Space Scout - The Makers

by S A Pavli

  The room was lit up by more of the lightning flares and I heard Norton’s gun barking.

  “Manera, I have to help them. You head for the exit now, please.” Her pale face turned to me but I could not see her expression. I didn’t wait, otherwise I may have relented. I bounded up and headed for the direction of their lights. The aerial attackers seemed to be concentrating on them, with lightning bolts splitting the air again and again. How they were avoiding being hit I could not imagine, but the Captain seemed to be a good shot because the attackers dipped and jerked as his bullets found their mark. I could see they were heading my way, weaving between the consoles to find cover. I set the carbine up on a convenient console, steadied myself, and let loose, directing short bursts at the flying shapes. I caught them unawares and two came down with splintering thumps while the others veered away.

  Jana appeared out of the gloom, her helmet light not working.

  “Head for the exit Jana, quickly.”

  “The Captain is injured, his leg..,” she gasped.

  “I’ll get him. Go, go, leave…!” I galloped past her and found the Captain leaning heavily against a console, his gun pointed upwards.

  “Paul, get out of here. My legs gone, caught a blast from their bloody laser.”

  “Come on mate, I’ll help you.” I grabbed him around the waist and he put his arm around my shoulders and we staggered towards the direction of the exit. His right leg was completely useless and he was a dead weight. We blasted away at the attacking fliers, keeping them at bay but having some close calls. I did not think we were going to make it when the chattering of a heavy machine gun brought down two more fliers and scattered the remainder. Sergeant Narayan loomed out of the dark.

  “Sight for sore eyes mate!” gasped Norton.

  “I’ll say,” I agreed.

  “The ladies are at the exit but we need to hurry,” said the Sergeant. “The fucking hole is closing. It’s healing itself.”

  With both of us supporting the Captain we made it to the corridor without further interference from the flying machines. The corridor seemed a mile long but we eventually made it to the ante-chamber to find Jana and Manera impatiently waiting. The hole in the door was half the size it had been and we could almost see it shrinking, or was it our imagination? We squeezed out into the blessed light and quickly put on our harnesses.

  The Captain was in no condition to climb but Sergeant Narayan said the winch was powerful enough to pull him up. We let him go first, while we waited with anxious backwards looks through the hole in the door. The flying attackers had followed us down the corridor but made no further attempts to shoot us. In the better lit ante-chamber we could clearly see they were AG flyers. They had the characteristic dumpy doughnut around their middle. A long pointed snout housed their laser weapon. Otherwise they looked like tubby flying ant eaters with short stubby wings. Were they there to kill I wondered, or just to frighten away any curious animals that may wonder into the centre if there was a break in the wall? I had got the impression that they were not trying to hit us full on but to graze us, as they had the Captain. But I was not going to go back in and find out.

  The Captain arrived up top and we followed him, stumbling on the loose soil and gravel. The Sergeant had first aid training and he examined the Captains leg. It was badly singed but did not look seriously damaged.

  “The electric shock has temporarily paralysed it I think,” he said. “I suspect it will slowly return to normal but we have to treat the burns and give you pain killers Captain.”

  “We have a first aid kit in the aircraft,” I said. “For both humans and Hianja.”

  Jana was looking downcast and I went over to her while the Sergeant tended to Norton’s injuries.

  “Sorry Jana. It’s not looking good for contacting your people.”

  “Thank you Paul. Yes, the station seems to have been left idle with just the automated protection devices working. I would have expected that our entry would have alerted the AI.” She sighed heavily. “I don’t know what else we can do.”

  “Let’s get the Captain back for some treatment and see if we can come up with some ideas.”

  She nodded her agreement and we all headed back to the Peacekeeper, supporting the Captain as we went. Back on board we contacted base to update them on our adventures, but Lieutenant Carol Lansett answered instead of Jana’s Cypraean friends.

  “Hello Paul. Good news. The thing I was telling you about earlier? Done and dusted. The four Cypraean robots have been destroyed. We are free of their control. Please detain Jana. The Admiral would like to talk to her. We have Santol and the others.”

  Chapter 28

  The trip back was muted. Jana face was expressionless, looking blankly at the wall. I thought that she had taken the news that their blackmail threat had been nullified almost with relief . Seargeant Narayan gave pain killers to Captain Norton, although the tough Captain seemed fairly immune to the pain. We were met on landing by Lieutenant Carol.

  “How was your trip Captain?”

  I described our trip briefly. She nodded.

  “Let’s get Captain Norton up to the Atlantis. We have a doctor on board and equipment to have a good look at that leg. Paul, the Admiral would like to talk to you.”

  “Right, I will do so now.” I nodded to Manera and we re-entered the Peacekeeper and connected with the Settang first. I wanted to talk to Hamolatonen and the others before talking to the Admiral. Normally our operations would have been on line continuously, but the Cypraeans had stopped that.

  “Hamo, how is everything old chap?”

  Hamolatonens craggy features broke into a broad grin.

  “Ah, the warrior heroes return,” he said.

  “Not on our shields I’m pleased to say.”

  He cocked his head questioningly.

  “An ancient human expression,” I explained. “Still alive in other words.”

  “Ah, very good, we are delighted.”

  “I wanted to talk to you first before talking to the Admiral. Did you agree to the operation to take out the robots?”

  “Yes, I had to Paul. All four of our ships had to coordinate the operation. It was a risk but the Admiral was determined to do it.”

  “Have you discussed what we do now? Particularly with the Sarayans and their operation here?”

  “No, I think we need a conference with all interested parties. Tell me, what happened at the worm hole control centre?”

  I described what had happened when we broke into the centre and our subsequent escape. Hamolatonen looked concerned then relieved that we had escaped without harm.

  “So the Cypraeans prospects of contacting the main civilization are not very good,” he mused.

  “Yes, there is some new background on that,” I said. I went on to describe the temporary nature of the Cypraeans mental takeover of our colleagues. “The original consciousness will re-assert itself in time,” I finished.

  “That is excellent news,” said Hamo enthusiastically. I could see the relief and happiness on his face.

  “It maybe explains why the Cypraeans behaved the way they did,” I said. “We should try and help them to achieve their aim. After all, it does correspond with ours.”

  Hamolatonen looked doubtful.

  “It is hard to see what more we can do to contact the main Cypraean civilization. If we knew their exact location in the hub we could send a Hyperspace message. There is no guarantee they will receive it but it’s worth a try.”

  “Perhaps that info will be somewhere in the virtual habitat. Prime may know.”

  “But we destroyed Prime.”

  “I am hoping there is a backup.”

  “We shall see. The conference is in an hour Paul.”

  We bid goodbye to the Captain and returned to our temporary home to freshen up before joining the lieutenant for the conference. There were two Peacekeeper fighters on the ground and one of them disgorged a troupe of human military to guard the Saraya. Captain Norton a
nd Sergeant Narayan made their goodbyes and boarded the ship to return to the Atlantis. Jana and her four Cypraeans were also to be returned to the Kuàisù Niao for detention with the other Cypraeans. I went to say goodbye to her and reassure her that I would do all I could to help her cause, but she and her friends seemed resigned.

  “We did it for us. but the main thing is to contact our civilisation,” she said.

  “Jana, tell me, have you any idea why your main civilisation has not responded to your Hyperspace communications or come here to find out what has happened?”

  “We do not know Paul,” she said. “Us Cypraeans are very independent and each planet is self governing. Perhaps whatever authority was assigned the task of monitoring us has simply ceased to exist. Or, they may come at any time. There is after all no danger to the virtual habitat. It is a self contained world and we are still more than capable of looking after ourselves.”

  I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile before we were separated.

  She and the others were shepherded in to the Peacekeeper and I returned to the other aircraft. Manera and the Lieutenant were already there with one other individual in military fatigues.

  “Paul, this is Major Wei from the Kuàisù Niao. He is in command of the military detail here on planet.”

  I shook hands with the Major and we turned our attention to the big screen. The Bridges of the four ships with their commanders and officers were shown as separate insets. The Admiral started speaking.

  “Welcome everyone. I would like to begin by congratulating everyone involved in the recent operation. We have broken the hold of the Cypraeans over us. We are now free to decide our own future without coercion. Also congratulations to the team that entered the control centre and escaped. I am pleased to report that the injury to Captain Norton is minor. Captain Constantine, would you like to begin by describing that experience for all of us and giving us as much background as you can about the nature of that whole construction and what the Cypraeans were hoping to achieve?”

  “Er… yes Admiral.” I was caught by surprise but I marshalled my thoughts and, talking slowly and carefully, I gave them as clear a picture of the nature of the worm hole generator, its control centre and our efforts to gain access to it. I finished by talking about why the Cypraeans wanted access to the worm hole generator. When I told them that those whose bodies had been appropriated by the Cypraean consciousnesses would return there was cries of relief and celebration from all the ships.

  The Admiral thanked me for my contribution. He and everyone else were delighted, and it seemed that no one was sparing a thought for Jana and her pathetic colleagues, not to mention the Cypraean virtual habitat and its important task of monitoring the cluster. I decided now would not be a good time to raise such concerns.

  We got on to the subject of the Sarayans It was fairly obvious that as soon as we left, the Sarayans would return and continue their exploration of the planet. The feeling was that it was none of our business. I reluctantly came to the decision that I had to intervene and make the opposite case.

  “If the Sarayans do discover advanced technology here, they will potentially become a threat to the whole galaxy,” I pointed out.

  “We cannot sit here protecting the planet Paul,” said Hamolatonen. “I think all these good people would like to get home some time.”

  “Yes, and they will. But let’s remember that this planet may be a technological gold mine. Do we really want to leave it to the Saraya? Or even the Dansai? When it could be ours?”

  “What do you suggest Captain?” asked Admiral Deshi.

  “We send a Hyperspace message back to our home planets asking them to send a relief expedition and we establish a permanent presence here on the planet. Neither the Dansai or the Saraya have the military strength to stop us and I believe the Dansai will very quickly become our allies. The Saraya will have to behave themselves.”

  “It‘s all getting very complicated.” said the Admiral mournfully. “Before you know it we will have diplomatic missions, politicians making trips to befriend the natives and major companies looking for trade opportunities.”

  There was a stirring of laughter at the Admirals cynicism and I could not help chuckling.

  “I suggest we spend a little time here exploring the planet. Let’s investigate the Saraya exploration sites and see what they have discovered. Talk to the Saraya scientists - Arane seems amenable. Without the military here she may open up. We need to learn more about the Saraya and their relationship with the Dansai. It is after all, what we came here to do.”

  “Uh huh. Let’s discuss Paul’s suggestions,” said the Admiral.

  We spent the next hour batting ideas around before settling on a number of actions. There was a great deal of enthusiasm for my suggestion to explore the Cypraean home planet further, particularly amongst the scientists on the expedition. A number of exploration teams were set up to investigate the different sites. Manera and the leader of the Earth scientific team were assigned the task of talking to the Saraya scientists in order to get more information on their civilization and their conflict with the Dansai.

  It was decided to use the Settang’s Peacekeeper fighters for transport on planet; they were faster and safer than the Earth fighters and did not need re-fuelling so often.

  On the subject of the ten Cypraean ‘hijackers’ we were divided. The Admiral wanted to lock them up until the original personalities returned. I suggested that they were now no threat and their expertise would be useful in exploring the planet. Realistically their only hope of achieving their aims lay with us and it was now in their interest to cooperate. I was supported in this by Manera and some of the scientists who were keen to talk to the Cypraeans.

  Another supporter was Captain Norton, who was now hobbling around and getting some mobility back with his leg. He described how Jana had helped him to fight the flying robots and supported him when he was injured.

  “She could have left me,” he said. “I told her to run for it and leave me but she refused.”

  The Admiral relented and the Cypraeans were divided up into groups and assigned to the different teams.

  It was decided that only the team ‘looking after’ the Saraya would be resident on planet, in the accommodation provided by the Saraya. The exploration teams would operate out of the starships, flying down in the Peacekeeper fighters to each site and returning each night.

  Manera, Cora and I left Major Wei and Lieutenant Carol Lansett in charge and flew back to the Settang. We were greeted enthusiastically by our colleagues, Colrania giving Manera a long warm hug. Even Guardian Commra gave me a shoulder hug and expressed how pleased he was that we returned unharmed. We looked forward to an evening with our friends, dinner and a nights sleep, before we had to prepare for our first expedition on planet.

  Chapter 29

  The next day our team prepared to board our Peacekeeper. We had been joined aboard the Settang by Captain Norton, with a bandaged leg, but fully mobile, and Sergeant Narayan. With them came Jana and Santol. Apparently the Admiral considered that myself and Cora, particularly Cora, were the best suited to ensure that Jana and Santol did not get up to no good. I suspected that Jana and the good looking Scottish Captain had taken a bit of a shine to each other, which was a relief for me. I did not want a repeat of our previous sexual escapade, although Jana seemed so down it seemed that would be the last thing on her mind.

  The Peacekeeper aircraft descended to the planet’s surface with its usual speedy and quiet efficiency. The Captain shook his head in admiration at the aircrafts handling.

  “Damn this thing can fly.”

  “Yeah, I wish I could get at the controls but it’s fully automated,” I said.

  “Oh yeah, you’re a pilot. I can imagine,” he chuckled.

  The aircraft came down smoothly in the square where we had left the previous day and we were met by the Lieutenant.

  “I bet you had a nice shower and a meal. And something to drink?” she as
ked mournfully.

  “Oh yes thank you,” said Captain Norton, giving us all a wink. “Roast chicken with vegetables and a nice New Zealand Chardonnay.”

  “You didn’t think to bring me some then you selfish pig,” said Carol with a theatrical scowl.

  “You are rotated back to your ship Carol,” said the Captain with a grin. “Major Wei and his team can look after things down here.”

  Carol gave a whoop of joy.

  “Get your stuff ready. There’s another flight coming down with supplies. Get a lift back to Atlantis with that.”

  “Yes sir!” The Lieutenant ran off to collect her personal effects. I left the aircraft with Manera and escorted her to the accommodation we had shared the night before.

  “Are you okay to stay on your own darling?” I asked solicitously.

  “I’m hardly on my own my love,” she replied with a smile. “There are a dozen hunky soldiers looking after me, not to mention three, or is it four, of our robot soldiers. And, not to mention the handsome Major Wei.”

  “Don’t mention the handsome Major Wei,” I said.

  We exchanged warm kisses and I headed back to the aircraft. Her figure remained in the clearing as the aircraft lifted, waving until she disappeared in the haze.

  “You got a lovely girl there Captain,” said Captain Norton as I turned away from the window.

  “I am a lucky guy,” I said. “Let’s stop calling each other Captain. I’m Paul.”

  “And I’m Alex. And my mate over there is Kamal. We call him Kam.”

  “Hey Kam. Thanks for saving our butts by the way.”

  “You’re welcome. Butt saving part of the service.”

  “You all know Cora of course,” I said, indicating the beautiful android. They both nodded, looking slightly awestruck. And so they should. “Jana, Santol, good to see you again.” I looked at the two Cypraeans and they nodded back, Santol stiffly, his face fixed, Jana with a little intimate smile.