The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle

by John Thornton

  “Make sure you have remote connections available so I can monitor your progress,” Larissa ordered.

  “Yes, Governor.” Rasi waded out to his speedboat then climbed in and rushed away.

  Larissa continued at a gentle stroll along the beach until she had reached the dead sturgeon.

  A few large birds had already found the carcass and were busy working on it. Larissa looked up and admired the flight of two more birds which were slowly and effortlessly circling. They each had wingspans of at least a meter and a half. The body of the birds in flight looked dark gray or black against the light from the sky tube, with the spread of the wing feathers lightening the look a bit to a gray on those edges. The two birds pecking about the dead sturgeon had feathered bodies of mostly brownish-black color, with mottled gray wings. Their heads were red and looked featherless, with some streaks of black across and near their round eyes. The breaks were yellow to almost white color and were holding chunks of meat.

  “So my friends, you eat well today,” Larissa said to the turkey vultures who paid no attention to her as she approached.

  “I do wish you could tell me what you have seen as you soared over my habitat.” Larissa was wistful. “Have you watched my enemies as they slunk into my home intent of mischief?”

  The birds continued to rip and pull at the dead fish.

  “No, no. Do not fight, there is enough for all,” she said as one of the turkey vultures took a jab at the other which hopped a bit away. The bird resettled on the dead fish’s head, while the other remained a meter away on the fish’s side. They would hook their sharp talons into the body, and then peck down with their beaks and rip lose flesh. Occasionally they would stroke at their beaks with their feet.

  Watching the feeding of the birds was quite soothing and enjoyable to Larissa although her sharp mind was constantly working. She pondered the issues she had seen so far this day. Hobson’s death was quickly dismissed as just part of her job and actually as a public service. She also knew that those children would now be cared for, so she was again successful. She concentrated her thoughts on what had happened to the vodnee automacubes and the mystery which she had seen on the video recording.

  Not long later the sounds of the speedboat were heard again as Rasi pulled up on the lake. “Governor? I am ready to descend in the MPS.”

  “So I see,” Larissa coolly responded.

  Rasi was dressed in the Marine Pressure Suit which reminded Larissa of pillows wrapped around someone with a bubble of clear permalloy at the top. Or perhaps just an overinflated tire surrounding the man. Rasi had the clear faceplate in the open position so he could speak to her. The MPS was white and silver colored and carried its own propulsion system and air recyclers.

  “May I set up the remote monitor here, or do you want it somewhere else?” Rasi called from the boat.

  “Back by the destroyed vodnee will be fine,” Larissa said. “Let our scavenger friends enjoy their unexpected bounty without our interference.”

  “Did you need me to evaluate the sturgeon’s body?” Rasi asked.

  “I believe we can safely say it is dead. The more pressing matter is what happened to the vodnee. So hurry along.” Larissa waved him off.

  Rasi turned the speedboat and it raced away.

  “My friends, thank you for your service in my habitat. I must now go and attend to my duties, even though it is much more pleasant to watch you do your work,” Larissa said with a sad grin at the turkey vultures. “Enjoy your day.”

  She then turned and walked back to the place on the shore where the wrecked automacube was still sitting.

  Rasi had arrived there first and unpacked an oddly sized case and had it open and assembled. By the time Larissa had made it to the location, the viewing station was established.

  “Governor, I am all set up.”

  “You have the tools to weld a new barrier over that inlet pipe?” Larissa asked.

  “Yes, Governor. I have the hyperbaric welder and three lengths of permalloy rod.” He patted the side of his shoulder where the container of material was stored. “I can also utilize the scrap that was they and sever, weld, and reposition it to serve as a grille or filter again. The log entry gave me the precise location for that inlet pipe. Shall I start there? You will have visual and audio connections with me.”

  “I believe you will be starting from here, correct?” Larissa then commanded, “You may proceed,”

  “Yes, you are correct. I misspoke. I will depart from here. My apologies. My speedboat is anchored. I have checked the MPS for all its readings. I have the hyperbaric welder and materials, and there is fuel in the propulsion system. Is the remote link coming in?” Rasi asked a bit nervously.

  “Yes, the display is clear coming from the camera on your chest and the audio pickups. Is there a reason for your continued delay?” Larissa glanced from the display to meet his eyes. He looked away quickly.

  “No Governor. I am leaving now.” Shutting down the faceplate of the MPS, Rasi turned and waddle-walked into the water.

  Larissa watched the display on the case as Rasi entered into the water. As soon as he was underwater, she raised the multiceiver up and said, “TSI-463, make a complete and separate recording of this for my use. Do not connect to the lattice or share this without my approval. Record this with full editing capabilities.”

  “Affirmative. Link established to make recording,” the mechanical AI responded.

  Rasi’s voice came from the display. “I am now at twenty meters down. MPS system functioning as expected. The area looks normal, with perhaps a few less fish than I expected. That might just be …”

  “Rasi, it is either normal or it is not. Which is it?” Larissa scolded.

  “Sorry Governor. It is normal. All readings on the MPS are within normal ranges.”

  “Fine. So report when something is not normal, or when you find something remarkable. I will just observe the progress without your commentary.”

  “Yes, Governor.”

  Larissa took out the multiceiver and placed it alongside of the case with the equipment. “TSI-463, exhibit physiological status of Rasi on the side of this display.”

  “Affirmative.”

  The display now not only showed the view Rasi was seeing, but now had an overlay of his electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, and other measurements on his body taken by the MPS.

  “Nervous fellow,” Larissa said to herself. “Is that my presence, or his fear of this dive?” She chuckled a bit. “No matter, if he finds that submersible smuggler vehicle, I will make sure people laud him as a hero.” A darker thought then occurred to her.

  “TSI-463, run a full background assessment on Rasi and any known contacts he has. Especially look for times he interacted with Klara. He might be a person the smugglers have been using or he may be in league with them on this submersible vehicle scheme.”

  “Affirmative. Running check.” The AI replied. “Report ready.”

  “Proceed. Read it aloud for me,” Larissa said as she continued to watch Rasi in the MPS descend.

  “Using scanning and tracking markers from both Klara and Rasi, they have never been closer together than fourteen kilometers. No links, couplings, or other forms of communication between the two suspects. No common associates between them. You Governor, are the closest common factor between Klara and Rasi. There are no other known associations which suggest Rasi has any links to known smugglers.”

  Larissa watched as Rasi turned on the underwater lights on the MPS. The watery world around him was lit up. He was still following the lake bottom as it sloped downward, but now it was a much steeper angle of descent. His heart rate and breathing were faster and his other physical readings showed added stress.

  “Governor? The water is much murkier than it should be. It is not normally like this,” Rasi reported.

  “Have you reached the inlet pipes?” Larissa asked. “I do not see them on the display.”

  “I am almost there. The lake bot
tom has been disturbed a great deal. There are long… furrows, I guess you could call them. Can you see this?” Rasi asked as he moved his suited hand down into a dark area in the lake bed.

  “Yes. What has caused that?” Larissa asked.

  “The vodnee might be able to do something like this, it is powerful enough, but why would an automacube dig up the lake bed?” Rasi asked.

  “There was no record in the automacube’s log about that was there?” Larissa asked.

  “No. I think I can see the inlet up ahead; usually the bottom here is calm and quiet. This is very strange.” Rasi said. “The MPS says I am near it.”

  There was a flick of light on the display. Images got brighter and more yellow colored. The inlet pipe showed in the swirling murk. As had been seen in the vodnee recording, the frame of permalloy crosspieces was broken and twisted toward the lake.

  “That is better,” Rasi said. “I switched my light intensity. Never had to use this much power to see. Lots of sediment floating around. It acts odd.”

  Snap!

  The display screen went dark.

  “Rasi? What has happened?” Larissa demanded.

  “The light on the MPS was struck by something! It is ruined. I am coming up!” Rasi yelled.

  “Turn on other light sources,” Larissa instructed. “You have the hyperbaric welder. Turn that on if nothing else.”

  The physiological readings were still coming in. Rasi’s vital signs showed immense stress.

  A bright, nearly white glow lit up the display. Rasi’s spoke with some small measure of relief, “I got the welder on!”

  “Make the repairs to the inlet pipe,” Larissa said calmly. “You can do this.”

  “Okay,” Rasi said. “I am getting up close to the pipe. I think I can sling a couple permalloy rods across the opening. I will just have to extend them out….”

  Larissa could see his suited hands fumbling to hold both the welder and the rods he had pulled from off his back. Then something purplish lashed out of the inlet pipe with amazing speed. It struck the welder out of Rasi’s hands and it spun down to sink into the lakebed.

  “Something down here!” Rasi screamed.

  The display showed panicked readings on all his vital signs. The visual images were jumping wildly back and forth. The muck in the water was reflecting the welder’s glow, as it sat on the slanted lake bed, but it was very difficult to see what was going on.

  Snap!

  Snap!

  Strange sounds came echoing mixed in with Rasi’s terrified voice. “I am hit.”

  “Report what you see!” Larissa commanded. “I am not seeing anything here.”

  “My ears!” Rasi cried in anguish. “Emergency ascent triggered.”

  “Report what you see,” Larissa barked. “Did they attack you in the submersible?”

  “I am bleeding… cannot see…. Suit punctured… need light!”

  The display image spun around crazily. In one moment it showed Rasi was rapidly moving away from the welder’s light but he was tumbling as his MPS tried to force him to the surface.

  “It has me! Let go!!!” Rasi screamed in hysteria. “No…noooooooo!”

  Rasi’s heart rate accelerated on the monitor until it suddenly just stopped. Breathing and other biological readings tapered off to zero.

  The images on the display showed something purple wrap around the camera aperture and then there was nothing.

  The old man Stanislov spoke from behind Governor Larissa. He had been watching the display over her shoulder.

  “It is the Rusalka. I knew it,” Stanislov said.

  Larissa spoke into her multiceiver, “Connect to Konstantin immediately, full display.”

  “Affirmative.”

  “Governor?” Konstantin’s image lit up from the multiceiver.

  “Put everyone on highest alert and summon in all personnel. Recall every boat on Lake Orsk,” Larissa ordered.

  “What?” Konstantin asked in a bewildered way. His face looked pale and he was very nervous.

  “Shut up and do it! Get everyone away from the lake immediately.”

  “Yes, Governor,” Konstantin responded. “I will call in all the boats, summon the troops, and spread the word to stay away from the lake.”

  “I will be back shortly. I will need….”

  “It is the Rusalka,” Stanislov interrupted Larissa. “We are all doomed!”

  “You shut up!” Larissa barked.

  4 Wecome to D Habitat

  Paul stepped out into the transportation hub through the vehicle hatch door. There were a line of those hatches along the one wall. The one he stepped through was open, the rest were closed. The illumination was shadowy, revealing a foyer type area with irregular shape and unevenly spread lighting. Many of the ceiling fixtures were not working. The few that were working were arbitrarily spread across in the ceiling.

  There was a tall, nearly three meter high statue in the center of the room. It was dull white color and was of a woman, who was standing erect with hands on her hips, short tunic, and boots. Even though the statue was immobile, the look on her face was impressive and intimidating.

  The walls were brilliantly painted in scenes of strange people of various skin, hair, and eye colors, in unusual clothing surrounded by even weirder looking animals. Animals with stripes, or spots, or blotches, or other designs on them. The people in the paintings were holding long sticks which had triangular ends. The painted scenes were some kind of action poses, but Paul did not recognize what they were doing.

  Looking about the area, Paul saw two dead bodies which were reclining against the only other exit, a permalloy pressure door. The dead bodies were roughly intact, but Paul did not examine them closely.

  Gretchen, Brinley, and then the orange automacube moved out of the vehicle and into into the foyer.

  “No Roe here,” Paul declared. “But there is that, and a couple long dead bodies.”

  “That is a tall woman,” Gretchen said as she looked up at the statue.

  “When you say it, it means something,” Brinley chuckled as she looked at Gretchen who, aside from the statue, was the tallest of the three people in the room.

  “Tiffany, what is that?” Paul asked.

  “That is one piece of non-foliated metamorphic rock composed of re-crystallized carbonate minerals, commonly called marble. However, there were varying definitions for the type of rock you are seeing, and geologists, stone masons, and other old world professions had differing definitions,” Tiffany replied.

  “Not the rock, but what is the statue?” Paul asked.

  “I do not have any source of reference which matches the statue’s image. I am sorry to be so imprecise,” Tiffany replied.

  “Paulie, it is just art. You know, like a decoration. Look at the walls. They are art too,” Brinley stated.

  “Like the Purple Mugger?” Paul asked.

  “Indeed, are these images of real animals or mythological beasts?” Gretchen asked.

  “There I can offer more assistance,” Tiffany said. “The artist who did the rendering was not exact; however there is a strong probability that the white and black striped animal was called a zebra. The orange and black striped animal was called a tiger. The animal with the long neck and brown spots was called a giraffe. The animal reclining with the spots that are not well differentiated was either a leopard or a cheetah. The smaller animals in the images are harder to identify with more than moderate probability of accuracy.”

  “So are those real, or mythological?” Paul asked. “The names and designations mean nothing. Real or myth?”

  “Sorry for the confusion. Those animals were all once alive and well on planet Earth. They have been extinct since shortly after the Dome Survival Systems Project began,” Tiffany replied.

  “But they might be alive here, right? There never were any animals in Dome 17, but does means they are gone forever? Look at all the animals we have already seen,” Gretchen said.

  “So which of
those will eat us?” Paul asked. “Those have pretty big teeth, and that other thing with the long neck and legs might stomple us to death. I said that wrong. I mean it might stomp or trample us to death.”

  The hatch to the vehicle they had arrived in slammed shut. There was a clanking sound and a faint swooshing sound as it departed.

  “Well we are stuck here,” Paul complained. “So again, which of those animals is a threat to us, if we see them?”

  Tiffany described the animals in more detail and focused on the carnivores. Tiffany concluded by saying, “This information is based on the records that survived and may not reflect what types of animals are found in this habitat. There has been over one hundred years on this ship alone, and if genetic manipulation, faunal eugenics, cross-species forced procreation, cloning, gene linking, or other mutantogenic factors were in play, the descriptions given may not be accurate.”