retreated. They know how to survive.”

  They carefully examined the dead creature. It had a huge head with powerful jaws having large serrated teeth on both sides. They estimated it was fifteen feet from head to foot. It stood on two powerful legs and had two huge arms with five six-inch on each powerful hand. It was built to be a fast killing machine.

  Frank thought, I wonder how many there are? He said, “I contacted the captain. He wants us back at the ship ASAP.”

  Mike’s ATV was damaged but could be driven. They climbed into the ATVs, looked the area over, circled around, and headed back up the path toward the ship with their fallen comrade. Lance wanted a full detailed report when they returned. Frank doubled the guard and posted additional sentries. He parked the ATV with the heavy laser near the ship’s entrance. Frank went to the control center along with the scientists. Mike, with some help, brought the fallen soldier to the clinic, then dropped Jim Carson off at the med lab to have his leg taken care of. Lance was told all that happened. He was saddened that they lost a man.

  “From now on we must be better prepared.” They agreed. “We must find out how many creatures like that are around us.”

  Frank named it Tarasaurus. The sun was going down; the sky gleamed a brilliant red with streaks of yellow and gold.

  Lance made a decision. “Frank, turn up the power to the fence and bring everyone inside the ship after sunset. Withdraw the ramp and secure the entrance when everyone is on board. No one else dies this night. We won’t let our guard down.”

  Frank replied, “Right, Captain, and I’m going to add some infrared searchlights covering the area in the front of the ship.”

  Lance thought, Even if they broke through the fence, they could never harm the ship.

  Mil
a put a splint on Jim Carson’s leg, and except for sore ribs, he was fine. “You know, you were dammed lucky,” she remarked.

  Jim replied, “You’re telling me! I thought I was going to be killed.”

  Doctor Jonah prepared Corporal John Fields’ body for burial and discussed ceremony procedures with Ashley, who said, “We’ll have a military funeral at 0900 tomorrow.” She felt really bad about his death. She knew when she signed on for this adventure that it would not be easy.

  She thought, He traveled forty light years to die by an extinct creature on a strange world--that’s just crazy. He was living the life he chose. I guess he wouldn’t be better off if he had stayed on Earth--at least here he had a chance.

  As the light faded, Frank went back up to the dome. Frank searched the area just outside the fence, using a special night vision telescope. Nothing was there. The wind picked up like it had the night before, then subsided to normal, after a few hours. The sounds during the night were less than the previous night. The next morning, the guards were posted and the damaged ATV was cleaned, and repairs started. Frank had a heavy-duty laser mounted in place on the vehicle, which would increase the firepower.

  Ashley conducted the funeral for Corporal John Fields. He was given the rank of sergeant and awarded the distinguished service cross for his bravery. He was laid to rest near a large rock on a grassy knoll, about a hundred yards from the ship. He was only forty light years from his birthplace and the first human to die on this planet. He was placed in a steel container to protect his body from possible scavengers, and a brass plate engraved with his name and some choice words was attached. Everyone not on active duty attended. He was given a sixteen-gun salute with full military honors. It was a somber moment.

  Lance called a meeting with the operations crew. He said, “We need to find out how many of these creatures exist and where they live.

  Mike replied, “They came at us from the tall trees along the river--they probably live in that area.”

  Frank added, “With your approval, Captain, I’ll check that area out. We’ll take three ATV’s armed with heavy lasers and destroy any creature we find.” He wanted revenge.