Tara

by J G Possum

  Lance said, “Sounds good, Frank, but I want you to move slowly and blaze a trail as you advance. Keep in close contact with Ashley.” He thought for a minute and said, “Mike, use all the men you need and clear the underside of the ship of all growth, quickly. I don’t want a blade of grass left, and we must keep it that way. Cut the growth to one foot tall from the ship to fifty feet beyond the fence. We must have an open area, for our own protection. This will help prevent a surprise attack and give us time to react. I want you to construct concrete pads under each leg supporting the ship. We’re not sure how intense the winds will get. For the time being, the Aquarius is our home--it’s all we have.”

  Frank announced, “I need to get organized for our search and destroy operation.”

  Ashley remarked, “Whatever you need.” She knew he could hardly wait to get going. She said, “Wait until sunrise to move out; you’ll need a full day. Take a surveyor with you--he can map the area as you explore. Take pictures of the terrain as you go. I want you back at the ship before nightfall. Keep in contact, and above all, stay safe. We can’t afford to lose you.”

  The ship buzzed with activity; everyone had something to do. Lance and Ashley discussed how to expand the area. Lance said, “We should take advantage of the ocean shoreline. It would be a beautiful area to build a city, especially with the mouth of the river right there.

  Ashley remarked, “Honey, we’ll live there one day, but first we need to build a good road.”

  The sun set, and the strong winds came up--it seemed they could count on that every day, but it never lasted more than two hours. Lance said to Frank on his way out, “Don’t kill them unless in self-defense. Remember, we’re on their land.”

  Everyone returned to the ship for the evening and the ship was secured. Throughout the night, the sounds from the jungle could be heard, if you opened a hatch.

  Frank spent some time in the dome; he was powered up and wanted to confront the Tarasaurus as soon as he could. He scanned the area but saw nothing. It seemed to him the activity around the outside of the ship was less than the night before. Now he could hardly wait until morning. He wondered if it was possible to live near these creatures or would you always have to watch your back. Satisfied for now, Frank returned to Deck Three and went to his apartment. He was worn out.

  Terry was glad to see him. She said, “Frank, I know you have a lot on your mind, but you need rest—you’re working too hard.”

  Frank replied, “I’m alright, sweetie. I guess I feel like I might have prevented Corporal John Fields’ death if I had gone on that scouting trip with Mike.”

  “Don’t be silly, “Terry replied. “You could have been killed as well.”

  “I know, but I can’t help feel I might have done more.”

  “It’s okay, honey. You did all that anyone could do.”

  Walter and Lois were curled up in bed, but neither could sleep. “Lois,” said Walt, “what do you think about the alliance we have with the Eron?”

  “I hope it turns out as good as it’s written,” he responded. “It’s almost too good.”

  Lois laughed and continued, “You don’t think they are playing games with us, do you?”

  “Not at all, Lolo. They had better not, or there will be hell to pay.”

  “Maybe we’re just lucky--or it could be fate,” Lois replied.

  Walter, giving her a squeeze, said, “I like the idea that fate has intervened--or better yet, it’s divine intervention.”

  Lois thought about it but didn’t answer.

  Mike and Sue were having coffee in the lounge. Mike said, “After we land, we’ll need to set up a perimeter around the ship.”

  Lance, Ashley, Walter, and Lois reviewed the alliance, as approved.

  PLANET TARA ALLIANCE OF NATIONS

  ARTICLE 1. THE PLANET TARA HAS TWO LAND MASSES, THE NORTH AND SOUTH CONTINENTS.

  ARTICLE 2. THE NORTH CONTINENT SHALL BE CALLED EARTHLAND, AND BELONG TO THE HUMAN NATION.

  ARTICLE. 3. THE SOUTH CONTINENT SHALL BE CALLED ERONA , AND BELONG TO THE ERON NATION.

  ARTICLE. 4. THE TWO NATIONS SHALL LIVE IN PEACE AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER.

  ARTICLE. 5. THE TWO NATIONS SHALL DEFEND TARA AND EACH OTHER IF ATTACKED.

  ARTICLE 6. THIS ALLIANCE CAN BE REVISED ONLY WITH THE APPROVAL OF BOTH NATIONS.

  Approved by Commander Lance Roberts, Nation of Earthland

  Approved by Supreme Leader Zor, Nation of Erona

  Attachment :

  EARTHLAND SHALL GIVE ERONA TEN PERCENT OF ITS VEGETABLE FOOD HARVEST FOR TWO YEARS.

  Chapter Eight

  Ashley said to Lance, “If we are overmatched, we could always ask Zor for help.”

  Lance replied, “That’s what the alliance does.”

  Ashley answered, “I believe the Eron want no part of these creatures. I’m sure they know all about them and would not want to get involved.”

  Lance looked at her and remarked, “We will deal with the creatures when we better understand them.”

  At daybreak, Frank assembled the three ATV’s with four armed soldier’s, including himself, in each vehicle. They drove through the fence and headed toward the river.

  Frank announced to his team, “Watch for any sign of movement. The creatures are fifteen feet tall and fast as hell. They could be anywhere.”

  As they approached the river, they spotted several small doglike animals near the carcasses of the dead Tarasaurus, whose bones had already been scattered about. Frank remarked, “The jungle takes care of itself.”

  The local creatures moved out of the way as they passed, then returned to their meal unaffected. They drove along the bank of the river for several miles, then circled back, driving closer to the jungle. They took pictures along the way and plotted the area on a preliminary chart. Frank had the feeling they were being watched. Eventually, they entered the heavy growth, the plants were large tropical varieties and palm like, some as tall as eighty feet. They had to move slowly, and using the heavy lasers, they cleared the area directly in front of them but left the big trees alone. They came to a large clearing and decided to stop and check it out. They carefully scanned the entire field for any sign of movement, nothing out of the ordinary was noticeable.

  The clearing was covered in tall grass. There were several antelope- type animals feeding on plants in the distance. One of the soldiers said, “I thought I saw a large creature watching us, but it’s gone now and I’m not so sure. It was on the edge of the field and blended with the colors of the foliage.”

  Frank wondered, Could it be they learned a lesson and decided to leave us alone. Can they communicate with each other over a great distance? How intelligent are they?

  Frank said, “Don’t fire at anything unless we are attacked--that’s an order. We need to know how they think.” They drove slowly around the clearing, mapping the area on their chart as they went. Frank said, “I think they have been watching us since we entered the jungle. They probably saw us clearing a path with a laser and want no part of it.”

  The jungle was alive with all types of sounds; there were creatures in the trees and on the ground all around them. They had no fear of the ATVs or the soldiers, just curiosity; they kept their distance. Several small doglike animals came close to them. The animals’ curiosity overcame their fear of being harmed. One of the soldiers had some crackers in his pocket. He tossed one on the ground about ten feet in front of himself. A small animal rushed over and picked it up, smelled it, and quickly ate it, all the while watching Frank with its sharp eyes.

  Frank, looking at the soldier, said, “I think you just made a friend.”

  Back at the ship, Mike had the area beneath the Aquarius cleared and the foliage around the ship cut to a foot tall. The construction team was busy moving the security fence out to seventy-five yards completely around the ship. It would take some time, but Lance was pleased with the results. All the heavy construction equipment was brought from Deck One and lined up near t
he ship, ready for use. They were getting organized in short order.

  Lance said to Ashley, “If we have a good report from Frank, we can survey the area from here to the ocean and locate a site for our city. The weather is great--what do you think about a ride down the river tomorrow?”

  Ashley could tell Lance was in a good mood, which made her feel better. “I’ll keep it in mind,” she replied. Ashley called Frank and got an update on what they had discovered so far.

  Frank decided to head back to the ship. He didn’t want to be in the jungle during dusk. On the way back, several large catlike creatures were seen running through the heavy tree line. “Well, we’re not alone on this continent, that’s for sure,” he remarked.

  As they drove by what was left of the dead creatures, they saw a variety of animals--some next to the river, some feeding. None were scared off, but instead watched them with a long, intense stare, giving way only when they got too close. Several large amphibians slipped into the river. They looked like large ancient alligators with an extra-long mouth full of teeth.

  The construction team back at the ship was busy organizing the heavy equipment. Sue Adams said, “Captain, I need to find a rock formation that I can use to set up a stone quarry and process gravel. We’ll need it for construction. I’m sure I’ll find all the sand I need near the river.”

  Sue continued, “I need a geologist.”

  Lance answered, “I’ll talk with Mike, when I see him. Any luck stabilizing the ship’s landing pads?”

  Sue smiled and said, “I retracted one of the ship’s legs and dug away the surface material underneath. I found granite only four feet down. That’s the best pad you can get; it will make a solid base.”

  Lance answered, “Good work, Sue. I do want a permanent foundation for our ship to stand on. Keep me informed of your progress.”

  Evening arrived about the same time Frank’s team showed up. The area was secured, and everyone returned to the ship as directed. Frank met with the operations team in the control center. He described the excursion along the river and into the jungle. He remarked, “I think the big creatures are telepathic, and survival is more important to them than attacking us who are the intruders. They are definitely an intelligent species. They were aware of our every move but chose not to attack. They seem to respect us. If I’m correct, we may be able to co-exist with each other.”

  Ashley remarked, “We need a test to prove your theory.”

  Lance replied, “I agree. It will be dangerous but necessary.”

  Lance said, “We should locate where they congregate and confront them as a group just to observe them without presenting a threat.”

  He continued, “We need to show them that if they don’t bother us, we won’t bother them. If they are telepathic, they already know we have weapons that can kill them. Did they attack for dominance or to protect their territory?”

  Ashley replied, “I’ll devise a test that we can set up. Frank, how can we locate where they group?”

  Frank thought for a while and answered, “I have an idea, Captain. Would you allow Andy to fly with me over the jungle areas using the shuttle? I’ll locate where they hang out.”

  Mike remarked, “Great idea. Bring a photographer and a geologist with you. We need to map the area all around us up to the ocean.”

  Lance agreed and said, “Set up tonight and fly out tomorrow morning. Take an experienced mapmaker; he can use flight photos to establish area charts. We need a good surface map of the entire valley, including the river and the ocean shoreline, including the surrounding jungle from here to the ocean. We can cover the mountain ranges at a later date in the future.”

  Frank said, “If we’re lucky, we may locate the Tarasaurus where they spend most of their time, their home base. That would be great.”

  Lance turned to Ashley. “We’ll need to postpone our boat trip. I don’t want more than one team away from the ship at the same time.”

  Ashley replied, “I agree. We need to review the photos and plan to encounter the Tarasaurus. I also think if we are prepared to kill them but just observe and don’t threaten them, they may decide to leave us alone. If they attack, we will wipe them out to the last one.” She was still upset over the recent attack that killed one of the crew.

  That settled, everyone dispersed. Frank and Andy left for Deck One to make preparations. Mike helped gather the team for the upcoming mission. The sun set, and the winds increased for a few hours.

  It rained heavily during the night; by morning it had stopped. When the sun came up, the hangar door on the front of the ship slid open and the shuttle slipped out. Andy flew northwest up the valley to the foot of the two mountain ranges, circled the area, and hovered above the valley.

  The photographer set up his camera and prepared to scan the surface as planned. When he was ready he signaled okay to Andy.

  Andy turned the shuttle around and headed down through the valley south east at low altitude. He slowed down to five mph, so they could get a good look at the jungle below. Frank watched the landscape for any sign of the big creatures. He spotted two large cats running together along the foothills. He noted that they always showed up in pairs whenever seen. As they flew southeast, they observed the river below. There were various types of animals moving around, and what looked like large alligators along the riverbank--some were eating. There were several grassy plains that had groups of large herbivores grazing in the sunlight. They passed by the Aquarius and continued east toward the coast. The vegetation was heavier but thinned out as they neared the ocean.

  The tree line jutted out from the foothills along the mountains to the north, and there was a small clearing with tall grass. Standing in the middle of the clearing were seven large Tarasaurus.

  Frank was delighted. He said, “Make sure we get the pictures--this is what we’re looking for.” They continued east and finally reached the ocean shore.

  The beach was a beautiful sight to behold with its gleaming white sand. The water was deep blue in color and the beach was about sixty feet wide, running up to the edge of the jungle.

  Having completed the mission, Andy turned and headed west, flying back to the Aquarius at high speed. Andy secured the shuttle, and the photographer went straight to his lab to print the photos, enlarge the prints, and make the chart maps they needed, his camera also recorded a video. The pictures of the Tarasaurus were excellent, showing that they did travel in a pack that appeared to have a leader.

  The operations team gathered in the control center and reviewed the photos, the charts, and the video, examining them in detail. Ashley was excited to see the Tarasaurus in a group all feeding on vegetation.

  “What have we here?” she exclaimed. “It looks to me that they are omnivores.”

  “They will eat anything,” Frank remarked. “That’s why they have no competition, except maybe the big cats we saw earlier. I think both species have established their own territory and will fight to protect it.” A close look at pictures of the big cats showed they resembled prehistoric saber-toothed tigers, only much larger.

  Mike said, “I don’t want to run into a cat with teeth like that--especially ones as big as they appear.”

  Ashley, looking at the chart, said, “The saber-toothed cats are located on the north side of the river in the foothills and the higher mountains. They are not an immediate problem. The group of Tarasaurus are mostly in the jungle area in the valley about three miles south of us, also on the north side of the river. We have a strategic advantage; we are located on the south side of the river.”

  Lance announced, “The river is our friend; however, there are some Tarasaurus on our side of the river, as we soon found out.”

  Ashley said, “I propose we send a well-armed team south and locate the group that Frank found during his ground exploration. We can find out if they will let us alone or decide to fight.”

  Lance announced, “If the Tarasaurus are telepathic, I have an idea. I will take a team and visit Zor; ma
ybe I can convince him to send a representative to help us interact with the creatures. We could learn a great deal if we can communicate at some level.”

  They agreed that was a great plan. Lance said, “Andy, contact Zor and set up a com link. Notify me when you are ready.” Lance talked with Zor, who seemed pleased that he wanted to have a private meeting in Erona. Andy prepared the shuttle for the latest trip. It was decided that Lance would take Walter with him and Andy would fly the shuttle. They would leave around noon tomorrow. The sun was starting to set; the sky had been getting darker as the evening grew near. There was a flash of bright light and a loud crash. The rain came down in a torrent. It lasted for two hours. That was the first heavy rain they had had since they landed.

  Lance decided he would bring Zor a gift. He selected a digital video disk player with several videos of Earth that were prepared by NASA. He wanted Zor to learn more about how Earth looked. Lance confided in Ashley, “I intend to spend two days in Erona.”

  Chapter Nine

  Lance continued, “I have a lot of questions I’m hoping Zor can answer.”

  Ashley replied, “Call me if you can. I’ll be honest; I’m worried.”

  Lance said, “Don’t be. I’m always on alert, and Walt will have my back.” Lance held her in his arms and gave her a long kiss.

  The mission support team, the engineering group that had been assembled, contacted Lance. “We have been analyzing the Planet Tara and have some conclusions. We have determined that one complete rotation around its axis takes 19.992 hours, This would equate to a twenty-hour day compared to Earth’s twenty-four-hour day.

  “We have ten hours of daylight and ten hours of night. The planet takes 299.996 days to rotate around its sun. That would equal a three-hundred-day year. The planet has an almost perfect counter-clockwise orbit, and because its axis is offset and always points in the same direction, we have four seasons. Each season is seventy-five days long. It is better than Earth, more balanced.”