Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles)

by James Jackson

  Benny eyes brighten as he energetically asks, “So, like a really big aquarium?”

  Dianne nods as she replies, “Yes, it’s sort of like an aquarium.” She ponders what to say. “Here, I will show you.” With a wave of her hand at the screen, she replaces the view of the journal with an index listing. The boys stare at the extremely long list in awe. With a barely perceptible motion, she selects one of the names on it, instantly replacing the list with the view of a planet. White and grey clouds swirl before them, as if the planet were just outside a window and not a recording.

  “Oh cool!” says Richard, awestruck.

  The image zooms in to reveal a vast beach of yellow sand. Waves casually roll onto the shore from the water that extends as far as the eye can see. Both boys are stunned at the landscape.

  Richard frowns, and says in a confused tone, “Why can’t you see the land in the distance?”

  Dianne smiles. “That is how planets are, the land curves away from you.”

  “Did anyone ever fall off the edge of the world?” Richard asks sincerely.

  Dianne tries not to chuckle, then replies. “No, Rusty.” She points at the vast ocean and says, “That’s where the fish would be caught.”

  The two boys stare at the vista for many minutes. Benny’s eyes light up in excitement, then he asks, “Can we visit one?”

  Dianne stares at the waves as they roll onto the beach, and answers, “I don’t know.”

  Benny’s excitement grows all the more when he asks, “Hey, doesn’t Grandpa fish?”

  Dianne smiles and says, “Yes he does, but the fish he catches aren’t real, they’re bio-mechanical.”

  Richards jaw drops. He gulps, and then whispers in awe, “Wow! Your family is powerful.”

  She looks at Richard, and says, “You could learn how to fish too, if you wanted.”

  The young red headed boy shakes his head from side to side. “No,” he says, his voice is filled with disappointment. He looks at Dianne and adds solemnly, “My dad says that only the elite can do special things.”

  Dianne answers with the usual dogma, “The more a citizen contributes to society, the greater their access to recreational facilities.”

  Both boys nod in unison. This is the doctrine that is ingrained into all citizens from birth until death.

  Dianne leans closer to Richard, and says recklessly, “Rusty, let me tell you a little secret.” Her eyes glint in the light as she issues her bombshell, “Your family has an open seat on the council.”

  Richard’s eyes fly open, “No way,” he states in disbelief.

  Benny’s jaw drops at the news. He stares at his friend in awe.

  Dianne grins, adding, “Your father believes that everyone should have access to everything.” She casts her eyes downward, “But, we just don’t have the resources to do that.”

  Richard frowns, and asks, “Why would he tell me we can’t do special stuff?”

  Dianne’s voice is filled with respect when she answers, “Your father is a good man, a man of great convictions. He won’t do something that others can’t. Soon however, you will come of age, and will be able to decide your own path.”

  Richard and Benny stare at each other in stunned silence.

  Dianne chews on her lip for a few seconds, as she realizes that she may have stepped over the line with Richard’s father, again. She grins whimsically and thinks, well, it’s not the first time, nor will it be the last.

  Both boys stare at Dianne warily. She smiles a little sheepishly when she becomes aware of their scrutiny. She stops chewing on her lip and says, “Soon, both you boys will face the test of age.”

  Both boys shudder at the prospect, they have heard wild rumors about, ‘the test’, yet no one talks about it what it actually is.

  Dianne’s smile widens. “Perhaps you boys will do so well you’ll be able to work in Capital City.”

  Richard tilts his head, and then says with a frown, “My dad says that nobody works there.”

  She laughs, a loud hearty laugh, one that causes the boys to glance at each other in confusion. Between chuckles, she replies, “Just because they’re leaders, doesn’t mean they don’t work.”

  Without thinking, Richard repeats a phrase he has heard many times, “My dad says that getting dirty is the sign of an honest day’s work. He also says that without people like him, there would be no Capital City.”

  Dianne smiles at Richard’s innocence, and says, “Your father chose to be a repairer of the automatics. There are many fields to choose from. Some choose mechanical, others medical, others science. You will discover all of this soon enough.”

  Benny gazes at his mother, and then poses a question. “Don’t the Kord do all the inventing and science stuff?”

  Dianne nods her head in agreement. “Every race contributes what they can. But, you are right; the Kord do much of our scientific research, alongside other races.”

  Richard’s eyes light up again, and excitement fills his voice as he says proudly, “I saw a vid of a Gamin battle fleet in formation.” He straightens up and adds with authority, “Their ships are so big, that they have to dock outside.”

  This is news to Benny, who is visibly surprised. “Wow, you never told me about that.”

  Richard can’t help himself and blurts out, “I also saw a vid of an Atlan carrier with thousands of fighters buzzing around it.”

  A whimsical smile appears on Dianne’s face. It seems I am not the only one sharing Central’s restricted data. She replies, “Yes, the Gamin are our first line of defense, something else we should be grateful for. If it were not for their ongoing sacrifices, we would all have perished by now.”

  Benny glances at his mother and says, “But didn’t all this happen a long time ago?” he shrugs his shoulders, “What does it have to do with us today?”

  Dianne lifts a finger in the air, stopping the boys from adding, or asking more. She says, “We could talk all night about the other races, and what each one does. Let’s get back to the journal instead. Perhaps you will learn something that may be beneficial one day.”

  Lake Mystery

  Lake Mystery rests on what would be the western side of the river, and is nestled at the base of the mountain range on that side of the valley. Hawking is on the same side of the river as the lake, but is cut off by a large canal which we constructed to contain the water runoff.

  I finally get to explore the lake, and plan to walk completely around it. Finding Peter and John waiting for me was an unexpected surprise. After my initial shock wore off, I realized that this just may be even more fun than I anticipated.

  The trek is taking a lot longer than I expected, but then, having Peter with me is proving to be quite a diversion. He is a complete mystery to me. All I know is that he is a retired Russian spy, a combat veteran, and is deathly scared of the ten-legged spiders that exist here. He will step between me and any danger, and yet...

  There are so many new plants, insects, and birds being documented; even a large, new herbivore has been discovered living in the hills. John is ferrying these samples back to Hawking, allowing me to continue gathering.

  There are signs of previous visitors here. What do a rusty nail, super strong fishing line, and a pile of timbers have in common? Peter and I think that perhaps this planet was visited a long time ago by aliens.

  Four days gone already, and I have hardly added any notes to this section. Thanks to John and his shuttle, I have dispatched a lot of samples back to Hawking. We have found many new species of shrubs, trees, insects, and more. This planet is young and fertile; life exists everywhere you look.

  The display unexpectedly changes to that of a star-filled view. Many of the pinpricks of light are shaded red, while others are white, yellow, green, or blue. As one of the lights change from blue to red, the hair on the back of Dianne’s neck raises. She mutters fearfully, “After all this time, and they’re still looking for us.”

  Richard frowns in confusion, and asks, “Miss Dianne,
who is looking for us?”

  She takes a deep breath, then replies, “It’s nothing. Now, where were we?” Her thoughts drift back. I warned them not to send more probes, but the Council wanted to know, and now they do.

  Dianne smiles warmly at the patiently waiting boys. It is a well-practiced smile, one that hides her true feelings well. She enthusiastically states, “Okay, then, I need to plan a trip for the three of us.”

  The two boys stare blankly at each other, shocked and then excited. “For real?” Benny asks.

  Richard is still pondering everything he has read, and inquires, “Why didn’t Emma finish the journal?”

  Dianne smiles wistfully, “Well, she went wherever the Terran went, and then some. Besides, her team completed their studies of the life on New Earth. It’s just that this journal has Emma’s personal notes and thoughts during the initial setup of the colony.”

  Benny gazes at his mother in adoration, and asks, “You want to be just like Emma, and explore planets for real, don’t you, Mom?”

  Dianne nods. “Yes, I do. Imagine standing on an alien world, and breathing its air for the first time.”

  “Yuck,” says Richard in disgust. “Imagine all the diseases, and... and... things,” he says, not really sure of which things he means.

  Dianne stares off vacantly. “Can you even imagine what it must have been like, going out there, really exploring?”

  Richard stares at Dianne for a few seconds, and then says, “That’s why the archives are locked. Central Command wants to keep everyone here, ‘cause whatever is in them, it makes people want to leave.”

  Dianne sighs, “Now that’s your father talking again.” She pauses for a second, then reluctantly adds, “But he is sort of right.”

  The three of them stare at the blank screen; the boys are waiting for Dianne, while she sits pensively. She sighs. “Rusty, I think we have seen enough for today.”

  Richard’s shoulders slump a little as he replies, “Oh, but Miss Dianne, we haven’t even looked at the spaceship you showed us.”

  Dianne nods her head, then says, “One day soon, I will take you boys to Central Museum.”

  Richard and Benny stare at each other in stunned silence. Central Museum is not a place people can just visit anytime they want. Just the thought of going is almost a flight of fancy.

  She smiles warmly at their reaction. “That’s a promise.”

  Richard can tell that he is being dismissed, so he waves and says, “I had better get home.” He continues in an upbeat tome. “See you tomorrow, Benny.”

  Dianne nods to her son, and says, “How about you go with Rusty?” she gazes at the blank screen then adds, “I’m going to be busy for a while.”

  Benny grins excitedly, “Sure!” he replies with enthusiasm.

  While the boys scurry off, Dianne’s thoughts turn to other, more serious matters. The boys’ chatter reverberates down the corridor, causing her to smile at their innocence. The entryway to her quarters closes, abruptly cutting off their sounds. The sudden silence causes her lips to quiver, and a single tear streaks down her face. If we are discovered, we will all perish. Their lives, along with so many others, will be cut short, and they will never know why. Her sadness and fear turn to anger. If I get my way, they will have to pay a dear price for their actions.

  Chapter Three - Legacy

  Dianne takes a deep breath, gathers her wits, and says, “Contact Councilman Eldridge.”

  Not only is the computer system in her study more advanced than most, it has a direct link to Central Command, and every other council member. This group of people not only governs, but they are also responsible for everyone’s survival. Meanwhile, the general populations of each race live, work, and play, oblivious to the dangers that still exist.

  A face appears on her display. The man runs a hand through his short, red hair, then along the stubble on his chin. Though he looks tired, his bright blue eyes blaze with an intensity rarely seen. He sighs and shakes his head disapprovingly. “Oh, it’s you!”

  Dianne ignores the tone behind his words and replies quickly, “Rusty is on his way home, and I have sent Benny with him.”

  Eldridge’s eyes narrow. “Okay. What is it this time?”

  She sighs, “The boys were attempting to access the ancient archives, and before you blame me, I was not even here, at least not at first.”

  He rubs the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. “What did they learn?”

  Dianne’s features soften as she replies, “I directed them to Emma’s Journal.”

  He nods approvingly, “Good move!” he says, genuinely impressed with her quick thinking. He smiles. “There is nothing in there that would frighten them.”

  She smiles back for a moment, but, remembering why she called, frowns and asks, “Did you get the message?”

  Eldridge shakes his head. “No. What message?”

  She lowers her voice and says, “We’ve lost another probe.”

  He steps back, shocked by the news. With a twinge of guilt, he admits, “I have the Council Channel muted.”

  Dianne stares at him intently. “The Council must convene, and you should take your rightful place.”

  He shakes his head from side to side, and replies with a dogged determination, “Just because some forebear was on the Council does not justify me having a seat.”

  Dianne purses her lips, and replies mockingly, “Some forebear! Really?”

  Eldridge’s eyes narrow, “I know you directed my son to Emma’s Journal for a reason, just as you have always encouraged your son to be his friend.”

  She replies sympathetically, “He has a right to know the truth; they all do.”

  This time he sighs, a deep sigh, one from his heart. He lowers his eyes as he replies, “With the number of times we have revised our history, do we even know the truth anymore?”

  Dianne tilts her head, and says, “There is still the matter of the probe.”

  The sound of the two boys chatting comes through to Dianne. She stares past Eldridge’s image, but the boys do not enter his study.

  He glances back warily, and leans closer until his face fills the screen. He whispers, “You meet with them.” He stares at her intently, measuring her, then adds, “I will endorse your recommendations.”

  She gulps, then asks hesitantly, “Are you sure? I am going to recommend an evacuation drill.”

  He stares at her for a few moments. “You do know that people died last time we did that! Right?”

  She nods solemnly. “Yes, I know.”

  Eldridge nods, thinks a moment, and then says with conviction, “Central, I endorse Council woman Dianne Stanton with my vote of confidence.”

  As his eyes meet hers, he smiles softly, and says, “There, it is done. Now go, and save us from ourselves will you.”

  The image goes dark, leaving Dianne to stare at her own reflection. Her blond hair and hazel-colored eyes, are such a rare combination that she is easily recognized. Her towering intellect, along with her fierce determination, ensures that no one forgets her exchanges, especially in the council chambers.

  The computer, having no instructions to display anything, shuts off, leaving Dianne completely alone without even her reflection as company. She gazes around the room, and as she does so, sadness creeps up on her. With a subdued tone, she says, “Always on the brink.” Her words hang in the empty air as if waiting for answers that will not come.

  She takes a deep breath, and fights back the tears that threaten to spill out. A few minutes later, Benny arrives home, and finds his mom preparing a meal for them.

  Later that night both boys dream of ancient battles, and deeds long passed as they sleep peacefully in their beds, oblivious to the constant dangers that surround them.

  Epilogue

  Humanity’s future, and very survival, is ever entwined with the races that constitute the Alliance. Over the course of time, many new members have been added, while some have been lost. The Central Council’s members all h
ave a number of things in common: the races they represent, have at some time been on the brink of extinction, they’ve sacrificed more than anyone can imagine, and somehow survived.

  Even with all that has been achieved, the Alliance is still on the run. Worse yet, they are running out of places to hide.

  This is a sneak peek at humanity’s future. The challenge is to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together before reading the answers. Who is this powerful enemy that they are hiding from? Also, who is part of this Alliance? And what about the Terran that is in the museum? These are but a few of the questions raised.

  The answers are forthcoming, in time.

  ###

  Section Nine: ALLIANCE

  Novel

  Preface

  The starship Terran is on its way home to Earth once more. Its crew, led by Cindy Klein, is not looking forward to the monotonous task of performing shuttle runs to and from the recently established colony on New Earth. The spacecraft Liberty was supposed to be performing this duty, but instead, is now a permanent fixture of New Earth. Long grass grows around its landing pads, its once gleaming hull has been dulled by the elements. Emma’s hydroponic bays supplement the colony’s dwindling food supplies, while the Gamin Power Unit provides the growing city with an abundance of energy. Without a constant flow of supplies from Earth, the colony’s only city, Hawking, faces difficult times.

  “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” - Stephen R Covey

  “Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” - Robert A Heinlein