“There. How’s that?” Jacob stood up.
She stomped her foot. “Much better, thanks.”
“She should have picked me to go,” Jacob grumbled at Merek. “I have more experience.”
“Yeah, way more experience.” Merek grinned. “The wisdom of ages.”
“Hey, cut out that talk, or I’ll cut a tube somewhere, and you’ll be sorry. I know just the place.”
Merek muttered, “I noticed that expendable clones dominate the team.”
“If you think the captain feels that way, you have no idea how special you are to her.” Jacob put his hands on the clone’s hunched shoulders. “She loved and respected Trajan, and you’re a reflection of him.”
Merek puffed out a breath. “Trajan’s a hard act to follow. I don’t know if I can fill his shoes.”
“You have pretty big boots on already,” Lisi quipped, pointing at Merek’s big, gray space boots.
“He has big feet,” Lisi countered.
Patting him on his bulky suit, Jacob said, “If anyone can do this, you can. Remember that and follow his legacy. Just ask: what would Trajan do?”
Lisi swayed and regained her balance. “All right. Enough ‘bro talk’; we have a job to do.”
Around her, the rest of her team clomped out.
***
On the bridge, Elise assembled her whole crew, minus Lisi’s team, currently headed toward the shuttle.
The bridge felt claustrophobic and fraught with tension. Jazz chewed on a fingernail; Dane scrubbed a hand through his hair. Tango hummed a mindless tune at the helm, and Jensen muttered to himself.
Elise felt her own nerves on edge and had to make an effort to calm down and not incessantly tap the armchair with her nails. Memories of alien ships exploding and destroying the fleet with their treasured cargo lit up her mind. She tried to obliterate the images, but they just kept returning. “Tate has set up a series of flashes using Morse Code that he will relay to the space station. We’ll start with the SOS that the flare sent. Then, follow with a greeting.”
Jazz swiveled toward her. “Captain, why would they understand Morse Code?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. The transmission from the flare may be a random coincidence. If it is, my hope is that they will recognize the pattern and realize we’re trying to establish peaceful contact.”
Jazz wrinkled a brow. “Why not a binary code?”
“We’ll try what the flare signaled first. There may have been a reason it used that code. If that doesn’t succeed, we’ll try something else. If they recognize that, maybe we can really talk. So, Jazz, you ready?”
“Ready when you are, Captain.”
“Tango, separate out with The Newfound Hope, The Pilgrim’s Pride and The Valiant and advance while maintaining a reasonable distance from the station.”
“We are pulling out now,” he affirmed.
She put on her game face and straightened her shoulders. “Jazz, inform ship personnel that we are at meet and greet. Instruct them to secure themselves in lifepods in case of unexpected and abrupt maneuvers. Let the other ships know that we are at first encounter and will update them as soon as possible.”
“Roger that, Captain. I’ll inform the ships.” Jazz bent to the fleet comm and began talking. Soon after, a thumbs up from Jazz showed the task completed.
“Tate, send the first message.” Glancing at her helm, she ordered, “Tango, stand by for immediate action if this goes wrong.”
Her helm wiped sweat from his brow and nodded. He gripped the controls with white knuckles.
An eternity passed, recorded officially as mere minutes. The station flashed and stopped.
After an excited few minutes, The New Found Hope echoed the message.
Then, the word “welcome” blinked out from the station in Morse Code.
Jazz’s eyes lit up “They answered with ‘welcome!’ Captain, if they know Morse Code, we have a means of communication.”
A small cheer rang around the bridge. Tango slumped in his seat and relaxed his tight grip.
Elise leaned into her comm. “Shuttle bay, release the shuttle. Good luck, Lisi,” she whispered.
Chapter 42
Unexpected aliens
Brimming with excitement, Lisi had not expected Elise to actually concede and let her lead their first contact team onto the alien world, much less make her a captain. Her heart pounded and ripples of excitement skittered through her mind. She had to consciously steady her breathing or risk becoming light-headed.
Jing Chan Takata piloted the shuttle towards the upcoming station as each member of the crew studied the alien architecture. In an attack of nerves, Tate began pointing out various components, remarking on their possible functions. Merek closed his eyes against the running commentary. Sergei did some finger tapping against his board and cleared his throat repeatedly.
“The space station looks like one of those old Earth toys I used to play with as a child. Tinker Toys I think they were called,” Lisi commented with a laugh.
Tate leaned forward, peering out the viewport. “The large rotating cylindrical body likely means it uses old tech centrifugal force for gravity.”
“On the planet, they appear to use fossil fuel for energy, but those large solar panels mean they’re at least attempting to convert solar energy to electrical power on the station,” Naomi pointed out.
Sergei observed. “All those panels and stuck-on modules look like the thing was designed by a committee.”
“All in all, a very primitive arrangement,” Merek concluded with a grunt.
“Ease toward the station.” Lisi said, following Elise’s tense order through the headset. She leaned forward to peer out the shuttle viewport and direct the pilot.
“I see the target,” the veteran pilot grumbled, not used to receiving orders from fresh-faced clones.
“Circle it at least once and have Naomi scan the planet and the station’s backside,” Elise added firmly.
“Copy that.”
She glanced at Naomi and got a nod back. Her co-pilot activated the scan.
The station appeared quiet, but operational as they began to circle it.
“I see a line of ports along the bottom of the cylinder,” Sergei commented.
“Maybe weapons of some sort?” Merek shifted uneasily.
Naomi enlarged the scan. “Or it could be a waste disposal system.”
“I’m hoping for waste disposal,” cracked Tate.
“The ports are following the shuttle.” Merek tapped the windshield. “We’re being tracked.”
Tate scoffed, “The station spins to provide gravity, and we are circling at the same rate. Pick up speed.”
Lisi nodded. “We never weaponized our International Space Station back in the day.”
“We never had a need.” Tate turned awkwardly to her. “There never was an alien threat. All our threats consisted of space garbage thrown out or created by careless nations when satellites blew up or broke apart.”
“The clutter got pretty bad,” Naomi added. She looked up from her monitors. “This world is more advanced than any we’ve seen.”
“They built a space station,” Tate commented. “And from the looks of it, sea monsters are not the dominant species.”
Sergei cocked his head to one side making eye contact with Lisi. “Those aliens from our last encounter had advanced weaponry and spaceships. That didn’t end well.”
“Scan the planet now that we’re closer.” Lisi bent to look at the monitor showing the planet.
Naomi adjusted the magnification. “This one has mountains, oceans, landmass, rivers, and snow at the north pole. There are clusters of cities. It looks amazingly like Earth, but the atmosphere has too many particulates in it to breathe without some sort of aide.”
“The weather appears violent and unstable,” Tate said as he studied the screen. “There’s a large turbulent storm sweeping across one of the oceans.”
Naomi leaned in closer to her mon
itor. “Hey! Look at that northern hemisphere. It’s like several meteorites or even an asteroid hit it.”
The shuttle increased its speed to circle faster and complete its orbit.
“Lots of solar arrays. The thing looks like it was stuck together in bits and pieces.” Tate pointed out a section.
“Just like we did,” Naomi said. “Our first space station was built in stages. Any more weapon ports?”
“With all the pieces stuck here and there, it’s hard to tell,” Tate answered.
“There’s only two docking areas, so it doesn’t look like they have a fleet at the ready,” Merek said. “Unless there’s a busy spaceport on the planet.”
“It’s hard to tell airports from spaceports,” Naomi answered. “But I would agree that they are only recently into the space age.”
Shifting position to get a better look from the cramped shuttle cockpit, Lisi said, “Jing Chan, take us toward that station’s main docking area. I hope they have one we can fit into. We’re pretty big.”
As they bled off speed and advanced toward the station, nothing threatened them.
“I’m going in,” Lisi informed her mother.
“Copy that. You’re in charge. I’ll stay online, but it’s your team now. Good luck.”
Flashes of light erupted from the station.
Lisi straightened up and turned to her communicator. “Tate, what are they saying?”
Tate studied the signals. “It would appear they’re giving directions for docking.”
“Okay, comply with their instructions, but keep an eye out for anything hostile.” She hung over Jing Chan’s shoulder, staring through the shuttle viewport as the station grew closer.
Naomi pointed toward an area carved out of the station. “Best guess that’s the place. Looks tight.”
Lisi squinted down at the pilot’s enhanced monitor. “It looks like there’s activity around that section.” She grabbed Merek’s arm. “Good Lord, do you see what I see?”
The young guard wedged himself forward and peered into the screen. “They look human!”
The cockpit went silent, except for a few deep breaths.
Tate stared at her. “How is that possible?”
Jing Chan frowned. “Those mooring clamps aren’t compatible with our shuttle.”
“I don’t care if you have to use a shoehorn and masking tape, get this shuttle docked. I want to go in. Helmets on,” she ordered. Lisi jammed her helmet on and tapped it with her hand, signaling everyone to get ready.
A flurry of nervous activity ensued as each one donned a helmet and performed safety checks on the other suits. After they finished, five round silver helmets faced her, their bodies rigid with anticipation.
Tapping one side, she said, “Naomi, I want you here.” Tapping her other side, she said, “Sergei, fall in on my right. Jing Chan, stay with the shuttle and guard it with your life. Don’t let them board no matter what the cost. Merek, you’ll take point and, Tate, stay close. Don’t say anything until I signal.”
“Yes, Captain.” Five stiff-armed salutes answered her instructions.
Somehow the clamps got attached to a section of the ship, but by the time she opened the shuttle door, no one remained. A deserted dock greeted them as they leaped across a wide gap and shuffled their way across rough plascrete towards what looked like an entry. Only heavy equipment and thick cables greeted them. Moveable enclosed walkways stood still.
“Gravity’s light,” Merek noted.
Sergei pulled out an analyzer. “Very little atmosphere,” he said, scanning the area.
“You don’t pump in air for ships,” Lisi commented.
They entered a staging area and walked through a tunnel until they arrived at what looked like a main entrance into the station. It slid open halfway and stopped.
“What’s this?” Tate swung around and almost fell over due to his momentum in the lower gravity. He propped up against one of the walls. “Do you think they changed their mind and want to trap us here?”
Pausing, Lisi scrutinized the doorway, puzzled. She pushed on it, but it wouldn’t budge.
Merek stepped forward to bang on the panel’s edge with his analyzer. “Most likely it’s stuck. Vacuum and constant use jam up mechanisms like this.” He pulled on it, and she watched it slowly grind open.
“There. Fixed.” She couldn’t see his face but knew it held a grin. Only her own round helmet and suit’s image reflected back off his opaque faceplate.
Her team squeezed through the partially opened panel. Behind them, it closed with a loud clang. They found themselves in a series of chambers. A door opened and they stepped inside one of the empty rooms. Abruptly, there was a loud hissing noise.
“What the hell’s that?” Merek pulled up and put up an arm as a barrier to stop everyone.
“Are they gassing us?” Tate asked. “They could be gassing us.”
After a cursory glance, Lisi responded, “I would say this is an airlock connected to what looks like decontamination chambers. Maybe they’ve bringing in oxygen and nitrogen so we can take off our suits and be decontaminated by ultraviolet light or chemical means. We’ve come from outside, and it would be a logical precaution. We have a similar setup on the ship.”
A stiff up and down movement of Merek’s helmet indicated agreement. “Yes, that makes more sense.” There was a touch of derision in his voice.
Tate cleared his throat. “Yeah, okay.”
“Problem is,” she managed an awkward turn, “will their decontamination process damage us? We’re an alien organism compared to them.”
Merek stepped ahead. “Here’s another panel. I’ll see if it opens.”
The door slid open revealing another room with drains and overhead nozzles.
Merek shuffled around and activated the analyzer.
“Let’s hold off on removing our suits quite yet,” she ordered. “We don’t know how we’ll react to what might come out of those showerheads.”
“Merek and I should take point here,” Sergei suggested.
“Fine by me,” Tate muttered.
“I agree,” she answered.
A beeping noise alerted them, and a green light flashed.
“What’s that?” Tate swung around and almost lost his balance. “This centrifugal gravity is stupid,” he said falling against the wall.
Could the green light be an all clear signal, or was green their signal for danger? Maybe they aren’t going to spray. “What is the reading now?” Lisi asked.
As Merek took air and temperature readings, she noticed a corridor on the left that led to a side room of lockers and what looked like several dressing stations. To their right, a short corridor opened onto a possible ready room.
“Let’s head out to that larger area,” she said. “It’s too cramped in here. I don’t like being enclosed like this without room to maneuver. Merek, check the air for that area too.”
Merek stepped out into a large area with Sergei and raised his recorder to sample the air.
Across the room on the other side, muffled cries came from behind a large second story, glass observation deck. A crowd of very human-looking beings peered out at them. As her group stepped out the exit, the aliens all swayed backward. Some in the rear pulled out what appeared to be weapons and shouted at a man who stood at their center.
Merek slid in front of her, pocketed the sensor, and pulled out a sidearm, dialing it to stun. Sergei followed suit.
“Careful guys, we’re a bit outnumbered.” Tate gulped and stepped back and over, using the two as a shield.
Several tense moments passed as the two groups stared at each other, both waving weapons. At the center of the group, the man’s mouth moved, and he swiveled a bit. Then a small elderly, gray-haired gentleman pushed to the front, raised his hand, and wriggled his fingers at them in what she translated as a wave.
Merek edged around to face her. “Now, what?”
Even though no one could see, she rolled her eyes. “We mim
ic the gesture, of course,” she ordered. Lifting her arm, she tried to wiggle her thick-fingered glove. Her team put away their weapons and did the same. The bulky suits were awkward, but they managed.
She felt like an idiot, but her instincts proved right, and nervous smiles emerged once again.
The center male said something, and everyone around him began to wave.
Lisi found herself catching her breath. Her muscles unclenched and her body relaxed. She waved vigorously some more.
A loud voice blurted out words from an overhead speaker. Everyone around Lisi jumped and stopped waving as they looked upward.
What now?
Ignoring the sound, she examined the group behind the observation pane, focusing particularly on the male at the center. He was a large specimen with elegant features and broad shoulders. It appeared he was in charge. He would be the key. If she could persuade him to accept them, her people might survive this world. Best of all, she might make the difference in ensuring their survival. She wondered what he thought about as he watched them.
With a start, she realized what her team must look like. “This is ridiculous,” she exclaimed. “Merek, do we have a breathable atmosphere?”
Without taking his eyes from the crowd at the observation pane, he answered, “Affirmative, Captain.”
“Then, let’s meet and greet.”
“Ah, Captain, do you think that’s wise?”
“More words crackled from the loudspeaker as carefully, she unlocked her helmet and twisted it off. Removing her gloves, she flexed her fingers.
An immediate reaction and loud muffled exclamations issued from the other side of the observation pane. Someone shouted. A few fell back. Once again, guns emerged and waved about, framing the center male’s head.
Lisi held her helmet in her left hand and shook out her hair, running her right hand briefly through to straighten tangles. She gazed toward the central male and gave him her most charming smile. The smile came easy for he was a handsome alien; she had to admit.
His eyes widened as he stared back. When their eyes met, she felt a jolt of electricity, and goosebumps jittered over the back of her neck and arms.
A World Too Far (Terran Trilogy Book 1) Page 26
