by Gary Weston
Chapter 250
It was a tense time on planet Slug. Millet, Jordan and Warner watched the screen built into the top of the large case, the images from each of the flying silver balls, smoothly changing from one to the other, five seconds between changing. On Millet’s instructions, Warner had sent the balls in the same direction over the dense vegetation, in a line one hundred yards apart. Various creatures were seen, for sure. A few bird-like creatures; a family of primates, covered in scales not fur; large insects, and of course, the slugs. The slugs were grazing on the vegetation, staying together in a group. To the surprise of the human observers, a few slugs were climbing low trees, their sticky underbellies partially wrapping around the trunks of the trees as they rippled their way to the leaves at the top. Warner was finding it invaluable from a scientific perspective, recording all the data. Then one of the silver balls suddenly stopped transmitting.
‘Warner?’ said Millet.
‘I…I’m not sure, Sir. It could be…Damn. Another one down.’
‘Get the third one spraying the dye now, Warner.’
‘Dye released, Sir.’
From where they stood, they could see the red misty cloud descend over the foliage.
‘Shooter,’ yelled Millet. ‘See anything?’
‘No, Sir,’ came the chorus of replies.
Tilly Jordan said, ‘Anything shown up by the Dye?’
‘Nothing,’ said Warner.
Millet said, ‘Get that ball back here, Warner.’
‘Yes, Sir. Returning.’
Seconds later, the ball, no longer shiny, hovered towards them. It was flying erratically, Warner unable to control it.
‘Get down,’ said Millet as the ball raced at them.
They hit the ground a second before it would have crashed into them, and it continued on, smashing into the side of the ship, disintegrating into tiny parts which fell harmlessly to the ground. Millet, Jordan and Warner cautiously approached the debris. Warner knelt down to examine it.
‘It looks as if it has been sprayed with something highly corrosive.’
Millet looked back at the jungle, just a few hundred yards away and wondered what the hell they were up against.
Chapter 251
‘You should have told me,’ said Boss.
‘It crossed my mind,’ said Saltoe. ‘But I knew you would be in shortly. Nobody has been hurt and the ships haven’t been attacked. Just three of those little probe things got destroyed. Did you sleep ok?’
‘Yes. Dixon woke Joy up, but not me. You made the right decision.’
‘Thank you. General Millet didn’t suggest it, but should we be thinking of getting those people off that planet before anyone gets hurt?’
Boss said, ‘I trust General Millet’s judgement completely. He’ll decide whether or not to abandon the mission or not. Put Commander Felix Gordon on my line, please.’
Saltoe did that and Gordon said, ‘I thought you would be calling me, Boss. And yes, I have two fighter class ships prepared and waiting on the pads. Two crews are on standby.’
‘You always have your eye on the ball, Felix. Those probes. What were they made of?’
‘I’ll send you the schematics. The alloy outer is impervious to just about everything acidic, except possibly hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive liquid and is a contact poison. It can even disolve glass.’
‘We have any here?’
‘Of course. Because of its ability to dissolve most oxides and silicates, hydrofluoric acid is useful for dissolving rock samples prior to analysis. It is also used to extract organic fossils from silicate rocks. It can also be used in a dilute form to remove rust from metals, but I never let any of my people near the stuff. It isn’t worth the risk.’
Boss said, ‘Glad to hear it. Felix. If that stuff was sprayed on the ships?’
‘They do have a marsillium coating. I’ve no idea if marsillium is resistant to an acid like that. If not, goodbye ships. Boss. Troy Warner will have already advised General Millet that. Warner was involved in the designing of those probes.’
Boss said, ‘You’re probably right, Felix. It wouldn’t hurt to emphasise these facts, though.’
‘Shall I do it, Boss?’
‘No, Felix. Because I’m going to suggest getting off that planet and I’d rather the General got that suggestion from me.’
‘Right. Be tactful, ok?’
‘My middle name. Thanks, Felix. In the meantime, test the marsillium with that acid in the laboratory.’
‘Consider it done, Boss.’
Boss stood up and paced the floor.
Saltoe said, ‘That’s ominous. You pacing.’
‘Just getting my words right in my head. Ok.’ He sat back and opened a direct line to the ships. ‘Message from Boss. General Millet. I have been advised by Commander Gordon that the acid used to destroy the probes is possibly hydroflouric. No doubt Troy Warner had already mentioned that, plus the consequences of it coming into contact with humans and the ships. We are having marsillium tested for resistance. Entirely your decision, but should you feel the need to return to be better prepared for a later visit, you have my complete support. I would appreciate a response in due course. Good luck, General.’
Raven signed off and looked at Saltoe. ‘Did I get it right, do you think?’
‘You really want my opinion?’
‘No, but I’ll take it anyway. Go on.’
Saltoe said, ‘Acid spraying invisible creatures that can destroy people and ships? You should have told them straight to come home.’
‘I did suggest…’
‘Not the same thing. Whatever is on that planet is not worth this sort of risk. I just hope General Millet decides to do the sensible thing and gets the hell off that planet before it’s too late.’
Boss said, ‘Well, that told me.’
‘Yes it did. I’m going to lunch.’
With a scowl at Raven, she took off. Raven sat with her rebuke ringing in his ears.
Chapter 252
Millet, Jordan and Captain Dorran replayed Boss’s message for the third time.
‘He’s telling us to come home,’ said Millet.
Jordan said, ‘In a very polite way. He trusts your judgement, General.’
Millet said, ‘I’m reading between the lines. My gut feeling is that if they were going to attack us, they would have done it by now.’
Dorran reminded him, ‘They did destroy the probes.’
Jordan said, ‘Perhaps they felt threatened by them, or possibly they did it as a warning to us. I’m with the General. Plus we don’t know about the resistance of the marsillium coating.’
Dorran said. ‘Even if the marsillium would protect the hull, the ships have their weak-spots.’
‘Such as?’ asked Jordan.
Millet said, ‘The laser turrets. Once retracted, their caps are marsillium coated. Extended as they all are at the moment, the screens are exposed. Not for actual visual, but to allow the sensors to collect external data to be displayed on the inside for the shooters to see what’s going on outside. Basically, the screens are made of a toughened silicon, three inches thick.’
Jordan said, ‘And would hydrofluoric acid eat through it?’
‘According to Warner, hydrofluoric acid will eat through glass. Basically, silicon. As Captain Dorran said, that could be a weak spot.’
‘Those shooters are vulnerable, Sir,’ said Dorran.
Millet said, ‘And they could be all that’s standing between us being wiped out.’
‘Perhaps Boss is right, Sir,’ said Dorran.
‘We still have another line of defence,’ said Millet. ‘The electrical field generators. They’re being installed by Lieutenant Croxfort and his team. They’ll protect all around both ships. Nothing would get through that.’
‘I could overrule you about staying here, General,’ said Jordan. ‘As D S I agent, I can do that.’
‘Your prerogative, Agent Jordan. What’s it to be?’
Millet and Dorran stared at Jordan.
‘My own gut feeling is like yours, General. Had they wanted to wipe us out, we’d have been dead by now. But we are putting a lot of faith in our guts.’
‘So we stay?’ Millet asked.
‘For now. I just hope we are right.’
Chapter 253
‘That’s encouraging,’ said Raven.
He and Gordon had watched the test through the safety glass of the test-room. The head technician had placed a piece of scrap marsillium coated ship hull on the ceramic tabletop and with the use of the remote arms had poured the hydrofluoric acid onto it. After several minutes, the camera zoomed in on on the test-piece. It remained unmarked.
Gordon said, ‘It would have eaten through it by now if it was able to do so. Of course, we are assuming this acid is the same or similar to that which destroyed the probes.’
Raven said, ‘What about the laser turrets?’
‘True They are vulnerable. As are the shooters inside. But by now, the electrical field generators have been erected. That effectively forms a bubble over everything.’
Raven said, ‘Shooters aside. If the silicon is compromised, even with the turrets retracted, they probably wouldn’t seal properly. That would mean no pressure for the ships, so they couldn’t go into deep space.’
Gordon nodded. ‘That’s about the size of it, Boss. My concern is that when General Millet is told the marsillium will probably withstand any acid attack, he’ll be lulled into a false sense of security.’
‘Miss Saltoe already expressed her opinion of my decision to allow General Millet to decide whether to stay or go. She’s not impressed with me right now.’
‘But you are Boss. She’s your assistant.’
Raven said, ‘I never thought I would ever say this out-loud, but I like her forth-rightfulness. She calls a spade a spade. I need that candour around me. Don’t you dare ever tell her that, though. She’ll be impossible if you do.’
Gordon grinned. ‘Your secret is safe with me. Boss. We could lie to the General and say the marsillium won’t offer any protection. Tip him in favour of coming home.’
‘And have him resign the minute he knew the truth? Because that’s what I’d damn well do. I also have Agent Jordan there. If she really wanted to, she would pull rank and get them out of there.’
Gordon said, ‘I couldn’t see Tilly doing that. It’s an ace up our sleeves, I suppose. So. I send the test results?’
Raven said, ‘I have to respect people know what they are doing, Felix. Send the info. But remind Frank of the issue with the laser turrets. Gently, mind. Just say the marsillium coating held, bare silicon will not. Then leave it at that.’
‘Tagg. This is peoples lives.’
Raven said, ‘I know, Felix. It isn’t just my baby keeps me awake at night. Send the report.’
Raven walked out, carrying the office of Boss on his shoulders.
Chapter 254
‘Shorty.’
‘Boss. Just chewing the cud with Joy, here.’
Joy Dainty said, ‘All the good stuff. Why we love babies; partners not quite so much.’
‘You don’t love me?’
‘Not so much. You gave me Dixon. That means I might keep you around.’
Shorty said, ‘I should go. I just wanted to ask Joy about marriage stuff.’
Raven said, ‘Let me guess. For your wedding day, a line of D S I military, firing laser rifles as you and Frank walk under them.’
‘No,’ snapped shorty. ‘And that’s my problem. I don’t want a D S I military wedding. I have spent the best years of my life in uniform, with uniforms. But, I don’t fit into any kind of wedding dress, no matter how much they let it out. But I’m a woman, Tagg. I don’t want to look like I’m off on a mission as soon as we say “I do” and I don’t want to look like the sugar plum fairy. You are the man with all the answers, Tagg. You tell me.’
Raven said, ‘I wouldn’t have a clue. I’d just say have a real good look at who and what you are and go from there.’
Joy reached out and held Shorty’s arm. ‘So sorry. That was worse than useless. But Tagg’s a man. We have to make allowances.’
‘I am here, you know.’
‘I noticed,’ said Joy.
Shorty said, ‘Tagg. Any news of the mission?’
Raven said, ‘Ah. I just came back from the lab. It seems the ships are well protected with marsillium. Not only that, they have the electrical fortification.’
Shorty said, ‘Right. Not good, then.’
‘I just said…’
‘You just said bullshit. Gonna tell me the truth, or do I have to drag it out of you?’
Raven said, ‘Joy. Tell her not to do that.’
‘Ok. Shorty. Please don’t kill my partner. Maybe just rough him up a little.’
‘No broken bones?’
‘Bruises. A fat lip. Try to avoid his nose. I like his nose.’
Raven said, ‘Hey. Shorty. Hitting me. Not a good career move.’
Shorty looked at Joy. ‘What about his ears? I could leave his nose alone, just take off his ears.’
‘I was never turned on by his ears. They can go.’
Raven gave in. ‘Ok. You, Shorty, are your own army. This is all I know. Frank…General Millet, has two ships and crews on a planet with invisible creatures who spit acid. I have been trying to get Frank off that planet, but he’s staying put.’
Shorty sighed. ‘I’ll have a word with him. Besides. I wanted his opinion on ivory or white for the dress.’
‘Really?’ said Joy. ‘You want input from a man? Tagg. Go do some butch man stuff. We women have to do the real thinking. But before you go, we’ll have a top-up of best red wine.’
‘Glad to be of some use.’ Raven filled up the beakers.
‘Tagg,’ said Shorty. ‘What’s really going on?’
Raven sat next to Shorty. ‘I think they should get away, pronto. Other than hit Frank over the head with a sledgehammer, I don’t know what to do.’
‘But you are Boss. If you think the mission is a flop, call them back.’
‘And Frank would listen?’
‘Point taken. You tell me what is really going on, I’ll tell him to come home.’
Raven smiled. ‘He’ll not argue with you. But you pretty much have it. Warner sent three of the new probes to take a look and they all got destroyed. One at least was wrecked by some highly corrosive acid. We took a guess at something like hydrofluoric acid. Nasty stuff. Commander Gordon tested marsillium coating with it and it held up ok.’
Joy said, ‘So, the ships are safe?’
Shorty said, ‘As long as the laser turrets are down. But they won’t be, so the ships can be compromised.’
They wouldn’t be able to take off?’ said Joy.
‘No,’ said Raven. ‘I’ve politely suggested General Millet comes home while they can, but left the final decision up to him.’
‘I should have gone with him,’ said Shorty. ‘I’d have got him to come back.’
‘Will you have a word with him, Shorty?’ Raven asked.
‘I’ll probably have several words with him.’
Chapter 255
‘The electrical field generators are up and running, Sir,’ said Lieutenant Croxfort. Just the warning line to be finished off. I’ll advise everyone to keep well away from it.’
‘Good. It’s already getting dark. I’ll have everyone on board before then. Lieutenant. I’ll assess the situation in the morning and decide if we are staying on a little while longer.’
‘Understood, Sir. This planet gives me the creeps.’
Millet said, ‘You’re not alone in that. Shorty refused point blank to come.’
Croxfort grinned. ‘We’d all feel safer if she were here, Sir. Looking forward to being married?’
‘It’s certainly going to be an interesting union. I can’t actually remember if I asked her or she asked me. We had one hell of a weekend together, drank way too many beers
and we woke up engaged.’
‘Beer can do that, Sir. I’m just glad my partner can’t kill me with her bare hands, like Shorty could.’
‘Hmm. Thanks for reminding me. Oh. Looks like Agent Jordan wants me.’
Jordan said, ‘You have a message from Shorty, General.’
‘Right. Carry on, lieutenant.’ Millet followed Jordan to the deck of the ship and Captain Dorran played the message.
‘Frank. Don’t mess about. That rock isn’t meant for humans. Time to come home. By the way. I’ll be wearing blue on the big day.’
Millet said, ‘She forgets who is General around here, sometimes. Right. Shorty. We are bunkering down for the night. We are well protected and I’ll decide on whether we stay in the morning. Oh. Blue will go with your eyes.’
‘Blue. Nice,’ said Jordan.
‘I’m surprised she’s not gone for black,’ said Millet. ‘Ok, everyone. On board now, and make sure all equipment outside is safely stowed away. Keep well away from the electrical field. Gagonjet Singh. I want two shooters only, both on this ship. Captain Luppino. Make sure both cannon turrets are down on your ship. I’ll be deciding on whether or not to stay longer in the morning. Carry on, everyone.’
Millet was about to leave the flight-deck when Troy Warner entered.
‘Sir. I think I have the translation of what was written on the ship that time.’
‘And…?’
‘Beware Us.’
‘That it?’
‘That’s it, Sir. And it is definitely a different language from that on the monolith.’
Jordan said, ‘Beware us. A threat?’
Warner said, ‘Or just a warning. Either way, it doesn’t look good.’
Millet looked at Jordan, wondering if she was about to order them off the planet, but Jordan said nothing. The message from his bride-to-be echoed in his mind. He wasn’t sure himself why he was being so stubborn. He had just about made up his mind that they would be off the planet at first light.
