The Mons Connection

by Janine R Pestel

  He closes his eyes for a moment, and when he opens them, the radiance is gone.

  "Must be my imagination," he thinks. After all, this is Mars. No one else is here, right? "I need sleep," he says to himself, tired. With that, he stands up and walks to the rover. He plugs the connector from his suit into the port on his side of the buggy. Brushing some more of the Martian dust off his seat with his hand, he settles in next to Doctor Doolan, who is, by now, fast asleep.

  As Doug begins to be comfortable and faces forward, he realizes Mikhail is not where he should be and is, in fact, missing. He surveys the area, trying to find if he can locate him somewhere nearby, but he doesn't seem to be anywhere. He makes the decision to exit the vehicle and make a search on foot to try and find the absent cosmonaut.

  He grabs his weapon and exits the enclosure. He starts patrolling the area, searching for his missing crew-mate. After a few minutes, he spots Mikhail walking back from the direction of Olympus Mons. Doug walks up and decides to confront him on his whereabouts.

  "Miko. Where have you been?"

  "Ah, Digger, my friend. I was... exploring surroundings."

  "At night?"

  "Look around. It's not so dark." He is right. The Martian night is bright, by Earth standards. Some of this brightness is due to the light of Mars' two moons and also from all the dust in the atmosphere catching and reflecting sunlight.

  "That's not the point. You know our training. We're not to go anywhere alone," Doug chastises him, "did you see anything out there? Anything with a... sort of... golden-ish glow?"

  This last question catches Mikhail off guard, and he does his best not to show he is startled.

  "No. Nothing glowing. We should go to sleep now."

  "You sure? I could swear I saw something," Digger presses for information.

  "No," interrupts Miko, "I tell you there was nothing." The two men regard each other a few moments.

  "I guess it's possible it was some kind of weird reflection," Doug concedes.

  As the two make their way back to the rover, they are met by Jon and Doctor Doolan.

  "What the hell are you two doing," Captain Carson asks, angered.

  "Miko was gone so I went to search for him. I found him out there." the archaeologist points to where they came from.

  "Mikhail. What's wrong with your sensors," then to mission control, "I located him. He's alright. His instrumentation must have been damaged in the storm or something."

  "What are you talking about," Doug asks. Jon studies the cosmonaut as he answers.

  "I got word from Bill a little while ago. He informed me our navigator here, is apparently dead or something. They said his sensors all show zeroes."

  "Roger. Ask him why he isn't responding to our hails," Mission control replies minutes later.

  "Houston is asking why you didn't respond to their calls to you, Miko."

  "I received no calls, Captain."

  "Bill, he said he didn't receive a hail. I think there may be something damaged with his gear. But, he's standing here right in front of me as alive as you and me."

  "Roger."

  "Alright, Miko. Run diagnostics on your suit tonight, so your sensors will be back up and running. They need that information back at the Center."

  "Aye."

  "I don't want any more unscheduled sightseeing trips. Do I make myself clear?"

  "Yes, Sir. It won't happen again," Doug replies.

  "Captain, we should return to camp. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and we need our rest," Katherine suggests.

  Jon glances at her, and back to the other two.

  "Alright. You heard the doctor. Let's head back to the rover."

  They all walk back to the buggy and slide into their respective seats to settle in for the night.

  Talk To Me

  Morning arrives, and as the crew awakens, each one could hear the familiar voice of the computer in their helmet "Sleep cycle complete," the monotone voice says over and over. Jon taps his head gear as though annoyed.

  "I hate alarm clocks," he says. He touches a button to the right of his visor, and the annoying voice stops.

  "Morning, Houston. Got today's weather forecast for us," Captain Carter says.

  "Good morning, Mons Base. Model shows you should be having some pretty clear skies this day."

  "Roger. Thank you much. Are you receiving data on Mikhail now?"

  After an excruciatingly long pause, he asks again

  "I say again. Are you receiving data on Lieutenant Borznekhov today?"

  "Affirmative," control says, "but what's coming though is a little strange. Not quite right yet."

  "Strange? How?"

  "His heart and respiratory rates both seem abnormally slow. I'm sure this is most likely due to some kind of damage the sensors took in yesterday's storm. We'll keep running diagnostics and try to fix this."

  Jon glances over at Mikhail, who is as wide awake as always.

  "Roger. We'll talk to you in a while. Mons Base out."

  "Copy."

  The four exit the vehicle and set about donning their morning EVA packs. They sip their protein shakes in silence and think about what the day ahead might bring. All are excited because today is the day they will go into the volcano to begin the "nuts and bolts" of their mission. By the end of the day, they will find proof the planet had once either been inhabited or not.

  The crew is enjoying a beautiful Martian morning. The sky is a deep scarlet color, except close to the area of the sun, where it appears bluish. Some dust remains in the air from the storm the day before, but at least the wind seems to be pretty still at the moment. Wispy clouds of carbon dioxide are high above Olympus Mons.

  Doug finishes all the protein shake he can handle for now and walks over to the rover to retrieve his equipment for the briefing he must give everyone today. Jon comes over and stands next to him.

  "You two never told me what you two were doing out on your own last night," the captain says.

  Doug turns and glances at him for a moment.

  "I told you. Miko was gone when I came to bed down for the night. So, I went to search for him. I found him out there. By the time I did find him, he was on his way back. One more thing I should tell you," he pauses. "Right before I came back to the vehicle, I sat where you and I were talking, and I was looking at the stars. All of a sudden, there was this... I dunno... sort of a golden glow or something, coming from right near where I ran into Mikhail. He said he didn't see anything, but I know I saw something. What it was I can't tell you, but I am certain there was something."

  "Possible it was a meteor, lighting up the place," Jon says, trying to venture a guess.

  "No, this was no meteor. I'll tell you something else. Something is definitely not right with Miko. I think we should talk to him. He's not telling us something, and we need to know what he is hiding from us." Doug says as he finishes getting everything ready for his briefing. He sets up a table with a few small objects. Mikhail and Katherine see what he is doing and walk over.

  "Well," he starts, "I guess now's as good a time as any." Jon makes a facial gesture in agreement.

  "Okay," the team leader says, addressing the group, "Listen up. Today we'll be going inside Olympus Mons. We're all aware this is the largest volcano in the solar system. We also all know it's dead," he surveys everyone, "at least, we all hope so." His small audience shuffles, nervously. "We don't know what we're going to find, so be alert. I don't particularly believe in 'little green men,' but things like poisonous gasses... lava pits... magma... do exist, understood?" He studies all three, one by one. "I can't say whether or not any life exists in the interior, but if it does, we can encounter it in any form... animal...... plant," he glances at the Doctor, "Even microbial. So stay on guard, we don't want to hurt anything or be injured ourselves. I'll let Digger fill you in on the rest."

  "We're here to either prove or disprove this planet was, at one time, inhabited," Doug begins. "To that end, I want everyone to
keep me informed. Shout out if you uncover anything... anything at all... that appears out of place, or even a little... uh... weird."

  "Like marks on rocks." Mikhail interrupts.

  "Yes. Like marks on rocks. Any markings on any boulders, on any walls, on anything, signal me right away. You may have found something natural, or possibly not."

  "So, what are we looking for," Katherine questions. "Are we searching for anything in particular? When I was chosen for this mission, I was only told this was a 'fact finding' operation, and a physician was needed to be on board as a precaution. I was advised I would be briefed on everything once we are on site." Doug glimpses at her, avoiding eye contact,

  "Yes. This is the briefing you were told about. We're not trying to find any... um... singular object. We need anything we can find," He answers. The other three give him puzzled expressions.

  "I think, maybe, you are just like your government," Mikhail speaks up, agitated. "You don't give full story," he says, insisting. "I am aware what this ATP is that you are belonging to," he now glares at Doctor Doolan, "My superiors tell me truth. They tell me about Temple Project," the Russian military officer leers at Doug, "ATP is not a 'training project' like you said to me yesterday."

  "What is that," the Physician asks, confused.

  The archaeologist surveys everyone for a moment. Then he continues his briefing, appearing to brush aside Mikhail's accusation and trying not blow up on the cosmonaut for interfering.

  "I'm getting to that, Lieutenant Boznekhov, if you will please bear with me," he says. He turns his attention back to his talk. "You were all given the 'government explanation' about why we are here, and that is 'to either prove or disprove this planet was once inhabited.' That's not the entire truth. We needed for you all to retain plausible deniability. At least the governments did for matters of national security. The letters ATP stand for Akhenaten Temple Project." He picks up what appears to be a small, flat stone from the table. "The project is a few dig projects centered around the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten," He says.

  "I'm confused. What does that have to do with Mars," the Doctor questions.

  "Just this," Doug says, He gives the object he picked up from his table to Jon, who is standing in the middle of the three. All three examine the small article. "You are holding and examining a pottery shard. Originally from an urn, we found in a dig I was on recently in Egypt. This little chunk of evidence, if you will, is dated to be thousands of years old, " he says as Jon hands the minute piece back to him.

  "Why did you show us this," asks Doctor Doolan.

  "I am showing you all this because we have reason to believe the item this came from may have originated," he gestures up to Olympus Mons, "There," he finishes.

  Everyone turns and faces the mountain.

  "There," asks the Physician in disbelief. "You all think it came from a volcano here on Mars," she leers at Doug, who is nodding.

  "So, I'm standing here on this empty, cold, red planet. Millions of miles from my home and family. All because a group of people digging in the sand in a desert somewhere came up with some crazy idea that some little green men made pottery and came all the way to Earth to leave it so we would all come here," she scorns as she stares at him with fire in her eyes.

  Doug glances around at everyone. The way Katherine put it makes him feel a little silly.

  "It's not as simple as you're making it out to be," he says, "we found a hieroglyph in one of the tombs that shows what we understand to be the position of a planet called Nibiru."

  "Nibiru," she asks.

  "The name of the planet the ancient people of Egypt believed a race of alien beings called Anunnaki came from." Digger glances down at the piece of pottery, "A lot of people... scholars, actually... believe Akhenaten was not human. He was Anunnaki or at least part Anunnaki. We did find evidence to support this theory, but I can't discuss that here."

  "So, where is this... Nibiru," asks Doctor Doolan. Doug hesitates a second, partly for dramatic effect and also because he questions how this next bit of news will be received by his peers.

  "We're standing on it," He says. "I can tell you that. So, that's why we need to make certain if there ever was life on this planet. And why it's so important for everyone to talk to me if anything strikes you as being even a little out of place."

  "Da," Mikhail thinks to himself, "you are on the right track here. You will find your proof, Douglas Johnson; I guarantee you."

  "So, here is what we found the hieroglyph we deciphered is telling us," Doug continues; "The glyph was translated by me and, independently, by several others. We all came to one conclusion; the planets Nibiru and Mars are one and the same. We believe this to be true because it shows the world to be fourth from the sun." He begins to pace a little, "There is a symbol in the script we interpret as a volcano," He studies the group for a moment, "this, we are certain, is Olympus Mons because of its size and position on the orb. It also contained a picture of Akhenaten showing his elongated skull, which was a trait of the Anunnaki. So we are sure Akhenaten truly is one of these alien beings. And... we are convinced that he came from right here on Mars."

  After he stops talking, the other three remain silent for a few moments.

  "That's unbelievable... absolutely astounding," Doctor Doolan says.

  "So," Doug starts again, "in brief, here is what we are going to do. We are going to search the area around and in the volcano for any sign of past life. This will include all the rocks we could examine, along with the ground outside the cavern, the cave floor and walls inside the mountain. If you find anything at all that you think might be even the slightest bit unnatural, shout out and I will be there as soon as I can to study it with you." He gets a little excited now "We... us four... we may be on the brink of one of the greatest discoveries mankind will ever make."

  "Everyone, grab your gear and let's move out." Jon commands, "Remember to keep your helmet cams on at all times," he says as he turns on his own, and reports to Houston.

  "Mons Base here. Got a copy?"

  "We read you, Jon."

  "Thanks, Bill. We're about to leave camp to head to target. When we are ready to go into the dome, I will advise. Weather still looking good?"

  "Still good. Everything is a go."

  "Ya know... they found a better drive to get us here faster. Now they gotta do something about this communication thing. This three or four-minute wait between responses is killing us."

  "Agreed."

  "Base out."

  They all walk to the rover and gather the equipment they will need for the search. A few shovels, some picks, buckets and their M4 carbines. Mikhail waits until everyone is busy and no one notices him retrieve the device he placed on the bottom of the vehicle. He quickly stashes it in a bag he is carrying and joins the group.

  It takes about ten minutes, but the explorers begin the quest.

  "We should go to the cave you and Doctor Doolan found yesterday, captain," Doug says.

  "It was over this way," Jon answers, "I'll show you. Follow me." Everyone starts walking with him, examining rocks as they go.

  As they approach the cavern, Doug stops. He realizes this is the area the faint golden light came from the night before. He is feeling uneasy as he continues to walk forward with toward the mountain.

  "Hold up." He shouts out. The other three stop in their tracks and turn their attention to him.

  "You're going to think I'm crazy, but this is the spot where the glow I told you about emanated from, Captain."

  "What glow," Doctor Doolan asks.

  "Last night while I was sitting by myself... after you all left. I was enjoying the night sky. As I looked around, I could have sworn this area was bathed in a faint light. I closed my eyes, and when I reopened them, the shine was gone, so I didn't know at the moment if my eyes were playing tricks on me or not, but I soon realized I did see something." He surveys the surroundings. "I think we should be a little extra careful just in case." He glances at Mikhail
, "I can't believe you didn't see it, Miko. This is the sector you were in when I found you."

  "I already said to you. I saw no glow." the cosmonaut says, beginning to become frustrated with the questioning.

  "Alright," Jon starts "Before we go any further, we need to clear the air here. I want to know exactly what my crew is doing that I don't know about." He studies the Russian lieutenant, "Miko, what the hell were you up to out here alone after dark? You have one shot to give me the truth right now."

  Mikhail glimpses around for a second, thinking.

  "Alright. I tell you. I am biologist. My superiors give to me separate, secret mission. They want me to return home with," he hesitates, searching for words, "samples if we find any. So, I am checking if any small life forms are here at night."

  Jon glares at him for a moment in disbelief

  "What? You mean like bugs," He walks toward Mikhail. "You were out bug hunting? Is that what you're telling me?"

  "Yes, captain. I was. That is what I am telling you," he eyes the angry astronaut in front of him, "Is matter of national security. I cannot tell you more."

  "Do you realize how incredibly dangerous that stunt you pulled is? You put the whole team... the entire mission in danger just to find some bugs to bring back home." Jon is now face to face with Mikhail and seething with anger. "When we return, I'm going to have a few words with your superiors. From this point forward, you do not stray from the group. That is a matter of our mission security. Am I clear?"

  "Yes, captain. Quite clear," the cosmonaut answers, doing a good job of holding his temper.

  "Control, did you catch our conversation," Jon asks

  "Roger. We'll contact the RIO and find out what this secret operation is they have him on." The RIO is the Russian Interface Officer.