by Karl Morgan
The general continued, “The growth on the ice begins as microscopic creatures floating in the gas, taking nourishment from the gas and other organisms in the flotsam. Once they land here, they continue to evolve into the moss-like growth here.” He grabbed a handful of the moss and chomped on it. “Delicious!” he said. “I haven’t tasted anything this good in a long time.” As they spoke, one of the jellyfish creatures moved slowly their way. It was the size of a large truck, and appeared to be eating the moss as well. “These animals developed from smaller species that float in the clouds eating whatever comes their way. When they land on a Ka-la-a, they find a bountiful food resource and start to grow. I have never seen one this big.”
“Are they sentient?” Dave asked.
“No,” he replied. “These creatures have no brain. They are just overgrown versions of their relatives floating in the gas. They can be dangerous though. If several of them surround you, you might be crushed by their weight. And I would not recommend taking a nap on the Ka-la-a, or they might eat you too!” the general laughed. “De-o-Nu, give the crew our coordinates and have them send some men to harvest a nice fresh dinner for everyone.” The two Galliceans and their charges took to the air again. “Dave and Charlie, how are you doing? What are your air readings?” Both reported they were at sixty percent. “Great, there is one more place I want to see today, if you are up for it?”
“What place is that, Fa-a-Di?” Dave asked.
“The Red Spot, of course,” he replied. There was no reply. “Silence means consent! Let’s go De-o-Nu.” Off they flew again as fast as their wings could carry them.
“I wanted to see that too, Brother,” the captain stated as they flew at top speed. “Dave and Charlie, we call that type of thing a Dar-Fa. They are great storms that drive electricity through the whole planet. They are full of tornadoes that pull rich resources from deep in the atmosphere, often from the surface itself.”
“The main Dar-Fa on Gallia is the reason we were able to develop as a society,” Fa-a-Di jumped in. “When the people of Gallia first began to develop, they created towns on the Ka-la-a. The Ka-la-a sat on layers of gas more dense than the ice, which is why they floated. But our culture could not continue to develop as larger colonies would cause the island to sink. There were thousands of small colonies all over Gallia. One of our ancient kings, Fa-o-Kan devised a way to build our own islands using the skeletons of our relatives when they passed. Our skeletons were much lighter and stronger than the ice. Those islands could be much larger and support more people without sinking so low that we could not survive. Over the millennia, those colonies joined together to become nations. As moss and other flotsam landed on the islands, it built up and covered the bones, making a kind of top soil. It was not like we were living in a graveyard.” Dave could now see a huge wall of red clouds looming in the distance. It stretched far beyond the horizon in both directions. Even this far away, he could feel Fa-a-Di’s body being buffeted from side to side. They had risen quite a bit above the level of the Ka-la-a, and the two Gallicean bodies had swollen to their size on the platform.
“Yes, it was the general’s ancestor who gave us nations,” De-o-Nu acknowledged. “But it was my ancestor, De-no-Ko, who discovered that some of the materials floating up in the Dar-Fa could be used to make even larger islands. He found a way to convert what we now know to be solid lithium and other metals into platforms. They were many times lighter than even our skeletons. Once we began to build metal islands, our society developed rapidly until today.” The captain was smiling broadly. “Brother, I recommend that we go as high as possible before we enter the Dar-Fa.”
“I concur, lead the way Brother,” he replied. The two soared upward. Dave looked below and saw the cloud layers slipping farther away. The sky above was getting darker as they approached the top of the atmosphere. He glanced over at Charlie, who smiled back at him.
“Great ride, huh Dave,” Charlie smiled. Before he could answer, both Galliceans dived into the Red Spot. They were buffeted about wildly and both men held onto their harnesses for dear life. Swirling bands of red zoomed about their heads and the howling of the winds was deafening even through their helmets. The Galliceans were very quiet, even though they seemed to be enjoying the ride. Suddenly, all the wind stopped and it became very quiet. They appeared to have entered a huge area of calm winds. All they could see were the red swirling walls in every direction. Dave looked down and was amazed. All around them were the tops of countless tornadoes that disappeared deep into the redness below. The captain and general signaled to each other, selecting the best funnel, and dove again, directly into the open mouth of a tornado.
Again Dave and Fa-a-Di were being viciously pushed about by the swirling winds. Dave could feel the wash of material flying up through the funnel toward the top of the tornado. He saw the general’s body shrinking as the mounting atmospheric pressure pushed in on him. “Dave, clench your left fist if you get too much pressure,” the general told him in a calm voice.
“You must love this, general,” he replied. “I’ve never seen anything more amazing than this.”
“Just wait a minute, Dave, the highlight of the trip is coming up real soon,” the general said. After what seemed like a second, the general folded his wings against his body and plunged through the wall of the tornado. The thunderous sound of wind blocked Dave’s mind. He could think of nothing else. He closed his eyes and thought of clenching his fist. Then the sound stopped. Dave opened his eyes.
They were out of the funnel, flying through a torrential downpour. Liquid splashed all over both of them. Dave thought it must be methane, but did not know for certain. As far as the eye could see, there were hundreds or thousands of funnel clouds, reaching far above them and impossibly far below. Lightning crackled everywhere. There must have been thousands of strikes per second in this massive storm that stretched to every horizon. The flashes came from every direction and lit the bright red sky around them. There was the sound of thunder, but it was muted by the rain and wind. From time to time, Dave could see Charlie riding with De-o-Nu, backlit by lightning. They flew for some time, and the scene was constantly changing, but always the funnels, lightning and the red gas in all directions. Dave thought he could stay there forever. “Dave, I read your air supply at fifteen percent,” Fa-a-Di said. “We’d better head back to the platform.”
“Thank you General,” Dave replied. “This has been the most amazing day in my life. You and De-o-Nu have shown me a world that I never would have imagined. In my time, all of this would have been thought to be impossible. I am so grateful you are here and that you chose to share this adventure with me. It would be an honor if you would call me Brother.”
“Thank you Brother Dave,” he said as they flew off toward the platform.
Chapter 13
Dave sat quietly in his ready room on the Reliant. After returning from Jupiter, he had taken a long hot shower and put on a fresh uniform. Wearing that pressure suit for several hours had been hot and exhausting. He felt more relaxed now as he flipped through a stack of papers in front of him. It was Cadiz and Charlie’s first report on the situation with the lost colonies. Dave was hardly reading the words. His mind was still full of the adventure on Jupiter. It had been a few months since he met Charlie and came to the future. He could not believe that his life had changed so much in so little time. The accountant from twenty-first century San Diego was about to embark on an interstellar colonization effort in the thirty-second, on board massive ships that would carry humanity to new corners of the universe. Two hours ago, he had been secured in a harness against the chest of a giant bird-man from a gas giant planet five thousand light-years away. Even as the thoughts raced through his mind, he was not certain whether they had really happened, or if he had simply lost his mind. A tone signaled that someone was waiting on the other side of the door. He pushed a button on the table and the door slid open.
“Dave,” Charlie said as he entered with Cadiz, “Wasn’t
that the most amazing thing ever? It was so surreal that I felt like I was dreaming the entire time. And the Red Spot! Thousands of tornadoes and driving methane rain all around, battering us about. I know I was there, but it seems impossible.” The two men sat across from Dave.
“You’re right, Charlie,” Dave began, “Ever since I’ve been back here, I keep wondering if it happened or if I have gone mad. I’m glad to hear at least one other person had the same experience. That’s a relief. Okay, guys, tell me about your report.” As Dave finished, another tone sounded. He pushed the button again and Ensign Lamont Landrue entered with a large container.
“Admiral,” Lamont said, “this offering was sent to you by General Fa-a-Di.” He opened the container and withdrew a dinner plate with food on it. “He said this food was from your visit to Jupiter. He had his personal chef prepare it for you and Charlie. The general asked that we send it to our science team first to make sure it was edible by humans. We have found nothing harmful. The general asked me to offer his kind regards as he had to jump back to Gallia for other business.”
The large plate contained what appeared to be steamed greens and a slab of meat. The meat was pale pink and translucent. Dave looked at Charlie and then at Lamont. “Lamont, did you try it?” he asked.
“No Dave, I did not, although I did oversee all the testing in the lab. We were very thorough. While we could test for pathogens, we could not really assess flavor,” he said. “I hope you enjoy it.” Lamont left the room.
“Cadiz, I know the general said this was for Charlie and me, but please, go ahead and try it,” Dave said.
“After you, Admiral,” he replied, pushing the plate toward Dave.
Dave stared at the plate from some time, and finally picked up one of the forks that were in the container. He pushed around some of the greens, trying to figure out how they might taste. The scent was pleasant. Finally, he picked up a forkful and shoved it in his mouth. “That’s damn good,” he said at last. “It’s a little bitter, which I like, but very crunchy, savory and spicy. It tastes a bit like kale and arugula at the same time.” Encouraged by his reaction, Cadiz and Charlie each picked up a fork and tried the greens. Dave considered the slab of meat. In his mind, he saw the truck size jellyfish beast on the Ka-la-a. He was able to cut a piece of the meat using his fork. At least it was going to be tender. It smelled something like roasted pork. He put it in his mouth. “You know, that’s not bad either,” he said. “The flavor is a lot like pork. The texture is a little gelatinous though. This would take some getting used to.” The others tried the meat as well, now that Dave had been the guinea pig.
After their tasting, Cadiz and Charlie updated Dave on the piracy situation at Day’s End. Cadiz told him that Defiant and Courage had jumped to Day’s End three days earlier and their captains had been meeting with the planetary council about the situation. There was usually an incident once every four or five days. Local defenses could not match the capabilities of the captured Kalidean ship. There had been no casualties on either side during the confrontations, but significant amounts of goods were stolen. Most of the residents of Day’s End were sympathetic to the Skyers. Many had left that planet themselves during the great exodus, and still had family and friends on the renegade colony. When Captain Crain Crenshaw of the Defiant told the council about Dave’s plan to rebuild Far Sky and New Dawn, they were very happy and relieved.
“What do we do now, Cadiz?” Dave asked.
“I think we need to meet with the leaders of Far Sky, and find out how we can proceed,” he replied.
“How exactly can we do that?” Charlie jumped in.
“I have a plan that will probably require the help of your new brothers,” Cadiz said. “Even our newest ships will have problems with a Kalidean cruiser. Their technology is far above ours. But if we had the help of several Gallicean starships, we would have the upper hand. Once we have that ship, the Skyers will have a real reason to listen to us.”
“I like the way you think, Cadiz,” Dave replied, smiling widely. “Let’s set it up.”
Chapter 14
Jon Lake was a pirate and the master of the starship Nightsky. The Nightsky, formerly known as the Kalidean cruiser Manila had been modified to accommodate its new crew. Several decks had to be removed as humans had difficulty with the low ceilings. The cargo bay had been greatly expanded to hold more supplies taken from the unsuspecting people of Day’s End. Jon had not always been a pirate. His mother had been pregnant with him when his family had migrated from Earth to the new colony. He had attended universities on Day’s End, and held a medical degree and Ph.D.s in starship and biomedical engineering. He had returned to Far Sky after college to help grow the colony by building hospitals and clinics. Twenty short years after his return, the supply ships stopped coming and the exodus began. His home city, New Dallas, declined from one hundred thousand to ten thousand during the exodus. His family moved to the countryside and began farming to provide food for the region. Waves of disease moved across the land as medical supplies dried up.
Five years ago, a group of local residents came to him for help. A Kalidean ship had been captured in New Dallas. The locals knew Jon was highly educated and asked for his help in getting the ship ready. Jon did not like the thought of piracy, but he also saw the effects of rampant disease on his neighbors and family. He had to do something, so he moved back to the city and took command of the operation to restore the ship. His knowledge of the Kalidean language and engineering were instrumental in rebuilding the ship in four years. The Skyers suffered more with each passing day, but the project could not be rushed. Too much was at stake to allow haste to destroy their chance to get more food and medicine for the suffering people of Far Sky. He could see the faces of the Skyers each time they unloaded the supplies they had taken from Day’s End. Jon did not feel like a pirate. The people of Day’s End did not resist their intrusions. They knew the situation on Far Sky was desperate. Many of them had lived on Far Sky themselves, but chose to leave in the great exodus.
“Jon, Day’s End is visible on the view-screen,” said Ali Bai, his first mate from the control console. “I’m also reading two star cruisers in the vicinity. Earth must be worried about us.”
“Ali, steady as she goes,” Jon responded. “Those cruisers can’t match this ship and they know it. Try to find a target on the other side of the planet though. No sense taking any chances.” Ali adjusted the course and moved the ship around to the far side of the planet.
“They have seen us for sure by now, Jon,” Ali said.
“Don’t worry, Ali,” he replied. “Just keep an eye on them. If they start to come after us, we’ll just zip out of here.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Ali said. “Steady as she goes.” The cruisers did not move as the Nightsky slipped around to the night side of Day’s End. “There is a depot at New Salem that looks promising. The data shows they were just restocked two days ago. It should be a piece of cake. I’m taking her in now.” The Nightsky slipped into the atmosphere and dropped quickly into the thick cloud cover.
“Frake, we’re landing in five minutes at the depot,” Jon said into his communicator. “There are two star cruisers on the other side of the planet, so you have to make this very fast. Are you ready to go?”
“Always ready, boss. You know me,” boomed the voice over the communicator. Frake Landres led the landing parties. He was a seven foot burly man whose mere presence made the locals forget about resisting. He had trained his crew of twenty to move quickly and quietly, always trying to avoid confrontations. Prior to his life of piracy, Frake had been a farmer, a poet, and a highly skilled cellist. Desperation had separated him from his instrument, which was now replaced with a laser rifle strapped across his back.
As the ship touched down, the twenty pirates hit the ground running. Frake was at the front, and ran to the security post, stopping cold. At the gate, in charge of security was his younger brother, Vance, who had moved back to Day’s End during the
exodus. The two men hugged each other. Vance pushed the button that opened the supply building. “Say hi to Mom when you see her,” Frake said as he led his men inside. Within five minutes, the hold of the Nightsky was full and the crew was inside.
Ali launched the ship back into the sky. Within a minute she was back in space. “Jon, the two cruisers are starting to follow us,” Ali warned.
“Bring up the speed to seventy percent,” Jon advised. “There’s no way they can go that fast. Say goodbye to Day’s End men.”
The ship accelerated and the two cruisers started losing ground to the Nightsky. They were barely visible in the rear view-screen when dozens of alarms started blaring on the bridge. “What the heck is going on now, Ali,” Jon shouted over the din.
“Captain,” he replied, “we have twenty Gallicean starships surrounding us. I have no idea where they came from. We’re trapped.”
A loud squeal poured over the speakers. Ali switched on the translator. “Hello, my friends,” boomed the voice. “I am Captain De-o-Nu of the Gallicean starship, Kong-Fa. There is no escape from my fleet. I demand that you surrender your ship to me.” The view-screen image of the fleet was replaced by the hawk-like face of the Gallicean. “Please do not make me waste any more time.”
Jon looked at Ali. “What can we do?” he whispered. “We can’t fight twenty battleships?” Ali shrugged his shoulders.
