SALIENT

by Simon Rosser

  “We sure have, but not the sort we want. It’s the military,” Casey growled.

  Armstrong turned to Tom and shouted. “There’s no time. I know you want to explore the mines, and now’s your chance. Take the small video camera and go!”

  “I’m coming with you,” Bruce said, folding his laptop and stuffing it in its carrier case.

  “Well you’re not going to leave me alone!” Jess said, looking at Tom.

  “Of course not, let’s go, quick!” Tom agreed, holding out his hand.

  Jess grabbed Tom’s hand, and the three of them sprinted for the entrance to the mineshaft, just as a vehicle’s bright neon headlights punched through the edge of the forest, followed by the sound of its powerful engine.

  Tom turned on the flashlight as the three of them ran into the mineshaft. From the clearing outside, a mechanical, amplified voice echoed into the shaft. “This is the United States Military. Put down your weapons and stand still or you will be shot.”

  The three of them continued around the left hand bend of the shaft where Tom had found the chest earlier. The beam of light from the torch bounced off the walls and roof of the mine as they ran, revealing thick, wooden support beams covered in lichen and cobwebs. After a minute, and with the immediate threat of the military finding them receding, the three of them stopped, panting rapidly to catch their breath.

  “Jesus Christ that was close. What a total disaster,” Tom gasped, brushing a cobweb from his forehead.

  “We’re going to end up in serious trouble if we get caught now,” Jessica whispered between breaths.

  “Well, we don’t plan on doing that now, do we?” Bruce replied, rolling his eyes.

  “Come on; let’s continue as we can’t go back now. I’m sure Armstrong will think of something to say to get out of the crap they’re in. The mystery signal and all the other weird stuff going on here is too important to ignore. There’s a cover-up I’m sure, especially as the military are involved,” Tom said.

  “Damn right there. It’s like one of those old sci-fi B movies from the 1950s. The Day the Earth Stood Still, or The Blob,” Bruce said.

  “That was a classic. Steve McQueen, before he was a movie star,” Tom replied.

  “Yeah that’s right.”

  “I loved Them,” Tom’s voice echoed along the mineshaft.

  “Them, Damn I’d forgotten about that movie; giant ants take over L.A right? That was a classic.”

  “Can you guys shut the hell up? I’m scared shitless as it is without you two talking about stupid sci-fi movies,” Jessica interrupted.

  “Sorry Jess. Here, you can do some filming of your own,” Tom said, handing Bruce the movie camera.

  The three of them continued along the mine, Tom’s flashlight casting eerie shadows as the beam of light swept the shaft ahead of them, bouncing off the solid rock walls and timber roof beams used to strengthen the mineshaft.

  The air temperature was becoming noticeably colder as they proceeded deeper into the mine and moved towards the glacial area at the base of Mount Shasta.

  Two miles northwest of their location, the black SETI truck, accompanied by two military Humvees, pulled off the main mountain road onto a snow-covered track, which lay above the tree line, just beneath Mount Shasta's eastern face. An old weathered, wooden sign, leaning at a jaunty angle pointed the way to Cobalt Ridge Glacier, the apparent source of the mystery signal.

  Inside the vehicle, Dr Lucy Davies stared at the monitor and the glowing blue dot, which was hovering over a location just 600 feet away from their current position.

  “I can’t believe this is actually happening. I mean the signal, it has to be genuine. The data can’t be wrong,” Lucy gushed, her heart starting to race with excitement.

  The truck rumbled on, its spiked, winter ice tyres gripping into the narrow icy track, which was becoming increasingly treacherous the higher up the eastern side of the volcano they drove.

  “So what do you guys figure this signal really is? I mean, if it’s genuine, surely we need to be concerned about it?” Jordan asked.

  Lucy didn't respond to Jordan’s question for a few seconds, still engrossed in the readings on the monitor in front of her, making him repeat the question.

  “Oh, sorry, well that’s a reasonable question. Yes and no,” Lucy replied. “I mean, if the signal is genuine and actually comes from an alien civilisation, then it's truly the most significant scientific discovery we could ever make. It could change everything. Our understanding of our place in the universe, humankind’s origins, and who we really are as a species, perhaps even who created us. I mean the ramifications of this are mind-boggling,” she said, tearing her eyes away from the glowing blue dot on the monitor for a few seconds.

  “What if whoever is sending this signal has hostile intent?” Jordan asked.

  “Well, to be frank that’s highly unlikely. Any advanced intelligence could annihilate us in a second if it wanted to, probably without any warning, or us even realising it had happened,” Professor Beck said.

  “That's true. Any civilisation advanced enough to make contact indicates they are benevolent enough not to have destroyed themselves, or indeed to have any intention of destroying us.”

  “I’d prefer to trust my instinct on that theory. A signal that emanates from a glacier on earth, and terminates somewhere in the Cassiopeia Star System, via the Moon, either has to be a hoax, or something to be very wary of in my book,” Jordan said.

  “Why, that's your job isn’t it, to be wary? That’s why the U.S. Military is involved in all this. Trust nobody; be suspicious of everybody, and fingers on the trigger of whatever killing machines you possess, ready to blast anything you think is a threat to kingdom come. Let’s face it, during the last fifty years its pure luck the United States and Russia haven't destroyed this planet many times over,” Lucy said, with disdain.

  Jordan said nothing.

  The truck slowed and took a sharp right turn, climbing farther up the mountain pass.

  “According to the monitor, we are now only two hundred feet away from the source,” Lucy exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

  Jordan’s radio sprang to life with a burst of static. “Yes sir, will do. Over and out,” he said, after a short pause.

  “Don’t tell us. We won’t be able to see the location until you guys have secured the area?” Lucy said.

  “It’s just a precaution and for your own safety ma’am. You need to stay in the truck until I advise you further.”

  The truck slowed, and after a minute came to a halt on a flat ridge of ice, at the edge of the tree line. The two Humvees that had been following pulled to a stop alongside, their powerful, diesel engines falling silent seconds later.

  Lucy started to feel nervous as she glanced at the screen in front of her, the glowing blue dot right upon them. The ground- penetrating radar fitted to the SETI vehicle confirming the exact location of the signal was around thirty feet due west from their location and some fifteen feet beneath the glacial ice. The thought that the signal really could be alien in nature sent a shiver down her spine. She had to admit, it was a little odd the source was coming from under a glacial area of a mountain on the continental U.S.A. It made little sense.

  Jordan grabbed his M14, checked the magazine to ensure it was loaded, and opened the back of the vehicle before jumping down to the ground. A freezing gust of air blew into the truck as he slammed the door shut again.

  Lucy shivered and rubbed her arms in response to the sudden blast of cold air. “Come on, let’s get kitted up,” she said, finishing the dregs of the coffee she’d been drinking.

  Professor Beck got up from the desk and grabbed the two parkas that were hanging in the corner, passed one to Lucy, then walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a portable, depth- penetrating radar device. “Have you considered what we’re going to do if we can't get access to whatever is emitting the signal?”

  Lucy zipped up her parka “Yep, we’re going to melt our way d
own to it,” she said, winking at him.

  CHAPTER 17

  JOINT NASA/SETI U.S. PRESIDENT BRIEFING MEETING - OVAL OFFICE.

  THE SEYMOUR TALL Case Clock standing against the wall of the Oval Office ticked to 11 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time as the small team of scientists and military officials were ushered into the Whitehouse's most important room, where President Trent was sat behind his desk, hands folded across his stomach. “Sit, gentlemen,” he said to the men who’d just entered.

  NASA Advanced Space Mission Science Director Dr Edgar Bond and SETI scientist Dr Hans Willems sat, the two military personnel also each took a chair.

  “So, gentlemen, what’s the latest position in this very unusual, and somewhat exciting, situation we find ourselves in? Should we be readying our nukes?" the president asked, smirking at General Joseph Grant as he spoke.

  The general nodded and opened a small notebook he was holding. “Well, sir, our army recon unit, together with the SETI field scientists reached the remote glacial location, Cobalt Ridge, on the eastern flank of Mount Shasta an hour or so ago. The site is secure, and the source of the signal has been pinpointed to a location approximately fifteen feet beneath the ice. GPR has confirmed there is a sub-glacial cavern or hollow at the source point. SETI scientist, Dr Lucy Davies, who is on the ground there, has suggested melting through the glacier to get to whatever is emitting the signal, but we are looking at other possible entry points. Perhaps drilling into the ground and inserting a fibre optic camera in first, to see what we’re dealing with, might be the safest option. It's low risk and will give us a good visual of what’s going on. As for the nukes, I don't believe that’s necessary just yet. We have suitable military assets in the area we can utilise, including a squadron of F-35’s on standby at Beale Air Force Base should we need them.”

  The president nodded. I like that, clean, quick, and safe. I was joking about the nukes, but the F-35’s are a good idea.” he said, before turning to the NASA and SETI scientists. “What’s the latest on the science side?”

  SETI scientist, Dr Willems, a middle-aged, no-nonsense guy, took the end of the pencil he was chewing out of his mouth. “Yes, Mr. President, as the general said, the source of the signal lies fifteen feet beneath the Cobalt Ridge Glacier. At this point in time, we have no idea what technology is involved in the transmission. The logical conclusion was that it was man- made, but the second signal originating on the Moon and focused towards the constellation of the Cassiopeia star system does, of course, suggest otherwise.”

  The president narrowed his eyes and thought for a few seconds. “So, if it’s not the Russians, the Chinese, or the dammed North Koreans, you’re saying it might actually be alien in nature?”

  Willems shrugged his shoulders. “As incredible as it seems, there's nothing else it could be.”

  The president took in a deep breath, before slowly exhaling. “What’s the position with Operation Odyssey? Are we ready to launch the X40?”

  NASA scientist, Dr Edgar Bond, according to his name badge, ran his hand through his mob of curly brown hair. “The craft is being fuelled as we speak. It takes thirty-six hours to fill her. The advanced plasma engines have been primed and we’ll be ready to go in three hours from now; eleven p.m. Pacific Time. ETA on the Moon should be zero-two-thirty a.m. PT time, eleven-thirty p.m. EDT,” he said.

  “And the astronauts, are you satisfied they are up to the task?” President Trent asked, moving a glass paperweight prism around on his desk.

  Bond nodded. “A little more time would have been nice, but they're good to go.”

  “Very well gentlemen. That’s what I wanted to hear. As for Cobalt Ridge, we will get everything prepared for a vertical melt through the ice if we can’t get the cameras into the cavern before we are on the Moon. I want to know what’s going on beneath that glacier before our boys step foot on the Moon.”

  “Yes sir. Oh, there is one more thing,” General Grant said.

  The president raised his eyebrows.

  “The military unit just came across a British film production company, two miles due south of the signal source. Claimed they were making a documentary about the alleged Bigfoot attack on four campers the other day. Two campers are still missing, presumed dead. One of the survivors is a Brit, Tom Bishop, a recent graduated from MIT with a first in Physics. He and his girlfriend are still on the mountain, as we found some heavy-duty sleeping pods.”

  The president shook his head. “This whole thing gets more bizarre each day. Needless to say I’ll not be raising that at the UN meeting in just under an hour. I take it the group are being cleared off the mountain and taken in for questioning.”

  The general nodded. “As we speak.”

  “Very well, there’s nothing else to say. Good day to you all and good luck. I need to deal with the gathering crowds outside the gates and brief the Russians and the Chinese of the situation ahead of the UN meeting. If this signal turns out to be what we think it is, we don’t want any misunderstandings or confusion,” President Trent affirmed.

  CHAPTER 18

  Mount Shasta Copper Mines, 8 P.M.

  THE THREE OF them had been walking through the mineshaft for half an hour, with the temperature dropping noticeably as they travelled farther in. A damp, almost mouldy smell hung in the air. Jessica shivered as she walked, staying as close as she could to Tom. “I wonder what’s happened to the others. It’s just a matter of time before the army come after us you know. At least it will be the end of this crazy adventure when they do,” she said, her voice echoing in the dark tunnel.

  Tom checked his mobile phone. As expected, there was no signal, and no further messages from Gerry.

  The mineshaft started to curve around to the right and appeared to be rising ever so slightly to the surface. The passage’s rocky walls, blasted through the solid bedrock had more and more patches of green moss or lichen covering them. A distinct trickle of running water could be heard coming from somewhere up ahead, no doubt melting glacial ice from above.

  “Careful, it’s becoming a bit slippery,” Tom warned, as he felt his boots lose purchase on the ground.

  The three of them continued on in silence for another forty feet, when Bruce suddenly froze in his tracks.

  “What the hell?” he said, staring at Tom.

  “What’s up?” Tom asked, stopping as he saw the shocked look on Bruce’s face. As he spoke, he realised what Bruce was referring to. An eerie, ultra-violet hue filled the tunnel, bathing the three of them, and the immediate space around them in a warm purple/blue glow.

  “Jesus Christ,” Tom shouted, discarding his backpack, together with the harpoon-like object, the source of the light. His backpack fell to the ground, the ultra violet light emanating from the device glowing brighter, bathing the tunnel twenty feet either side of them in an intense violet light.

  “Are you okay?” Jess asked.

  “Yep, fine, I didn’t feel anything,” Tom replied, aghast, as the three of them backed away from the backpack, shielding their eyes from the light as they did.

  “Is it going to explode?” Jessica screamed, gripping Tom’s hand as if it were a stress ball.

  “I’ve no idea. It’s fucking weird, man,” Tom said, using language he rarely let slip past his lips. Before any of them had a chance to speak further, the glow coming from the object started to fade, until all that was left was a purple halo around the device, making it look like a cheap, child’s toy.

  “Is it safe?” Jess whispered.

  “No idea, but it hasn't exploded,” Tom replied, his voice barely audible. “Stay put. I'm going to have a closer look,” he said.

  Bruce remembered he was holding the video camera and quickly turned it on to start filming the strange event.

  Tom crouched by his backpack, and shielding his eyes with one arm, in case it started glowing intensely again, placed his left hand over his backpack and the harpoon that was strapped to the outside. “It still feels a little warm,” he whispered. He took
a deep breath and quickly touched the handle end of the object with his finger. It felt okay, not hot.

  Tom stared at the object as the ultra-violet glow continued to slowly fade until the glow was barely noticeable and the tunnel was in darkness again. “That was extraordinary,” he whispered, realising that whatever the object was, it was beyond their current level of comprehension. Could it be some kind of top secret, U.S. Military advanced weapon or something even more sinister? He wondered. Surely they weren’t looking at alien technology? He pushed the absurd thought to the back of his mind and reached out for his backpack. “Well, it doesn't appear to be a threat,” he said, pulling the pack, along with the strange device, back onto his back.

  “Come on, let’s move on, and see if we can find the cavern shown on the old map. I've a feeling there might be more than just a pile of gold stashed there,” he said.

  “It’s a good job I’ve got this video camera. Nobody would believe what just happened if I hadn’t caught that on film,” Bruce said.

  “And that's a good thing?” Jessica added, as the three of them set off again along the tunnel.

  five hundred feet behind them, out in the clearing in the pine forest, the major finished finger printing and scanning the retinas of Armstrong’s film crew. Casey had already been cuffed and placed in the army Humvee for pissing the general off and was now under military detention, whatever that meant. Arran’s protest had fallen on deaf ears and he’d had to bite his lip for fear of ending up in the same position as his father. Armstrong had told his team to say as little as possible, but to cooperate. He’d shown the general his credentials, U.S. visa, and Channel Five journalist pass, which, as he'd hoped, had afforded him and his team some latitude. At least the M14’s had been lowered and they didn’t feel under immediate threat any more.

  “Right, my men will be driving your vehicles and equipment out of here and back to Alpha Base, where a military unit will meet us and take you back down into Shasta for debriefing. Do you understand?”