“Can we easily cancel the predetermined course through this system, Lieutenant, or do we have to go through with it because of our proximity to the other planets?” Barlor’s forehead was wrinkled with concentration.
“We can abort the preset course and institute another without difficulty, but you have no intention of going on and leaving this system without checking it out, have you, sir?”
“No. We shall certainly have to make an exploration.” Barlor’s tones were brittle, his brown eyes narrowed. “But I think we should keep our distance until contact has been made with these aliens. We must inform them that we are peacefully inclined. If we don’t make contact with them then all our following freighters will have to make a detour around this system. That would add time and cost to our projects.”
“I could set a course that will put us in an elliptical orbit around the entire system, remaining clear of the planets. It will enable the aliens to see us, and if they want to make contact then they will be able to do so.”
“Set that course as soon as possible. I don’t want to approach any planet until after contact has been made. Those missiles might have been merely a warning-off. It is possible they have heavier weapons to back up that warning, and we cannot run the risk of losing this ship or of sustaining heavy damage.”
“I’ll get on to it immediately, Captain!” Tewkes transferred his attention to his equipment, and Barlor went back to the main control console. As he reached it the control room door was opened and Professor Judd Norvall appeared. He came towards Barlor, a stocky man with broad shoulders and heavy features. His skin was swarthy, his eyes very dark, and his hair was black. Jutting black brows gave him a heavy appearance, and his lips were thick, his nose bulbous and broadly based. When he spoke his tones were deep.
“What’s the trouble, Captain?” he demanded.
Barlor explained the situation, and Norvall nodded. He was not a young man, having turned forty, but as he held no executive position on the ship his age did not matter. He was the world’s foremost semantics expert, and his value aboard the ship had been proved many times in the past.
“I’ll start transmitting immediately,” Norvall said, turning to cross to the communications console. “It won’t take me long to make contact. Whoever they are, these aliens will want to make contact.”
Barlor nodded, and for a moment he was extremely thoughtful as he watched Norvall cross to where Lieutenant Elon was seated. Then he transferred his attention to more immediate matters, explaining to Denson the change of course.
“I agree with you, Captain,” Denson said without
hesitation. “If we do pass through the centre of this system as planned the aliens may construe our actions as hostile. I’m sure those missiles were merely warnings to stay out of range. They were not heavy enough to cause us any problems.”
“If that is the case then the aliens won’t be hostile, merely cautious, and we should be able to contact and treat with them,” Barlor said.
Denson nodded slowly. Barlor glanced at the main scanner screen, and the outer planet of the system was looming larger now, showing faint signs of atmosphere through which a greenish tinge was apparent.
“We should be getting some data from Professor Tosk,” Barlor said slowly. “Open a line to the forward observation cabin, Collin. I want to talk to her.”
Denson obeyed, and Barlor bent over the deck communicator when Mahla Tosk spoke.
“Professor, can you give me any information on this planet yet?” Barlor demanded. “That attack against us makes it obvious there are aliens in this system.”
“I’m afraid we’re still too distant to make any accurate readings, but I’ll call you the instant I have any information,” came the reply. “I am extremely busy, Captain.” A note of impatience sounded in her tones. “Will you leave it to me to report as soon as I’m able?”
“Yes, Professor. Please carry on. But I need information, and immediately.”
“I’ll try to do the impossible, Captain!” The feminine tones sweetened. “If I succeed, I’ll call you.”
Barlor pursed his lips as he killed the line, and when he met Denson’s eyes he saw a faint grin on his subordinate’s features. He smiled momentarily.
“I appreciate that they’re busy, but we need that information. If the aliens decide that we have not been warned off they may throw something much heavier and more lethal at us.” Barlor spoke tersely, and there was a tinge of worry in his tones. His smile faded. “But I’ve ordered a change of course. We’ll pursue an elliptical orbit now, and remain out of the constellation.”
“We’ll have to pass close to this outer planet in order to get some data from Professor Tosk,” Denson said.
“We’ll do that, although it is risky. It’s obvious those missiles came from the planet. It must be inhabited, and when they discover that we are not turning away they may initiate another attack. It’s a chance we have to face. But perhaps Professor Norvall can establish communication with the aliens.” Barlor glanced towards the communications console.
“Don’t you calculate that if those missiles were fired from the surface of the planet then they travelled an incredible distance to arrive as they did?” Denson queried.
“That has been in the back of my mind!” Barlor compressed his lips. “You think there may be a ship out here on patrol?”
“That’s likely, isn’t it?” Denson was considering as he spoke.
“More than likely, but unless they contact us there’s little chance of pinpointing them if they are out of range of our sensors.” Barlor moved away to Tewkes again, wanting to check on their position. He was certain that all the mysterious incidents that had taken place had the same source, and the aliens inhabiting this planetary system were well able to take care of their own security. But there was no need for trouble! Barlor had orders to avoid trouble at all costs, and he wanted to convey that message to these space strangers.
But Tewkes reported everything normal. They would complete the first stage of the figure of eight orbit, but at the end of the first starboard curve they would continue around the periphery of the planetary system instead of passing through the orbits of the individual planets. Barlor satisfied himself that Tewkes was on top of his job, and was considering what next to do when Denson called him to the control console.
“It’s the Doc, Captain,” Denson reported.
Barlor drew a sharp breath as he bent over the communicator. With an engine-room crewman dead there just had to be some other complication, and Barlor recalled that a percentage of the crew had reported sick with no apparent physical ailment.
“This is the Captain, Doc!” he said harshly. “What’s on your mind?”
“I’ve just completed a post-mortem on that dead crewman, Captain!” Simpson’s tones were somewhat reedy, and Barlor could picture the doctor’s thin features and pale blue eyes.
“Well?” he prompted. “No apparent physical breakdown, was there?”
“No!” Simpson sounded surprised. “How would you know that, Captain?”
“Just an educated guess! What did you find, Doc?”
“Brain damage consistent with exposure to some kind of mental probe!”
“That’s what I suspected. Someone has been using a mind-bender on this ship!” Barlor sensed Denson staring at him, but did not meet his subordinate’s gaze. “When we put up the deflector shields we cut off the mind-bender. But I don’t doubt that it will be waiting for us when we lower the shields again. Is there anything we can do to combat that particular menace?”
“Nothing that I’m aware of. If these aliens are that far advanced then there’s little we can do for complete protection but stay behind our deflector shields.”
“Which is the last thing a party of us will be able to do,” Barlor mused aloud. “All right, Doc. Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“I suspect that the reason that extra percentage of crewmen reported sick today was because they were feeling the
effects of that mysterious beam! “
“Have you had any new cases?” There was no tension in Barlor’s voice but he was taut, his hands clenched and his eyes narrowed.
“No. But I’m carrying out tests on a number of those crewmen who reported sick. I’ll let you know if I stumble across anything.”
“Do that, but I hope you’re not compelled to. We have enough problems at the moment without a mysterious illness amongst the crew.” Barlor closed the line and straightened, sighing heavily as he did so.
“It doesn’t sound too bad,” Denson commented.
“It’s all right while the shields are up, but as soon as possible I’m detaching a landing party in a shuttle and sending an expedition to the planet. Get Tewkes to work out some co-ordinates for me. He’ll know the exact time when we should detach.”
“You’ll lower the shields to let a shuttle detach?”
“We can throw out a force field between the ship and the planet while the shields are lowered!” Barlor was thinking rapidly.
“Who will command the landing party?” There was a glint in Denson’s pale eyes.
“I will!” There was firm decision in Barlor’s voice. “You can handle the ship, Collin.”
“Yes, Captain!” There was a shade of disappointment in Denson’s tones. “Will you detach from the ship whether you have data or not from Professor Tosk?”
“There will be a correct moment for detaching,” Barlor replied, “and I shall take it whether I have information or not.”
“We could always pass on any data that came to hand!” Denson’s tones carried confidence, but his features did not express it. “But you’ll be taking one hell of a risk.”
“That’s my job! I wouldn’t delegate that risk, Collin! You are more than capable to lead the expedition, but I can’t pass the dangers to you.”
“It would be my duty, if you ordered me to handle it,” came the brisk reply. “But I’ll volunteer for the job if there is a chance you’d consider me.”
“There isn’t a chance. You can also alert Major Hammond and ask him to have a landing party of about half a dozen security men standing by. We’ll use Port Two if I do detach from the ship.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Denson said, and busied himself with the communicator.
Another hour passed, and the planet on their forward scanner was beginning to take on detail that had been missing previously. The atmosphere was all too obvious, but thin, and beyond it lay the planet surface; greens and browns showing in large areas. Barlor paced the control room, awaiting the first report from Professor Tosk, and he still had not heard anything when Tewkes called to him.
“Captain, if you plan to visit the planet surface then you’ll have to detach in thirty minutes. Shall I programme the computer for Port Two to detach at that time?”
“Yes, do that!” Barlor ceased his pacing and glanced at the scanner screen. He sighed heavily. “Give me a countdown to the moment of detachment. I shall be aboard that shuttle five minutes beforehand.” He turned to Denson, who was hunched over at the control console. “I’m going to have a talk with Major Hammond. Keep me informed of anything that crops up, and let me have any data from Professor Tosk no matter where I am.”
Denson nodded, and Barlor turned on his heel to leave the control room. As he reached the door the communicator on the console bleeped, and he paused while Denson answered. The next moment his subordinate was beckoning him. He sighed heavily and went back to Denson’s side.
“Professor Tosk!” Denson reported.
“Hello, Professor!” Barlor kept impatience out of his
tones. “What can you tell me?”
“You’ll need to wear space suits down on the planet surface,” came the steady reply.
“What about life forms?” Barlor cut in.
“None on this side of the planet which we can check. Do you want mineral and chemical data?”
“No. Feed that into the computers. But you say there is no sign of life on the planet?” Barlor was frowning.
“That’s right. None of our instruments can detect any kind of life. There is vegetation, but no life form as we know it.”
“Then where did those missiles come from?” Barlor turned his head and caught Tewkes’ attention. “Can you answer that, Lieutenant? Where did those missiles come from?”
“According to my equipment, they were launched from the planet. All co-ordinates point to it.” Tewkes shrugged and returned to his work.
“Very well, Professor. I’m taking a landing party down to the planet surface. Do you wish to go along!”
“Yes please! I’d like to take some instruments and about three assistants.” Professor Tosk’s tones changed immediately, and she could not conceal the eagerness in her voice.
“Good. Report to Port Two shuttle station. You have about fifteen minutes to get aboard.”
“We’ll be there, and I’ll arrange for any worthwhile data to be relayed to us when we have detached.” There was a pause, and then the professor asked in her attractive tones. “But won’t it be dangerous down there on the planet if there is hostility?” she queried.
“How can there be hostility?” he demanded. “You’ve just reported that there is no life form on the planet.”
“So we’ll have to find out the hard way, Captain.” Her tones became prim. “My party will be ready by the time you wish to detach.”
Barlor closed the line and departed from the control room, grinning at Denson, who was smiling, and he made his way to the shuttle station on the port side of the craft, to find a party of green-uniformed security guards standing there. Boyd Franklin was the lieutenant in charge of the party, and he called the men to attention and saluted Barlor. Franklin was a keen young man with a youthful face, but he was tough and well-seasoned, with a powerful body and steady brown eyes.
“Where is Major Hammond, Lieutenant?” Barlor demanded.
“He’s checking with the Chief Engineer to get the shuttle cleared for detach, Captain,” came the firm reply.
“Good. But we’ll all need space suits down on the planet. You’d better get your men equipped, and when the clearance has come through you’d better board the craft. We detach in less than thirty minutes.”
“Yes, sir!” Franklin turned to the men and marched them away along the corridor. As they turned out of sight Major Hammond and Linus Royden appeared, and they came towards Barlor. Hammond, a tall, heavily built man in his middle thirties, saluted smartly, a grin on his fleshy face. He had fair hair and grey eyes, and was encompassed by an aura of efficiency which marked him as a born leader.
“This shuttle should be okay, Captain,” Royden said, operating the airlock door. “But I’ll run the rule over it just to be sure. There’s no telling what has happened aboard this ship since we came within range of this planetary system.”
Barlor followed the Chief into the airlock, himself followed by Hammond. Royden operated the controls and they passed through the airlock into the shuttlecraft slung from its launching equipment. The shuttle was fifty metres long, a powerful craft that was armed and armoured, and able to erect its own deflector shields. It was equipped to support twenty men for seven days, and Barlor had often spent considerable periods at a time cooped up in one.
He stood in the single cabin briefing Hammond while Royden checked out the craft, and before the Chief was satisfied Barlor had sent the Major to collect his space suit. Finally Royden turned to Barlor, nodding emphatically.
“This shuttle will take you anywhere and do everything you ask of it, but don’t expect the same degree of protection from this as we have on the parent ship, Captain.”
“Come off it, Linus!” Barlor said, smiling. “I know as much about the uses and limitations of a shuttle as you do.”
“I’m worried, Captain,” came the hesitant reply. “You won’t have much chance in this little ship if someone fires rockets at you.”
“I have it on good authority that the planet does not s
upport any life forms,” Barlor said. “Don’t worry about me, Linus. You just concentrate upon the ship and make sure she has every chance. I’m leaving you in good hands. Collin Denson was trained all the way up by me.”
“I’ve got no complaint on that score,” Royden said, shaking his head. “But we can’t afford to lose you, Captain!”
Barlor smiled grimly. “I’m not relinquishing my right to captain this expedition,” he said. “Now if you’re satisfied with this craft then I’ll finish my preparations. We have to detach in about fifteen minutes.”
Royden nodded and they left the craft. Condor found the security guards returning, and asked Lieutenant Franklin to have someone collect his personal space suit from the store. He had other arrangements to make, and now time seemed to be flitting by. He went back to the control room to give Denson last-minute instructions, then conferred with Tewkes.
“Captain,” the astrogator said, “I’ve computed detach and course to the planet surface, and I’ve calculated the time you’ll have to lift off from the planet in order to rendezvous with us on our next appearance in orbit here. You’ll have forty-eight hours down there, and you must be back aboard in time for lift-off. You won’t have to handle the shuttle in either direction. The computer will take care of that. All you’ll have to do is pilot it manually for the last few metres of your landing.”
“Thanks, Lieutenant,” Barlor said. “I’ll be in touch with you with the communicator.” He glanced at the chronometer. “Now I’ll have to run or I’ll miss detach. I’ll check with you upon my return.”
Tewkes nodded. “Good luck, sir!” he said sharply.
Barlor nodded and turned back to Denson, who was looking a bit glum.
“You can command the next landing, Collin,” he called as he left the control room.
“I’ll keep you to that,” Denson retorted. “But good luck.”
Barlor smiled, but his face soon sobered as he made his way down to the shuttle station. He hoped he would not have to rely on luck for anything…
CHAPTER V
Nightmare Planet Page 5
