Salvage-5 (First Contact)

by Brian K. Larson

“Tuck…”

  “He wouldn’t have taken this mission if it weren’t for me.”

  “They came to him, Tuck.”

  “No, Cass. The word on the street is that he came to them begging to go. He said he just needed to get away from all of us for a while.”

  “Bev left you ten years ago, Tuck.”

  “Well, I kinda waited until a couple of months ago to actually tell him…with my fist…gave him one nice shiner though.”

  “I’m sure he had his reasons for going, Tuck. The best thing we can do is arm ourselves to the hilt, and get down there and complete our mission. I mean, come on, this is a military operation after all…lots of explosions…you like explosions, Tuck.”

  “She’s right. There may be a chance that we can still save our people. Maybe figure out how to program the thing to reverse grow or something,” Rhodes said.

  “Gus, this one’s for you, baby!” Tucker said with a renewed strength.

  “Now that’s the Tucker Petersen I know,” Cass smiled.

  “Weaponize everyone. See Hargrove for your issue, and I’m changing our original plan…Melissa, Cass, and Rhodes, you three will stay with us. Greater strength in numbers. Cal. You stay here with Sam. Cal, lock down the ship and when we land, make sure none of our signals can be intercepted by the alien computer, but that we always have our wireless connections.”

  “Should be fairly easy, Tuck.”

  “Stations everyone. We’re ready to go down, Sam. Give us a ten minute countdown.”

  * * *

  Salvage-5

  Location:

  Kirkwood Gap – Asteroid 15 Eunomia

  Earth Date: Sept. 4th, 2064 1700hrs

  “In 3…2…1…skids up, Commander,” the Captain said, lifting the nose from the CSMO hull.

  “Okay, Captain. Put us directly above the opening down there.”

  Sam maneuvered the ship with directional thrusters and came to rest above the landing surface, “Holding 1000 meters, Commander.”

  “Okay everyone, all set?”

  There was silence, “All right then, express elevator to the basement floor. Captain, drop us with a 60 kph burn, Z minus 1000 meters for a two minute decent.”

  “Z-1000 meters at 60 kph, acknowledged and engaged, Commander…skids down in two minutes.”

  “Here we go!” Cass exclaimed, holding a little tighter to the arms on her seat.

  “Take notice of the artificial gravity when we cross its threshold. We’ve been zero-g for fifteen days now and I’m sure your legs will feel the strain,” Rhodes cautioned, as the Salvage-5 descended toward the opening below.

  “750 meters to target.”

  An eerie quiet ensued at every shot of the thruster, which echoed through their minds as they continued to descend.

  “One minute to target,” Sam counted. “200 meters… …100 meters…passing gravity threshold at 60… …30 meters now…10 meters…skids down and locked, slowing to touchdown…in 3…2…1.”

  The Salvage-5 skids softly set down on the smooth floor of the alien complex. They had completed their descent and came to rest.

  The Captain powered down the engines, “All systems coming to standby, Commander.”

  They descended into what was of a metal-flake, silvery-grey enormous dome. The crew looked out the ship’s front glass and saw the other lost ships, neatly parked around the perimeter of the circular landing bay, all cargo bay doors lowered.

  “The iris is closing above, Commander,” Savage announced, “and I lost connectivity to our recon sat…recordings are continuing to ship’s buffer, and will transmit as soon as we connect.”

  “Good job, Savage.”

  “Commander, the ceiling apex is 60 meters high,” Sam said, looking over at Tucker.

  “Geez, that’s what, 200 feet?” Tuck asked, quickly making the calculation in his head, “Any guess on its circumference?”

  “Commander,” Hargrove reported, “I just took laser measurements. It’s 300 meters across.”

  “That’s over three football fields,” Tuck exclaimed, “You sure about that?”

  “He’s right, Tuck,” Cal said. “I just took my own measurement from my station, and its 304.8 meters to be exact.”

  “Smart ass,” Hargrove said under his breath.

  “You want to share that with the rest of us, Hargrove?”

  “No, sir. Calvin’s correct, the diameter of the dome is 1000 feet…I just rounded.”

  “Tucker, I’m reading oxygen and nitrogen based atmosphere…it’s breathable,” Cal exclaimed.

  “Great, I’d expect a red carpet next,” Tuck said, unstrapping his harness.

  “Okay, let’s move out. Prep the cargo ramp,” the Sergeant ordered.

  The crew made ready their weapons and took what supplies they thought they would need for the trip into the complex.

  “The landing deck is all clear, Commander.”

  “Lower the cargo door,” Tuck ordered.

  The crew heard a swoosh of air as the two environments equalized with the opening of the door.

  “All right, people,” the Sarge commanded, “move out; standard perimeter formation.”

  The crew exited the ship and formed a semi-circle around the back end of the ship.

  “Captain, do you copy?”

  “Got ya, Commander.”

  “Roll er up, and seal her closed.”

  The door lifted and then closed with a clunk. Another swoosh of air was heard as the rear cargo bay door sealed.

  Doctor Rhodes slung his rifle over his shoulder and opened a small kit, fastened to his waist. He knelt down and scrapped the floor with a scalpel. He collected the sample and placed it inside a small glass tube.

  “Interesting,” Rhodes said, gazing into the cylinder.

  “I’ll tell ya what’s strange,” Hargrove said, “There’s light, but no light source.”

  “Doctor, what’s that you got?”

  “It appears to be made of the same bio-organic material, but more sophisticated.”

  “You mean they grew this complex?”

  “It seems so, but not in the way you are thinking. This is metallic, but it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen, Tuck. It’s made up of a new element, one we’ve yet to discover.”

  “Or it was manufactured,” Tuck said with raised eyebrows.

  “You have a valid point, Commander,” Rhodes nodded, “This technology is so sophisticated, that you could probably program it to ‘grow’ anything you need.”

  Samuels stomped his foot on the deck a couple of times, “Seems solid enough though.”

  “Tucker,” Cal said over the wireless, “There’s an exit dead center at the far side of the complex.”

  “Okay, we seem to be alone for the moment. Let’s split up: Rhodes, Hargrove, and Savage. You check the two ships on your left. Cass and Samuels, you’re with me on the right…we’ll meet at the far point where Cal has discovered this exit.”

  “Move out,” Samuels whispered.

  Samuels led Tucker and Cass to the first ship on their right. He crouched with bent legs as he ran, holding his rifle at the ready, scanning back and forth.

  “Hargrove,” Tucker whispered, “Do you read?”

  “We have arrived at Salvage-2. Savage just went in to clear.”

  “Samuels has just cleared Salvage-4…move out to the next target.”

  Tucker led the way this time, but motioned them to hold back a moment. Then quickly motioned for them to continue to the cover of Salvage-3.

  “This is Hargrove, dash 1 and dash 2: both clear. We’re waiting at the exit point. You look clear from this position.”

  Samuels and Cass arrived with Tucker and this time, Cass quickly cleared the ship and then retuned.

  “All clear,” Cass said, and then took off ahead of Tucker and Samuels. Savage waved the go ahead and the rest joined.

  “Rothschild, you still copy?”

  “I read you, Commander.”

  “Cal, keep us on your
scope. Map our movements so we can find our way back.”

  “I’ve got you targeted and the mapping program will begin when you start moving again,” Cal answered over his wireless.

  The crew examined the ten foot tall, six foot wide archway. Liquid seemed to be rippling on the surface of the entrance, and vision was limited through.

  “Okay, people. Look alive,” the Sergeant said. He gave Tucker a nod and then stepped through the water like substance that covered the exit. They could see him check himself out, and then he motioned for the rest to cross.

  Tucker cautiously stepped through. He felt a slight electrical current across his body as he passed over the threshold. Then turning his face away at the last, he took a deep breath and exited on the other side with Samuels.

  “Man…that was weird. It felt like electric water, but I’m not wet.”

  “It seems to be a harmless energy field. Probably acts like our airlocks do,” Samuels said, waving the rest across.

  “Cal…do you read me now?”

  Tucker’s radio retuned dead air.

  “Cal…come in, Cal,” he repeated.

  Silence was returned once again. Tucker stuck his arm through the field and tried again.

  “Yeah, I got ya now,” Cal answered.

  “Okay, we’ll have to use a door stop. Hang tight,” then pulled his arm out.

  “Hargrove, set up one of the wireless units here in the entry. You’ll have to position the device in the center of the field…I’ll need a volunteer to hold this position.”

  “I’ll do it sir,” Savage said, standing forward.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant. Look, if anything happens…hightail it back to the S-5.”

  “You got it, Commander.”

  “It’s ready sir,” Hargrove said, looking up at Melissa. “You sure about this?”

  Savage nodded to affirm, “I’ll be fine…it’s your ass I have to worry about,” she chuckled.

  “Cal, you reading now?”

  “Yes, sir. Loud and clear.”

  “Okay, Lieutenant. Hold this position. We’ll still be connected via the wireless...wouldn’t hurt for you to check in once in a while.”

  “I got this, Commander.”

  The four of them left Savage, and quickly disappeared down the corridor into the darkness.

  * * *

  Chapter 8

  Salvage-5

  Location:

  Kirkwood Gap – Asteroid 15 Eunomia

  Alien Complex

  Earth Date: Sept. 4th, 2064 1740hrs

  The four made their way down the long 100 foot corridor until they reached a junction. Tucker looked back and noticed that the light followed them as they made their way through the passages. Savage, no longer visible, “Lieutenant, you still read me?”

  “Savage here, yes, Commander, I’m reading you.”

  “Incredible,” Rhodes exclaimed, “Tucker, you seeing this?”

  Tucker came to the side of the doctor, who had walked a few feet down the left corridor. He held his hand up to the surface of a round cylinder that traveled from the floor to ceiling.

  “There are at least 50 of these cylinders lining each corridor,” the doctor said, “But look closer…what do you see?”

  Tucker looked closer and saw someone inside. Gray in color, and covered with trace-like substance, similar to a computer circuit board, “Is it human?”

  “Some of it is…”

  “Why is it so dark in there?”

  “I can’t explain that, Tuck. What’s troublesome is they appear to be humanoid. I’m also picking up Gamma Waves if I narrow my beam width.”

  “This is Cal, Tucker. I’m still picking up your signal. Looks as if as long as we have that wireless bridge, we can.”

  “Cal, we’ve come to a four way in the corridor, what does you’re overhead show?”

  “I’m picking up your signal and about a 300 foot radius around you. It looks like there could be hundreds of those cylinders, and I can see below, there are several layers, and each level branches out, beyond what I can read.”

  “What are you seeing regarding these cylinders that are holding these, computer people?”

  “Computer people, is a bit of an understatement, Tuck,” Rhodes said.

  “Whattya mean by that?”

  “These beings…well, I’m getting an influx of readings. Normal life signs, as well as computer electrical pulses. I think they’re clones, Tuck.”

  “Really?” Tucker said shaking his head, “Just when I thought we were over all this learning new stuff thing…come on…what’s next already?”

  “How did you come up with that, Rhodes?” Cass asked, “I mean how can you be certain if you can’t get any DNA samples?”

  “If you study each of their faces, they are all similar, maybe ten or fifteen different variations is all.”

  “It just twitched in there,” Tuck said, stepping away.

  “They’re alive, and I think they’re growing.”

  “Come on,” Tuck said, “We need to keep moving. Cal, any idea on a direction we need to go?”

  “Down.”

  “Down?”

  “Yes. If my theory is correct from what I’ve seen mapping already, there are several levels. I think we need to find the core of the complex.”

  Tucker looked over at Cass, “Down…where do you find these people?”

  “He’s your guy, Tuck.”

  “Oh, right…he is at that…Cal, so how is it we are supposed to go down?”

  “Find a passage that leads down? I don’t know, Tuck. You’re there, and I’m not…make a way.”

  “What did you just say?”

  “Tucker, I’m not being disrespectful…”

  “I know, just tell me what it is you said…just before.”

  “I was just making a suggestion…”

  “…which was…”

  “I don’ know, make a way?”

  “Exactly!” Tuck said with raised eyebrows, “I like the way this guy thinks.”

  “Tuck,” Cass said nervously.

  “Relax, Cass.”

  “I can’t.”

  “It’ll be fine…Come on, let’s keep moving…Cal I’ve got a hunch…you’re not picking anything up on your scanners, anything at all? We’re still alone, right?”

  “Far as I can tell…”

  “This is Savage, checking in Commander. Yes, I’m still clear and holding position.”

  “Do you see anything, Lieutenant?”

  “The only thing I can see is the corridor you went down, and then it darkens after about 30 feet. I can see an area of dim radiance at your location. It seems the more people you have with you, the more illumination you get.”

  “Sarge, see if you can cut a hole in the floor.”

  “I’m on it. Hargrove, help me setup the laser torch.”

  “While you two are cutting the hole in the floor, Cass and I will map out the complex a little more. Rhodes, you stay here and stand guard.”

  Tuck and Cass moved, stopping at the next junction, “That was about 30 meters.”

  “I’ll bet the next one is in another 30,” Cass said, “Come on, let’s see.”

  The corridor came to a “T”, with more cylinders lining the outer wall.

  “You’re right, Cass,” Tucker smiled, “Cal, you still read us?”

  “Loud and clear, Tuck,” Calvin reported. “Try following the last left for as long as you can go, I’m guessing 45 meters.”

  “You think this top section is 300 feet by 300 feet?”

  “Yes, and possible there are three other quadrants like the one you’re in now.”

  “What about the lower levels?” Cass asked.

  “Yeah, it does branch out, indicating that this thing we’re in is spherical in nature.”

  “So how many levels do we need to go?”

  “Looks like you need to go four levels down, I’m reading a large energy signature down there.”

  “I don’ know Cal, tha
t’s an awfully long way from the ship.”

  “Commander,” Samuels announced over his wireless link, “We’re through. You need to get back here and see this.”

  “On our way. Savage, radio check.”

  “Savage, here. Nothing new to report here, sir.”

  Cass and Tucker high tailed it down the last hall, circling back around to where they had left the others, “What is it, Sarge?”

  “We cut through, but there’s another energy barrier. We’ll need more equipment if we’re going to keep in constant communications.”

  “…I’ll head back to the ship for a few more wireless modules and while I’m at it, some expanding ladders,” Hargrove added.

  “Sarge, go with Hargrove and help him with the equipment.” The two nodded and headed back to the ship.

  Doc, stay with us. I’d like to get a little closer look at one of those computerized people, you up for that?”

  “Sure, how shall we extract one of them from the tubes?”

  “Stand back,” Tucker said, holding his rifle up to his shoulder.

  “Tuck, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Cass said, putting her hand on his arm.

  “Why not?

  “Maybe we shouldn’t disrupt these tubes?”

  “There isn’t anyone around, Cass. Now will you relax and let me give this a try?”

  She stepped back, seeing he was taking aim at the third cylinder down the hall, “Tuck…”

  He squeezed his trigger sending several metal slugs silently down the rail gun, embedding them into the field substance that covered the cylinder. He released the trigger and watched as every one of his metal projectiles rolled back out of the cylinder and fell to the floor making the echoing sounds as dozens of shot bounced off the floor.

  “Hmmm, that was interesting…nice weapon though,” Tucker said, walking over to see what damage he had done.

  Rhodes beat him there and carefully looked at the small one inch round holes he had made, “Fascinating.”

  “What’d ya make of that, doc?”

  “I…I don’ know.”

  The doctor put on a rubber glove and reached into one of the holes with his finger. “Doctor, I don’t think you should do that either!” Cass warned.

  Rhodes withdrew his finger and examined the liquid, and then held it up to his nose to smell, “Hmmm, kind of a silvery-grey look. Just like what I found on the bodies, and scraped off the floor when we exited the ship.”