Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles)

by James Jackson

  Cindy purses her lips as she understands. We either adapt or die. “Keep me appraised.” She heads to the bridge, the one thing that bothers her the most is that she is unable to recall the sick man’s name.

  The next few days are tense, as stories ranging from creatures rampaging through the ship to the crew being coerced by some unseen aliens, fill the halls. Finally, Henry reports that the sick man has fully recovered, though he needs rest. Cindy shakes her head philosophically at the news. Probably anemic from all the blood samples Henry took. She has spent these last few days mulling over their next step. Seated in her chair, she looks at the bridge crew.

  “Time for a decision. Do we go down to the planet again, or look for another?” Cindy gazes around the bridge seeking her bridge crew’s input.

  Most of the crew look to each other in silence as they ponder the question. Peter speaks up though. “Shouldn’t that be Emma’s call? She is the lead planetologist.”

  Cindy smiles at Peter’s simple, yet overlooked solution. She smiles, nods, and then taps her console. “Emma, report to the bridge, please.” Taking her finger off the symbol, she looks at her crew again. “Before she gets here, I want your thoughts though.”

  John speaks up first. “We flew all over it and have a lot of samples.”

  Andrew looks to Joe briefly then speaks for them both. “We can’t learn anything new by staying.”

  Cindy turns to look at Peter. “Your thoughts?”

  Peter takes a deep breath as he considers his answer. “If we conduct additional ground surveys we will undoubtedly learn more about the planet and its potential life forms. But I say let’s move on, this is but the first decent planet we have discovered. If we do not find any more in the near future, then we can always come back.”

  While the bridge crew quietly considers the pros and cons, Emma arrives. Though she normally does not like being summoned, she arrives in good spirits.

  Cindy greets her with a smile. “I do understand that if we stayed, you and your team could be kept busy for a long time studying this planet. And although I feel we have made a great discovery, I wish to keep looking for more planets. Your thoughts Emma?”

  Emma looks at the planet that dominates the view and blinks in surprise at Cindy’s comments. “We have found an amazing planet, and you want to look for more?”

  “That is our mission.” Cindy states openly.

  “Well, I would like to get some deeper core samples of the soil, and more samples of the vegetation.”

  Cindy considers the risks. “What about the bug bite? We have no idea what kind of creature bit your colleague.”

  “Well, if we’re looking for planets to settle on, then we had better learn as much as we can about each one, bugs and all.” Emma looks in wonder at the planet.

  “Very well, we shall stay for a few more days then. John, I want you to work with Emma.” Cindy issues her instructions with sureness.

  Cindy turns to George and asks. “Can we seal off a section of the ship, so that nothing gets in or out, even microorganisms?”

  “Sure.” George answers with confidence.

  Cindy likes the straightforward answer. “Then please, work with Emma and make it happen.”

  Emma turns to leave, then stops and asks speculatively. “I thought we were going to give this planet a new name?”

  Cindy looks back at her as she recalls her comments upon the planet’s discovery. “Yes, but how did you know about that?”

  “Well the whole ship is offering suggestions, and we did find it you know. Besides, I think it’s a good idea that we get to name our find instead of someone sitting at their desk back on Earth.” Emma’s hands now rest firmly on her hips, as if defying that imaginary person on Earth to challenge her.

  Cindy smiles as she realizes she likes the spirited planetologist. “Okay, let’s draw up a list of suggestions and have the crew vote. I would like to see us with a short list in a few days.”

  The next three days turn into four, then five, as the planetologists make ever greater demands. Finally, Cindy feels as though she has to deal with them.

  “They are bringing up the whole damn planet.” Cindy says to no one in particular as she sits in her command chair. She is running out of patience as the planetologists keep stalling her for more time. Just one more core sample, another newly discovered plant species. She can almost hear Emma’s voice as she recants their repeated reasons for staying.

  Switching her mind to another topic, Cindy turns to Peter and asks, “What name ended up winning?”

  With a sigh, Peter replies. “Tropicanus!” His voice is full of disdain.

  “Oh my. That’s what won? Perhaps we shouldn’t let the crew vote on any more planet names.” Cindy shakes her head in disappointment.

  “Pretty corny if you ask me,” Peter states, clearly displeased with the choice as well.

  “Well, it’s time we moved on.” Cindy states.

  Cindy leaves the bridge and visits the section where samples from ‘Tropicanus’ are being deposited. The sealed off section literally brims with plant life from the planet. Though the planet’s atmosphere is more humid, a number of plants have been placed in pots, and seem to be surviving just fine. Finally, after yet another lengthy debate, Emma concedes that the task of cataloging everything is impossible for three people.

  The next day finds the Terran banking away from the lush planet. As the ship heads out even further into space, Cindy issues her favorite order with relish. “Punch it.”

  John engages the main engines, propelling the ship at speeds way beyond the speed of light. As he glides his finger up the scale, he moves past the fifth block and stops just below the sixth. Far and away, this is the fastest he has ever pushed the ship.

  Cindy sits back and enjoys the spectrum of colors that randomly decorate the forward view. John glances at Joe who wags a warning finger at him as he points to his own terminal. Joe watches while the ship draws more power than the reactors can possible put out, as is the case each time they engage the main drive. Once again, they play the delicate game of balancing the ship’s demands to the very limited, and dwindling, reserves. When the reserves get low, they drop to sub-light speeds and recharge. Sometimes they are in range of planetary systems, sometimes not.

  The days turn to weeks as the search for another Earth-like planet continues. Boredom once again sets in. Cindy begins receiving disturbing reports of the crew’s antics during this time, food goes missing along with the occasional work tool. Tempers start to flare as the weeks drag on.

  Location:

  Starship Terran

  Where no one has gone before

  Cindy yawns as she heads to the mess area. She is not in any real hurry and though refreshed from a decent night’s sleep, she too is feeling the drudgery. She steps into the room, and into chaos. Tables and chairs have been tipped over, a rowdy group encircle some unseen event. Oh damn it, not another fight.

  “Okay people,” Cindy shouts out authoritatively. “Break this up.”

  A few people on the periphery turn to her, then wander off. Cindy shakes her head as she makes her way into the center of the throng. There in the midst of it all is Patrick. His ripped shirt reveals his bulging biceps, he holds two equally strong looking men apart. For their part, both assailants are doing what they can to get at each other.

  Cindy gulps a little at the obvious ferocity in the two men’s demeanor. I hope chivalry is not totally lost on this ship, she wonders as she steps up to the men. Patrick notices her and breaks into a grin.

  “Oh shucks Cindy, these boys are just playing, no need to spoil your day.” Patrick glares at each of the two men. “Ya fellows are just messin’, right?”

  The men drop their aggressive posture, talks of Cindy’s punishments are becoming legendary. Patrick slowly lowers his arms, but remains guarded as he stares at each of the men. Cindy folds her arms, and waits. Seconds later Radclyf and Hayato enter the room, they are equipped for battle. Jim and Ak
ira flank them, their keen eyes assess the situation quickly. Though all four men are wearing full combat regalia, their stance suggests they would still be a deadly force without it.

  Patrick holds up an arm as if the gesture would stop the four combat veterans. “Whoa, hold up there folks. No need to get all fussed up. Bill here is going aft to work on that shuttle problem ya have. Kevin here, well he is going to see those computer geeks, apparently they need some new gizmo set up.” Patrick stares at the two maintenance men as if daring them to challenge him.

  Cindy gives Hayato and Radclyf a slight nod as she says loudly. “If you boys want seconds, just ask next time.”

  The tension in the crowd breaks as many of them start to laugh. Breakfast stopped tasting great a while ago. During one of the many stints at high speed, an intrepid, and now notorious, engineer decided to divert power from the kitchen area so that he could run a computer simulation. Needless to say, he blew every circuit that was installed between the Gamin power systems and the coolers that were fitted back on Earth. That was some weeks ago. Now breakfast, like every other meal, consists of some variation of a canned or powdered food.

  Bill and Kevin stare at each other for a few seconds before a final glare from Patrick sends them packing. With the day’s excitement over, the room quickly settles down. Cindy sits at Patrick’s table while Radclyf heads to the buffet style counter and puts together a couple of plates with eggs, sausage, and mashed potatoes. He slides a plate in front of Cindy then rejoins his companions.

  “Thank you.” Cindy states as Radclyf walks off with his own plate.

  Cindy pushes the food around for a bit with her fork before eating the barely palatable mix. Powdered eggs, powdered mash, and canned sausages, every day.

  Patrick raises his eyebrows in surprise. “I never would have expected that man to get ya breakfast.”

  Cindy looks over at the four soldiers. “There is a lot more depth to those fellas than most know.” She turns back to Patrick and asks curiously, “You did not get those two men to shake hands before they left. Why not?”

  “Oh hell, ya know they wouldn’t a meant it, so why bother?” He replies.

  Cindy nods and sighs. Food supplies are not low, just boring. When the coolers went down, the crew enjoyed pure feasts as all the perishables that needed to be eaten, were consumed. But that was almost three weeks ago now. She ponders the crew’s morale as she recalls the kitchen staff telling her quite happily that the canned supplies could last for years. With morale already failing after mere weeks, she has to make a decision. Patrick confuses her silence with annoyance and gets up to leave.

  “No, no, stay for a while, I was just thinking,” Cindy states apologetically.

  “Well, that’s what ya do, think! So, I will go break something and ya can go back to ya thinking.” Patrick responds.

  “Break something?” Cindy says perplexed, deep in thought, and only half catching his words.

  Patrick laughs. “Well, there’s nothing to do, an’ if I break a few things, then there will be stuff to do. Right?”

  “Cindy to the bridge.” The voice comes through the ship’s speakers. Everyone in the room turns to look at Cindy. They all felt the slight shudder that accompanies the ship dropping to sub-light speeds. Usually though, she is not called to the bridge.

  Looking at her barely touched plate Cindy smiles. Damn shame I have to miss breakfast today. Patrick, seeing that she is done eating, takes her plate. “If those soldier boys can bring ya food, then I can surely take care of this.”

  “Thanks,” Cindy says distractedly as she rises.

  A fleeting glance to Radclyf and Hayato is all that Cindy needs to get them moving. The four combat veterans are also feeling quite bored. Breaking up tussles between roughnecks is not exactly keeping their skills well honed.

  Patrick hurries after Cindy, he wants to see what this is about. Arriving at the bridge, the sight stuns him. Hovering over them is a beautiful planet with blue seas and large land masses with a mix of greens and browns. Huge ice caps dominate the Polar Regions. Radclyf wordlessly motions for Patrick to join them. Finding an empty chair, he realizes that Cindy has already been gathering reports and issuing orders.

  Patrick is momentarily alarmed as John leaves his station. “Ya can do that? Just walk away, but what if we need to move?”

  Cindy smiles at the question. “We’re safe.” An idea suddenly comes, unbidden. “Patrick. Do you want to join the survey team?”

  “Me!” Patrick says, in surprise.

  “Be a tight squeeze in the front cabin.” Cindy says, offering him an ‘out’.

  Patrick is thunderstruck as he looks at the planet. “Hell yeah, count me in.”

  Cindy’s smile grows as he leaves the bridge, clearly energized.

  The planetologists, however, are not so amused. Five people occupy the front area that is designed for two. Patrick ends up kneeling just behind the two seats that John and Emma occupy. He smiles as the other two science-types sit uncomfortably in what looks to be large storage lockers. His position affords him a phenomenal view.

  Emma looks at Patrick in disdain. “What are you doing here? This is not a sight-seeing trip you know.”

  Patrick just grins back at her. She is just like many other scientists. He keeps his other thoughts well to himself as he ignores her question.

  John gives Emma a brief look as he rolls the shuttle over, affording them an even better view of the planet. He knows she will not admit it, but she is obviously stressed by his piloting. John looks over his shoulder at Patrick, adding to Emma’s alarm as the shuttle plunges down into the upper atmosphere.

  “Why, Patrick is here as a representative of the crew that make this mission possible.” John explains.

  Patrick is not sure what he is enjoying more, the praise, or Emma’s growing discomfort. The shuttle drops into a band of puffy white clouds, and for a moment they could all be on Earth. Even the fleeting glimpses of blue from below give no hint that this is an alien world.

  “WOW!” Patrick says loudly, unable to contain himself. “What is this place?”

  John is busy flying as moderate winds buffet the shuttle. “Emma, give us a run-down, will you?”

  Emma does not know much and has little to offer. She looks at her scant notes, then feeling Patrick’s genuine excitement, she relaxes a little. “We don’t know much. The planet is approximately twenty-five percent larger than Earth, with a slightly heavier gravity, maybe five percent more. It takes three hundred eight-five days to orbit its sun. The days are a little longer, at almost twenty-six hours. It would seem to be slightly cooler than Earth overall, but we have spotted what appears to be some desert areas. The ice caps are huge and probably store a lot of water, balancing the ecosystem as the oceans and lakes only make up around sixty percent of the planet.”

  Patrick is dumfounded, and says with surprise in his voice. “We just got here, and ya know all that?”

  Emma smiles. “Yes, but the reason we’re all crammed up here while George and Olaf have all that room back there is because we don’t know if we can breathe the atmosphere yet.”

  John interjects. “Yep, the alien computers say this place is okay, but then we’re not aliens and just because it’s okay for them, doesn’t mean it’s good for us.”

  They all recall the corrosive nature of one planet that was supposed to be ‘habitable.’ Pushing this out of his mind, John banks the craft even lower, coming in over a long coastline. Waves splash onto a pristine looking beach that heralds the border to a seemingly never ending forest.

  Patrick looks confused. “Hey, even I know that waves have something to do with having a moon. How can there be waves?”

  “Oh,” John replies, “this planet has two moons. I parked the Terran in orbit between them.”

  Emma nervously glances at John, along with everyone else.

  John gains some altitude as he pilots the shuttle over the massive forest. Suddenly, a flock of strange birds are startl
ed into the sky. He banks away from them and continues on. Looking for a clearing they head further inland, crossing a wide slow flowing river as they go. A mountain range ahead gives John cause to ponder. If the planet’s atmosphere is corrosive then I need to land, but we need a clearing in case the planet has nasty critters. He pushes the craft even faster, the forest and mountains below, become a blur. Crossing the mountain range causes all of them to gasp. The landscape suddenly changes, forests give way to long grasses that rise and fall with the rolling hills. Rivers and streams meander between these hills. Herds of four-legged fur covered creatures that could easily pass for buffalo, scatter as the ship flies overhead.

  The farther inland they go, the grasslands and hills give way to an arid landscape, the number of streams and rivers dwindle. John gazes at the sparse landscape, and finally finds a suitable landing area.

  Once the craft bumps down, George and Olaf begin the arduous task of dragging equipment outside where they can commence testing the air, and soil.

  Patrick looks back and forth as those around him do not get up. “Um, what are we waiting for now?” He asks curiously.

  John keeps watch as he replies. “We don’t know if the air is safe to breathe. I for one, am not interested in just opening the door to find out.” He grins sheepishly.

  Patrick never really thought of these ground missions as dangerous before, but now he is wondering.

  John continues on, unintentionally adding to all their fears. “Besides, this planet seems to have an ecosystem of sorts, meaning that something out there probably eats those buffalo things.”

  John’s timing is flawless as George’s voice chimes in across the shuttles speakers. “Looks safe, you guys can come out now.”

  While Emma’s team goes about their tasks, John relays the early news to Cindy. Then he and Patrick head outside where they walk a short distance away and maintain a constant vigil. Off in the distant rocky bluffs, they can barely make out what could be caves.