by Gary Weston
Casey gave him a peck on the cheek. ‘Thanks, Tagg. Tell Joy I’ll be over to see her in a couple of days once I’ve settled in.’
‘She’ll look forward to it. I’ll let you know of any decent jobs going. Catch you later.’
Boss drove home for the breakfast he’d skipped, feeling happier with Karma Casey’s safe return.
Chapter 209
Thorne, Elizabeth, Smithers and Syrup, became the mainstay of the committee, others with special skills roped in as and when needed. They held a meeting in the crater, away from the probing minds of the Masters. Elizabeth had been Clive Thorne’s partner, Clive organising the construction of the shanty-town, Elizabeth working tirelessly with another subgroup to keep everyone supplied with food, such as it was. That was Elizabeth’s main concern.
‘Two thousand, three hundred and forty seven men, women and children,’ she said. ‘We barely fed everyone before. Another three hundred plus makes that impossible.’
Thorne said, ‘There’s a hydroponic farm built up over the last year or two. The nutrients are poor in the water, but we compost any waste to feed it. Variety is very limited, but we manage to stay alive, just about.’
Syrup said, ‘We can feed my lot for about six weeks on my ship. Seven if we go easy with it. Water for the same, if we go without a daily shower.’
Thorne said, ‘Our fresh water supply never seems to dry up, but we have to run every drop through the filtration and purification unit. That limits how much we can distribute.’
‘The Masters need us too much to let us die of starvation,’ said Smithers. ‘Maybe we can use that to our advantage, somehow.’
Syrup said, ‘We do have weapons. Those laser cannon on the fighters work, don’t they?’
‘Yes,’ said Thorne. ‘If we as much as think of attacking the Masters in the sea, they pick that up and hurt us.’
Elizabeth said, ‘Last time we tried that, we got the fighters off the ground. All of us on the ground were tortured with their minds. Fifty seven died, nine of them children.’
‘Thorne added, ‘Even those on the ships were subjected to it. We almost crashed, but the Masters know how valuable those ships are to them. Otherwise, we would have been killed.’
Smithers face twisted up in anger at the images in his mind. ‘We have to find a way out of this.’
Thorne agreed. ‘We will. Not sure how, but we beat them before, we’ll beat them again.’
Elizabeth said, ‘Whatever we do, we need to do it soon. This atmosphere weakens all humans. We are all dying slowly. We need the health and strength of you newcomers to help us fight them back.’
Syrup said, ‘We need to take care of the children first. We have vitamin supplements we can share out. Any left over we can share around the adults.’
‘That will be much appreciated,’ said Elizabeth. ‘What are your medical supplies like?’
‘Basic but useful,’ said Syrup. ‘And one of our crew has had training as a paramedic. Also, every commercial liner crew member, including myself, is required to have at least basic first aid knowledge.’
‘All good stuff,’ said Thorne. ‘One way or another, we will get through this.’
Chapter 210
‘Look at you,’ said Karma Casey. ‘Beats me how you can get out of bed in the morning with a bump like that to lug around.’
‘Good morning to you, too,’ said Joy. ‘I must look a sight.’
‘Splodges of blue on your face isn’t the new fashion?’
Joy chuckled. ‘I don’t think it’s catching on. Come in. I’m ready for a coffee break.’
‘I’ll make it. I don’t fancy paint flavoured coffee.’ They went into the kitchen and Joy sat at the table as Casey made the coffee.
‘I’ve biscuits in that cupboard,’ said Joy. ‘Home made.’
Casey bought out the container and placed it on the table with the coffee, then sat opposite Joy.
Joy took a biscuit and said, ‘Tagg said you’re thinking of giving up flying.’
‘Yes. Hmm. Nice biscuits. You are clever.’
Joy confessed. ‘A friend of mine bakes them to make a few extra credits. She’s doing our wedding cake.’
‘You sweet old fashioned thing you. You two actually getting married?’
Joy said, ‘Tagg’s idea. I think it sort of completes us. We’re getting married after I’ve had the baby.’
Casey nodded. ‘I was thinking along those lines while I was floating around in space. Maybe not the marriage thing, but settling down. Having a baby. Looking at you brings out my maternal instincts.’
‘Wait until you get morning sickness and worry about stretch marks. No. This is the best time of my life, ever. And Tagg is like a fussy old rooster, telling me off if he thinks I’m overdoing it. He went mad when I said I wanted to paint the nursery myself. Get somebody in, he told me. He means well.’
‘I said I’d give you a hand, seeing as how he’s grounded me.’
Joy said, ‘Not much left to do, really. Come and see.’
They went into the nursery, the smell of the fresh paint filling the air, even with the window partially open.
‘This is lovely,’ said Casey. ‘Lovely stencilling work. All those space ships and planets.’
‘Thanks. Inspired by the Craggy books.’
‘Craggy. My mom used to read those to me, when I was a girl. Probably what made me become a pilot. Dixon Cragg was something of a legend, in his day.’
Joy said, ‘Fortunately, he got all his stories recorded before he died. I have the original ebook version.’
‘No way. That’ll be worth a fortune. Something to pass on to your boy.’
‘As long as he doesn’t become a pilot. No offence, Karma, but I have enough to worry about with Tagg. I want my son to be where I can keep an eye on him.’
Casey sighed. ‘I’d feel the same way. There’s a lot of worried people at the moment. I was a bit nervous out there on my own, I can tell you.’
‘Is that why you decided to give up flying?’
‘Not really. It is a bit of a lonely existence, though. I want a family of my own. There’s some man on this planet with my name branded on him.’
Joy grinned. ‘Poor chap. He has no idea what’s coming to him.’
‘He’ll be lucky to have me, whoever he is.’
‘Damn right, he is. Come and see all the baby stuff we bought. It’s in the spare room.’
Casey followed Joy into the spare room where things were piled high.
‘Heck. You bought the store out, by the look of it.’
‘I went traditional with the cot. I did go a little mad. There’s enough clothes in here to last until he’s three.’
‘Wonderful. That settles it. I want my baby. I’ll be hunting down that man of mine.’
‘Just be gentle with him. Some of them scare easily.’
Chapter 211
Captain Dorran requested General Millet and the Science Officer Troy Warner to the flight deck.
Dorran said, ‘Sir. We are seven hours away from the next planet. Considering what happened on the last one, do we just scan or shall we land for a couple of hours?’
Millet said, ‘Warner. What’s your opinion?’
‘Well, Sir. We are here anyway. My natural inclination is to use a little time to study the planet. We know little about this planet. It only had a preliminary going over a few years ago.’
Dorran said, ‘According to the computer records, the planet’s atmosphere, gravitational pull and air quality are borderline, but life-sustaining. We have more than enough fuel to spare for a trip to the surface. Your call, General.’
‘No venomous lizards or scary butterflies?’ Millet asked Warner.
‘Not enough data, Sir. There were signs of primitive life-forms, but the survey party had insufficient time or resources. They were like us, just stopping over on their way elsewhere.’
‘We’ll see what the scans reveal,’ said Millet. ‘I don’t intend to set us down in some dinosaur infested j
ungle.’
Dorran said, ‘I’m relieved to hear that, Sir. I’d prefer to have a feed when we get there, not be on the menu.’
Millet said, ‘If something down there frightens you, Captain, we’ll set Shorty on it. I’ll decide about landing when the time comes. Warner. Go over all available data on the planet. Anything significant, let me know. I’m off for a sleep. Captain, wake me up one hour before we get there.’
‘Yes, Sir.’
The six hours flew by as fast as the ship as far as Millet was concerned. He joined Warner in the galley where they both had energy bars and juice.
‘Find anything interesting, Warner?’
‘Only that the Interplanetary Council had voted recently that this was one of the planets earmarked for possible settlement. That’s been put on hold until this present situation is resolved.’
‘That is interesting. We would be doing them a favour by gathering at least some data for them.’
Warner said, ‘Does that make you more inclined for us to land?’
‘More inclined, yes. Not definite yet though. I was thinking. This planet is a class two, right?’
‘Yes, Sir. Only needs a tweak for humans to live happily-ever-after on it.’
‘That’s what I thought. Which got me wondering why neither the Graggons or the Varlindrans claimed this planet hundreds of years ago?’
Warner knew his history. ‘The Varlindrans were taking over anything that took their fancy. Disputes with both Graggons and humans nearly wiped all three races out. The Varlindran dictatorship was destroyed by us humans, and a peaceful democracy emerged. They neither had the ships left over from the wars or the desire to take over other planets. The Graggons, well, let’s face it. They have done their fair share of space exploration. They have quite a few planets colonised.’
Millet knew all that. ‘The Graggons actually lived on Earth for a time, I gather?’
‘Yes, Sir. About ten thousand years ago. They just passed themselves off as being Earth lizards. They watched the human race develop technologically. The Graggons were keeping an eye on us, but were also concerned about the Varlindrans making a grab for Earth. We had no idea of course, that the Varlindrans were on Mars centuries before we even took to the skies.’
Millet said, ‘Yeah. Things could have gone off in many different directions. At least we can’t hold either Varlindrans or Graggons responsible for the death of Earth. Us humans managed that trick all by ourselves.’
‘It was crazy,’ said Warner. ‘Hopefully we learnt the error of our ways.’
‘Hopefully. I was also wondering, if this planet is so peachy, how come nothing much evolved there?’
‘Well, we don’t know for sure there is nothing sentient there. You see, the last and only visit was over twenty years ago. They didn’t have the scanners like we have now. Pretty much only visual. The D N A scanner was only developed in the last three years with the ability to scan vast areas at a time. Four or five orbits, some north to south, a couple east to west, will cover much of the planet. If there is anything significant, we should pick it up.’
‘Yes. But it could also be where the pirates hang out. I’ll have the cannon shooters in position in a moment. Troy. I know you are itching to take a look at the place, but don’t build your hopes up. The safety of the crews and ships are my primary consideration. Ok?’
‘Of course, Sir.’
‘Right. I’ll order the shooters in position and have them on high alert. Then I’ll go see Captain Dorran for an update. Carry on, Warner.’
‘Yes, Sir.’
Chapter 212
Thorne was in the middle of conversation with Elizabeth, his daughter Shannon by his side. They had been discussing some sort of ceremony for Clive. Grieving for someone or other was an almost daily event. As they considered what to do to mark Clive Thorne’s passing, Sam Thorne was summoned by the Masters. Elizabeth saw and recognised the blank expression pass across his face, as did Shannon. Thorne stood up and made his way towards the door.
‘Daddy, Don’t go. Please, don’t go, Daddy.’
‘Your daddy has to go, Shannon,’ said Elizabeth, holding the girl tightly to her.
‘No. They’ll hurt him. Like they hurt me.’
‘He has to go, Shannon.’
‘Daddy. Take me with you. Please, Daddy.’
Elizabeth held onto the crying girl. ‘He has to go. He’ll be ok, Shannon.’
‘No. They’ll kill him like they killed Uncle Clive.’
Elizabeth held Shannon close, the girl’s tears mixing with her own. Sam Thorne went outside and headed off towards the sea.
A few who saw him also recognised the signs, let Thorne go to meet the Masters, and all wondered if they would ever see the man again. None offered to go with him, for fear of becoming a meal for the Masters. It was just the way things were on that planet.
Thorne reached the edge of the green sea, having no real recollection of walking there. The Master told him to sit, so he sat, a few feet away from the lapping tide and the shape of the Master in the thick liquid.
The Master asked, ‘We wish to know how the newcomers are.’
‘As comfortable as can be under the circumstances, Master. We are concerned about supplies. Food will become scarce.’
‘Not for us,’ said the Master.
Thorne could feel the evil in that remark, as if humans were merely a dispensable commodity. It was hard to control his disgust and anger for the creature in front of him, hidden in the green liquid.
The Master said, ‘You need every effort in providing food for yourselves.’
‘Yes, Master.’
‘Of course, there is another alternative. Quite a delicious one, as it happens. Your Masters could cull your numbers down. Less human mouths to feed.’
Had Thorne a weapon in his hand, that Master would be dead, regardless off the consequences. It was as if the Master was goading him in order to punish him. Thorne forced himself to calm down, not wishing to give the Master the satisfaction.
‘We shall increase our food supply, Master.’
‘A very good idea, human.’
‘Sam. My name is Sam.’
More probing and goading. ‘And your brother was Clive.’
Thorne so wanted to rush at the creature and strangle it with his bare hands. Then he thought of his daughter. She had already suffered so much.
‘Yes. My brother’s name was Clive.’
There was a pause, then the Master said, ‘I have an important mission for you humans. We wish you to prepare the new ship. The big one.’ Thorne felt his memories of Syrup’s ship being carefully examined, then the Masters ideas on how the ship was to be modified filled his mind. The Master didn’t have to explain the purpose for the modifications. He didn’t have to because the purpose was clear. ‘We wish you to commence work on this project immediately. Go. You know what to do and what will happen if you do not do it. Go.’
Thorne knew only too well. He got to his feet, the control over his mind gone. He set off to start the project.
Chapter 213
Millet sat next to Dorran in the flight deck, Flight Sergeant Taffy Jones in the copilots seat, watching the scanner screens. Millet was more concerned about pirates being on the planet, so he was looking out for those. The shooters were ready to fire their laser cannon at the command of their general. Troy Warner took up the fourth seat.
Dorran did an outer atmosphere pass first, ready to speed away if fired on from the planet by the pirates. When that didn’t happen, A nod from Millet had Dorran angle the ship for the forty degree entry of the planets atmosphere. The marsillium coating protected the hull from any heat damage. It had been tried and tested for over two hundred years.
Fifty miles above the ground, Taffy Jones began the simultaneous sweeps; thermal imaging and D N A. The D N A would identify any known criminals if indeed the pirates were in the criminal register on any of the Interplanetary Council planets. Also, new D N A records could be updated of
any new species of creatures on the planet. That was done automatically.
‘We have a live one here,’ announced Jones. ‘South east of us. A large herd of creatures. Magnifying imaging. Yuck.’
Millet said, ‘They look like huge hairy slugs. Can’t see any legs.’
‘Herbivores, I’d guess,’ said Warner. ‘In a herd for safety in numbers. Something probably eats them.’
Jones said, ‘They don’t stimulate my gastric juices.’
‘Best keep away from them and whatever eats them,’ suggested Warner.
Millet sighed. ‘Scientists. Always stating the obvious. He is right though. Anything else down there, Taffy?’
‘Primates. In the trees. Oh. Hairless. Kinda cute.’
Millet said, ‘We’ll fix you up with a date with one when we land.’
‘And risk lowering their gene pool?’ quipped Dorran. ‘Taffy’s too ugly to have one of them fancy him, anyway.’
‘That’s not what your mother said,’ replied Taffy. ‘Over there seems pretty free from critters. A couple of rivers nearby.’
Millet said, ‘Nice and open so we can watch out for anything coming our way. Set us down between the two rivers, Captain.’
‘Yes, Sir. Oh, oh.’
‘What?’ said Millet.
‘A couple of thruster warning lights just came on. It’s ok. We’re not going to crash.’ There came a vibration along the floor of the ship, but the thrusters still functioned, apart from a thruster spluttering. ‘Setting landing thrusters. Dropping to landing speed. Cutting to one tenth. And welcome to planet slug.’
Millet announced, ‘Ok, you grunts. Out of the ships but stay close. And I mean, close. Captain. Get an engineering crew together and fix this bird.’
‘Onto it, Sir. I’ll update you as soon as we figured it out. Taffy. Run a diagnostics check.’
‘Already doing it.’
Millet and the two ships crews gathered outside and the General called for order. ‘It seems like we have a technical hitch. The technicians and engineers are working on it. Don’t go wondering off anywhere, and you sleep on the ships. Make sure you don’t take any bugs in with you. Shorty. Warner. Seeing as you two are such a double act, go do scientific stuff. Go as far as the river banks on this side of them. Shorty. Anything desperate enough to want to eat you, feel free to shoot it.’
