These ant-like insects have a hierarchical system, with males and females sharing much of the work. A warrior caste has been observed at some mounds, but not all. The warrior ants are larger and have food brought to them by workers, presumably while they guard against threats.
What makes these insects stand out from the others, is the way they eat. Hundreds to thousands of these insects will burrow their way through the ground to the site of a fresh corpse, and then eat it. As they consume the deceased animal, a mound of dirt grows under the victim. The young of this species transport dirt to the site of their meal. This protects the colony from the many birds, and other animals that would eat them.
Once the corpse is consumed down to the bones, the insects move on to the next food source. It is not known how the insects communicate the location of their next meal. Do they detect vibrations in the ground? Body heat? Something else? In theory, a person standing still may be at risk from these insects. This is a theory I am not willing to test, at least not yet anyway.
Another fascinating insect is a small flying species. Their bodies consist of two segments. The rear segment has six legs, along with a pair of flimsy-looking wings, while the forward segment has four legs and a small spike in its mouth. Much like mosquitoes, these insects drink blood, many also carry a rather nasty virus. People that get infected become very ill, and those with a weak immune system would probably die. Fortunately, a vaccination was made before the Liberty arrived, sparing their crew from the debilitating condition that many of us experienced.
Returning to the original settlement, we searched for this particular species, but found none. The hypothesis is that they require a moisture-rich environment in which to lay their eggs.
My team has identified dozens of unremarkable insects, in addition to the two species above. Each...
Benny yawns, and then asks his mother, “Will we get to some good stuff soon?”
Dianne lifts her eyebrows in surprise, “These insects aren’t exciting enough? The colony could have been doomed before it even got started.”
“But they found a cure,” he says blandly, adding, “they always find a cure.”
“That may be true,” Dianne replies. A few seconds pass as she considers what to say. Finally, she takes a breath and says, “but remember, those people were establishing a colony on a planet they knew very little about.”
Benny’s brow creases in confusion, his frown deepens, then he asks, “But why would they do that?”
Dianne smiles at the question, then replies, “It’s called exploring the unknown.” She sighs, “It’s something we don’t do anymore.”
“Sure we do!” Benny says eagerly. “We send scout drones out all the time.”
Dianne lowers her head a little in disappointment, and says, “That’s not the same as us going out and exploring new places.” She glances at the view and motions at it with her hand, skipping a few pages of text. She stops the display from scrolling, and smiles once again when she finds a particular section. She says confidently, “I think you boys will be able to relate to this.”
Both boys obediently turn back to the display, and read.
Emma’s Legacy
Hydroponics (updated)
The hydroponics bay on the Terran is a state of the art system, with one unique feature. Being uncertain of the air quality in the alien atmosphere, a water spray system has been installed. The plants receive a fine spray of oxygenated water every few minutes.
Months of planning and work has all been for nothing. George has solved the issue of the thick Gamin air. Surprisingly, the ship’s life support systems now provide a replica of Earth’s atmosphere. Everyone literally breathes easier, as the alien air was heavy and rank. Now, if only he could fix the gravity; my legs ache and my feet hurt.
Savages. We now have savages on board. The stupidity of the contractors amazes me. I have sampled the buffalo they killed and cooked, and fortunately it is safe to eat. I still can’t believe that they just shot it, cooked it on a huge spit, and then consumed it without even having the meat tested.
The Effen Raiders have ruined my hydroponics bay. I took the last of the strawberries to the bridge, but no one there seemed to understand the ramifications. Now we are fully reliant on our stocks of canned food, due to the failure of the kitchen’s freezer units. I swear we’re going to starve on this ship, unless it falls apart around us first. We are a long way from home, our ship is damaged, and we have little in the way of food.
The Oglan farming planet looked at first to be our salvation, until I realized that I can no longer test the local produce with enough surety to deem it safe for our consumption. I hope one day to revisit this planet with a full team and proper equipment. It is interesting to note how their culture is regressing due to a global shortage of metal. Ancient and abandoned cities were observed having been plundered for various metals. From the little we have observed, it looks as though the Gamin mined this planet for a long period of time, and in doing so, stripped it of virtually all usable metals. How do you mine an entire planet of heavy metals? How long does this take?
We have finally made it back to Earth, only to be kicked off the ship. No explanation has been given, but it seems the military has taken control.
Damn it, Peter and I have been drafted back on board by George and Cindy. They found us by using the Kord implants that I had completely forgotten about. Well, the good news is that the Terran’s hydroponics bay has been completely redesigned, and takes advantage of many new innovations. Mind you, the recent additions by Joe, Radclyf, and Hayato do not instill me with much confidence. The area looks like some demilitarized zone. Demilitarized, now that’s an oxymoron all unto itself.
I am so excited about designing a completely new hydroponics system aboard the grounded Liberty. Patrick is cutting holes in the hull, into which I am adding a hybrid of Earth, and New Earth soil. I didn’t tell anyone that I brought a few tons with me. Okay, it’s more than a few tons. Joe is being very firm about where I can and can’t get holes cut, which baffles me, ‘cause that ship is never going to fly again. I think they’re wasting their time. The Greenfield system includes fruit trees that will be able to grow to their full height, as well as vast areas filled with all kinds of Earth-based produce. The best thing is that I now have the ability to conduct isolated tests on Earth’s plants in the local soil, without having to be concerned with unusual weather.
Dianne looks at the boys, and asks, “What does that section remind you of?”
Richard frowns, then shrugs his shoulders while slowly replying, “I don’t...” Suddenly his eyes light up, and he calls out with excitement, “Emsbayz!”
Benny’s jaw drops, “They were named after Emma!” He says, then asks doubtfully. “Were they?”
Dianne smiles, “Emma became the foremost expert on hydroponics systems.” Seeing that she still has their undivided attention, she adds, “Though what we have is nothing like the archaic facilities she had to contend with, her ideas and concepts laid the foundation for what we use today.”
The boys stare at her in awe, allowing Dianne to continue, “Did you know that Emsbayz is a twist on Emma’s bays?” She lifts her eyebrows.
Both boys roll their eyes as though her statement were old news, and not some special revelation.
Benny grins and shares his thoughts, “They used to grow food in the ground, with all those creepy things crawling through it,” he scrunches his nose up in disgust. “didn’t they, Mom?” His statement turns into a question as he begins to doubt his own words.
“Yes,” she replies, “and not only that, some still do.”
Richard’s eyes go wide as he blurts out, “I have heard of those people. My dad calls them...”
Dianne scowls, lifts her hand up quickly, and stops him mid-sentence. She wiggles a finger back and forth, and says firmly, “There’s no need for that kind of language here,” she adds with disapproval. “I happen to know exactly what your father calls them, and you sh
ouldn’t.”
Staring at the boys for a moment, she suddenly has an idea, and asks, “Would you two like to go and see where our vegetables come from?”
Richard tilts his head, and with a confused expression, asks, “Don’t we just convert energy into food?”
She nods in agreement, “Yes, we do that as well. However, a refined palate can tell the difference between created food, and grown food. Just ask any Gamin.”
Benny says in disgust, “Eww, they eat raw meat, don’t they?”
Dianne chuckles, then replies, “No, they don’t; they cook it first.”
“But it was alive before?” Even as the words tumble out, Benny realizes how silly his question is.
Dianne replies with her teacher’s voice, “Each citizen is entitled to the sustenance they desire.”
Richard frowns again while he thinks, then proudly states, “Miss Dianne, I know what that is. That’s a quote from the Unified Charter. Isn’t it?” he adds, hoping he is correct.
“Very good!” replies Dianne. “Can you tell me who wrote it?”
“Emma,” chime both boys excitedly, confident in their answer.
Dianne grins, then says, “Nope.”
Both boys stare at each other for a few seconds, then Benny responds, “That was a trick question. So, who wrote it, Mom?” he asks curiously.
Dianne, while still grinning, looks at the screen. She scrolls the journal to a new section while replying, “The answers are all here, boys.”
The boys excitedly read the next section. Things suddenly got interesting again.
Emma’s Journal Continues
Gliders - Unclassified
Length: 40cm to 60cm
Weight: 500gm to 1kg
Note: They have short tails which they deploy as a rudder when gliding.
These small, four legged, stumpy squirrel-like creatures jump, flatten out their bodies, and glide through the air from tree to tree. They look so much like the flying squirrels of Earth; I did a double take when I saw my first one. I haven’t been able to examine any, or even get close enough to determine if they’re mammals. Entire groups will jump from tree to tree. I swear they’re teasing me. Are these family units? Or are they herd animals? They will remain unclassified for now.
Birds - Aves / Avian
So many varieties and species have been discovered, that I have allocated an entire team to the study of them. Unfortunately, I am unable to find the time to investigate them all. One species, a rather fascinating variety, practically fell in my lap, affording me a unique opportunity to inspect them.
Owl-like creature
Length: 30cm to 50cm
Weight: 1kg to 3kb
Note: Equipped with a poisonous dart in their underbellies.
These indigenous birds are about the size of an owl, with a slightly smaller wingspan. Their bodies are covered in a layer of thin fur which looks like fine feathers. They hunt small prey, which they capture with their powerful talons. They then inject their victim with a paralyzing poison via a small spike that sits in a sheath on their lower abdomen.
During mating season these birds fight amongst themselves, competing in aerial combat until a solitary victor remains. The defeated combatants invariable die, either from the toxin, or the fall to the ground.
“Wow, cool,” says Benny excitedly, “just like the warriors.” He moves both of his hands, mimicking aerial combat.
Dianne says, “Since you liked that, wait ‘till you read about Spike.”
Richard chimes, “The teachers have already told us about Spike.”
She smiles knowingly, and says, “Yes, the story of Spike is well known,” she leans toward the boys, and then says secretively, “but this is before that story even begins.”
Benny looks at his mother with awe, and says, “You’re so smart and stuff.”
She chuckles, and then replies, “And if you two boys want to, and study hard, you, too, can become administrators of the archives.”
The three of them turn their attention to the display, and continue reading.
Spiders - Solifugae
Length: 10cm to 20cm
Weight: 300gm to 600gm
Note: Poisonous spike in a sheath on its rear upper thorax
These ten-legged, spider-like creatures live inside tree holes, and come straight out of our worst nightmares. These creatures have a double thorax. The forward section has four legs, the rear six. They grow to the size of a baseball and have a single forward facing spike on their upper body. When they rear up to strike, the six hind legs provide stability while the front four are available to seize the target, holding it in place for spiking. This spike is usually fully retracted unless the creature is hunting prey. They hunt gliders, small birds, and baby tree climbers, and inject them with a neurotoxin. The paralyzing effects are almost instantaneous to the affected area. The poison spreads quickly through the blood stream and once it reaches the heart, stops it. Larger animals can survive, though permanent muscle paralysis may occur. These creatures are territorial, and will only strike if hungry or threatened.
Stepping on one is not suggested, as the spike may penetrate the soles of average person’s footwear.
One of the contractors has a pet spider he calls Spike. The crews feed it canned meat, and let it crawl over their hands. I was even told how safe it is, because the spike is on its top, and not in its mouth. Damn these idiots. I have witnessed the venom from one of these creatures bring down a gazelle, and here they are playing with one.
In another instance, Henry reported of a man who had stepped on one. That man now has a permanent limp due to irreparable nerve damage. Henry told me that he thinks the man saw the spider, stomped on it to kill it, and was impaled by its spike. His crushing of the spider actually injected its venom into his foot. By the time crews got to him, he was going into shock, and almost died.
Richard glances at Dianne and asks doubtfully, “Spike was around way back then?”
Dianne nods. “They had all kinds of excitement, didn’t they?”
“Excitement?” he says, blinking in surprise at her obvious enthusiasm.
Benny stares at the screen, and asks, “Mom, is there anything they didn’t do?”
She replies, “I did say that everything began with this journal.”
Richard slowly shakes his head in disbelief, then says, “Miss Dianne, why do we even learn the story of Spike if it was so long ago?”
Reflecting on an answer, she says simply, “It’s a story of hope.”
Richard’s eyes open wide when an idea springs to mind. He blurts out, “Are there pictures in the Journal?”
Dianne slowly shakes her head from side to side in disappointment, “Sadly, it would seem that Emma either couldn’t draw, or just didn’t, besides this archive has been persevered exactly as it was found.” She motions toward the display once more, then says, “You boys may find this section fascinating as well.”
Benny stares at his mom in wonder, and asks, “Mom, why are the archives locked?”
She smiles at the two boys, and then lies convincingly, “I don’t know.”
Dianne issues the same lie that all archivists deliver, as if the contents of the archives should be available for all to read. In reality, their contents could shake the very foundation their civilization is built upon. She lifts a hand and waves at the screen, revealing a new chapter in Emma’s Journal.
Once again the two boys diligently read the text that is displayed.
Aquatic life
The variety of life forms in the various water ways of New Earth are surprisingly limited, especially when compared to the thousands of species in Earth’s oceans, lakes, and rivers. My oceanic team is conducting extensive research, but has yet to provide a logical and practical reason for the lack of diversity.
One hypothesis for the scarcity of water life in this particular region is the motion of the oceanic current. The bay area is not only isolated from these currents, but the cyclic flooding is
not conducive to the more sensitive life forms. Another consideration is the continental shelf, which extends for quite a distance before meeting the deeper waters of the ocean.
Hawking’s new marina is a boon to my oceanic team. Thanks to the contractors, we are finally discovering more aquatic species almost on a daily basis. Each one is vigorously tested prior to being determined as edible, or not.
Looking back at my early notes, I almost want to delete them. But when we first arrived, that’s how it was, and so the notes stay. Now though, I barely have time to review the findings of the many teams, and the aquatic team is no exception.
Finally, some great news. My aquatic team now reports that seventeen species of fish have been discovered to date, and are cleared as safe to eat. Meanwhile, only five crustaceans and two forms of jelly fish have been discovered.
Damn it, a group went on a deep-water dive in the survey shuttle. How they snuck off without me is mystifying. Peter will pay for this! Not sure if it’s his fault, but I am blaming him anyway. During the dive, the team observed a number of very large aquatic species. The report describes the whale-like, and shark-like behemoths of the deep as being prolific beyond the relatively shallow waters of the continental shelf.
Benny turns to his mother, and once again scrunches up his nose as he says in disbelief, “They ate fish straight out of the ocean?”
Richard frowns, and before Dianne can answer, asks, “What’s an ocean?”
Dianne lowers her head in disappointment, not at the boys, but rather at the teaching community. She answers with a tinge of sadness. “An ocean is vast body of water; and yes, a long time ago we used to catch fish from these oceans. They would be cleaned, cooked, and eaten.” She reflects, we need to better educate our young.
Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles) Page 103
