Nightmare Planet

by Donald S. Rowland

  “Do that, Lieutenant, and check on that alien life-force hovering around us.”

  “The last report states that it is still in its original position, and acquiring density and size.”

  “Summoning up all available assistance, eh?” Barlor firmed his lips. “We’ll need some means of getting onto the roof of the shuttle if we have to leave hurriedly. Get the guards to construct a ladder or something.”

  Franklin saluted and turned away as he used his communicator. Barlor stood for a moment, thinking deeply, then turned on his heel and went back into the building and down to the basement. Royden was intent upon the equipment there, and started nervously when Barlor called to him. He looked up, a startled expression on his heavy face, then grinned.

  “By heaven, I’d like the opportunity to strip this right down and find out how it all works — what makes it work,” Royden said.

  “Have you seen any changes in the indicators since you

  arrived down here?” Barlor demanded, and explained what Professor Tosk had done.

  Royden moved to a panel where a number of green lights shone steadily.

  “These came on in two stages as you were leaving me, Captain,” he said.

  “That would be about the time Professor Tosk accidently knocked that lever,” Barlor retorted. “Perhaps we can switch off from here!”

  “There are a number of levers on this panel, but I have no way of knowing what they’re connected to or what their function is.” Royden was slowly shaking his head. He looked into Barlor’s intent face. “And I’m not touching anything that I don’t understand, Captain. I’ve been an engineer far too long to make that basic mistake.”

  “I know what you mean, but we could be in considerable danger, Linus.” Barlor’s tones did not indicate the degree of concern he was feeling.

  “I might make the situation ten times worse by interfering,” Royden replied softly.

  “All right, so we’ll have to wait for Professor Protus. But then there is no guarantee that he will be able to understand this alien language. It may take his equipment hours to interpret it.” Barlor was becoming more concerned as he analysed the situation. “I’m wondering about the missile sites on that outer planet. There were control posts with them but they all seemed inert. Does this control centre act as the master control for those sites? Has Professor Tosk now armed those missiles out there?”

  “And Voyager is orbiting every two hours,” Royden said in heavy tones. “Hell, Captain, this could mean real trouble. Let me look at these panels. I’ll switch them off if I can.”

  “Do that while I look around upstairs,” Barlor said, turning away. “Take any risks you deem necessary. Your experience must be able to provide some guide-lines of

  action, Linus, even if you can’t understand the equipment.”

  “That’s easy to say,” came the swift retort, “but supposing I switch on some circuits that will arm those missiles on that outer planet and destroy Voyager? Or perhaps set into motion a device on this planet which will shatter it?”

  Barlor shook his head and sighed heavily as he went back to the stairs. He ascended swiftly and went to the chamber where Professor Tosk was waiting. Her face was showing strain, and Barlor, glancing around, saw that the activated panels were still operating, and the small monitor was showing a rapidly changing series of what Barlor assumed were alien figures. He watched them for some moments, noting that the line of figures on the right was changing at intervals of one second. The next line in from the right clicked and changed at intervals of one minute, and he exhaled sharply as he realized the fact.

  “This is a countdown, Professor. Check the changes and see for yourself. The only hope, as I see it, is that there are some hours still left on the monitor, so whatever the countdown is for, it isn’t due to go into operation just yet.”

  “I wish Professor Protus would hurry up and get here,” Professor Tosk retorted.

  A figure appeared in the doorway and Barlor swung around to find Franklin confronting him. There was a grave expression on the Lieutenant’s face.

  “Captain, the guard in the shuttle reports the sensors picking up new signals. Would you go on up to the roof and make a check?”

  “Immediately!” Barlor left the chamber and went outside. He found that the two guards had erected a rough ladder against the side of the building and he ascended swiftly to the roof, entering the shuttle to find Doc Simpson seated at the rear of the cabin and the duty crewman at the control seat.

  “Captain, these sensors are indicating a new source of power on the planet within a hundred miles of this spot,” the crewman said.

  “When did you pick it up?”

  “A few minutes ago. I’ve been watching for a satisfactory check. It’s not something that has started casually. It came on suddenly, and remains constant.”

  “Some of the controls in the building here have been accidently switched on, and that could account for this,” Barlor remarked. “But I don’t see why you should get a report some one hundred miles away. Are you getting impulses from the power source beneath us?”

  “Yes, Captain! We started getting that signal as soon as the woods was destroyed. It has strengthened slightly, as if more power is being emitted, but otherwise it remains constant.”

  “And that alien life-force gathering about us?” Barlor demanded.

  “It’s still there, and getting stronger. But the force-field we have is strong enough to protect us. There have been some small tests made against us by the alien force. I’ve seen sputters of activity on our sensors. It’s preparing to attack.”

  “We’ll have to check this out immediately,” Barlor decided, his tones hardening. He sighed heavily. “Stay on watch until I come back. We’re taking off as soon as I can gather the landing party together.”

  He left the craft and went back to ground level. Franklin was waiting in the doorway of the building, alert and uneasy. Barlor informed him of the discovery that had been made, and saw his own tension mirrored in his subordinate’s expression. They both knew this could be an escalation of the trouble confronting them…

  CHAPTER XIV

  “I want everyone in the shuttle,” Barlor ordered. “We can’t wait for Professor Protus to arrive. He’s still thirty minutes from touchdown. We may not have that long before something unpleasant happens.”

  “You seem certain that what’s going on here is unpleasant, Captain,” Franklin commented.

  “The whole set-up is reminiscent of a control centre for firing missiles or detonating a nuclear device. That’s how it strikes me, Lieutenant, and in a situation like this we can only assume the worst. That is the safest course to take.”

  “I’ll get everybody aboard the craft, sir!” Franklin went into the building, and when he emerged some moments later he was followed by the rest of the landing party.

  Barlor closed the outer door of the building, and was the last to ascend to the roof and enter the shuttle. He closed and sealed the hatch and took the control seat.

  “Stand by,” he ordered as he switched on.

  With all circuits powered he checked the entire range of sensors and found three points of interest. One was the shuttle bearing Professor Protus, which was still at great height above the planet. The second point was directly beneath them, and Barlor ignored it. But the third point was some distance away, and it had come into being when Professor Tosk accidently tripped the lever in the building beneath them.

  “We have to travel about one hundred miles to check out this new source,” Barlor explained as they lifted off the roof and he set computer control to trace the source of power to its origin. “I think it is the next link in the chain of power. The accident which Professor Tosk had in that building back there has powered some other control post, and if I am not mistaken in my consideration of this situation then we are in for trouble, and when I say trouble I really mean it. All that has gone before will seem like child’s play in comparison.”

  “
Give it to us straight, Captain,” Lieutenant Franklin said tersely. “We’d rather know what we are up against.”

  “Lieutenant, if I knew anything more I would tell you, but I am as much in the dark about this as the rest of you. I have the feeling that time is at a premium, and that is why I am not awaiting the arrival of Professor Protus. But his ship will rendezvous with us at this new power source.”

  Barlor lapsed into silence and stared down through the view ports. The sunlight was bright, and he could see scattered herds of Megges grazing on the plain. It seemed a peaceful rural scene, and the alien horrors that lurked in the background were like a nightmare in Barlor’s mind.

  The control computer homed in on the new source of power, and they sped towards it at great speed. Barlor checked the sensors continually, and discovered that the alien life-force was travelling in company with them, maintaining its invisible position despite their velocity. He checked the strength of their shields, and was not satisfied that they could withstand a concerted attack by this greatly intensified alien force.

  Within minutes the sensors were showing a large complex of obdurate material on the ground, and before long Barlor made a physical contact by peering through the forward view ports. He saw a vast cluster of tall buildings and masts ahead, and slowed the craft, his forehead puckering into a frown as he relayed his sighting to the crew,

  Professor Tosk came to Barlor’s side and studied the buildings.

  “It’s a city, Captain,” she pronounced, “but no ordinary city. There are no signs of life on my instruments. It seems that your humanoid aliens lived on this planet before finally withdrawing, and this must have been their Base.”

  “We’re going to check it out,” Barlor said. “I want to pinpoint that source of power.” He took the craft off computer control and operated it manually. When he was descending in a shallow dive towards the centre of the buildings he called up Professor Protus, and within a few moments there was a reply from the other shuttle.

  “Hello, Captain, we are coming in on prefixed coordinates, but you have changed your position since my plot was calculated. Will you give me your new position and intentions?”

  Barlor passed on the information, and added, “I want Professor Protus here as quickly as possible. Make all haste. Remain in the air until we have visual contact.”

  The pilot of the approaching shuttle acknowledged, and Barlor returned his attention to his instruments, permitting the sensors to guide him to the building which was emitting power signals. He found himself bringing the craft down to the flat roof of a tall building that bristled with radio and television masts. There was a landing space on the roof and he took the shuttle in expertly and set it down.

  “What happens now, Captain?” Franklin demanded.

  Barlor was checking for the alien life-force, and discovered that it was still present outside the perimeter of their force-field. He sighed as he glanced at his second-in-command.

  “Lieutenant, we are going to sit here and await the arrival of Professor Protus. We have to get both shuttles on this roof and under the cover of our combined force-fields. Then Protus will go with me on a search for facts. He’ll need some help with his semantics equipment so we’ll take a couple of guards along. I want you to remain in command of the two shuttles and keep close watch on our surroundings. No one else will leave either ship, and there will be no disobedience of my orders.” He glanced at Professor Tosk as he spoke, and she looked away, her expression showing discomfort.

  The pilot of the other shuttle came through, and Barlor gave him fresh co-ordinates. A few moments later one of the crewmen looking through a viewport reported sighting the shuttle, and Barlor, watching its approach on a screen, instructed it to land beside his own craft. Minutes later they were at rest side by side, their force-fields combined to give them a strong, protective shield which also covered the building upon which they had landed.

  Leaving the craft, Barlor waited while the hatch on the other ship was opened, and Professor Protus appeared, leaping to the ground and coming forward to confront Barlor for orders while crewmen aboard his shuttle began unloading equipment.

  Protus was in his late thirties, a tall, heavily-built man with fair hair and blue eyes, and he was of a calm disposition, unflappable in an emergency.

  “What’s the trouble, Captain?” he demanded. “Where is Professor Norvall?”

  “Dead, I’m sorry to report,” Barlor said grimly, “along with the rest of the first landing party.” He explained tersely the situation and Protus listened intently. When Barlor lapsed into silence Protus nodded intelligently.

  “I’ll be able to make an analysis of the language that is used to label the various control panels, but to be able to do a complete job I would need samples of the spoken words,” he said.

  “Let’s see what we can find in this building. I’m certain this is the main control building of the whole complex. At least, this is where the power signals are emanating from. How many men will you need to carry your equipment?”

  “Four would do. I have half a dozen men aboard my shuttle. They are my technicians. They will handle the equipment. I assume you will have us covered by security guards!”

  “Don’t worry about that side of it. You will be fully protected. Now let’s get moving. I don’t want to put any thoughts or ideas into your head, Professor, but I have a hunch that we could be facing a great deal of trouble, and there may be less time left to deal with it than we realize.”

  “I’m ready to move as soon as you are,” Protus retorted, his blue eyes glinting.

  Barlor led the way to what was obviously an entrance to the upper floor of the building, and he was flanked by two alert security guards. Professor Protus and four technicians followed, and two more security guards acted as a rearguard. Barlor expected to find the entrance locked, but like the door of the other building back in the woods it opened without difficulty, and they descended a flight of stairs to a landing where several elevator doors faced them.

  Carrying investigating equipment himself, Barlor checked for power impulses, and located the centre of the activity within the building. It was down in the basement. But he was more interested in other equipment and they stopped at the next floor down to make a search.

  Floor by floor they worked down through the building, and it was not until they reached the ground floor that Professor Protus showed anything more than a passing interest in the equipment that occupied most of the chambers through which they searched. Barlor was aware of how time was slipping by, and a sense of urgency began to grip his mind. Then they entered a massive room that had hardly any clear floor space. There were consoles and desks, and the walls were filled with charts and large screens.

  “This looks like the place I need,” Protus said instantly. “Leave me to make my own examination, Captain. I’ll work quicker that way. I’ll have a couple of your guards around, just in case, but you can finish off your search of the building if you wish. I’ll contact you with a communicator if I should make any vital discovery.”

  “If you’re going to learn anything then do it soon,” Barlor said, fighting the uneasiness in his voice. “I’ve always followed my hunches in everything I’ve done, and right now there’s a little voice in the back of my mind warning me that we ought to be pulling out instead of wasting time here.”

  He motioned for two of the guards to remain and led the other two off on a search that covered the rest of the building. He found the power unit that had attracted their sensors down in the basement, and it looked like a more powerful edition of the one back in the building in the woods.

  “There’s nothing down here that we want,” Barlor commented, after looking around. “Let’s get back to the professor. It won’t take him long to use that equipment of his, and if there is a sample of that alien language around his computers will soon transmute it to English.”

  They returned to the vast room where Protus was working, and Barlor drew a sharp breath when he
saw the professor talking sharply to one of the guards. The guard turned at that precise moment and started for the door, halting as soon as he saw Barlor appearing.

  “Captain!” Protus came forward with long strides. “I was about to send a guard for you. I’ve got what we came for, and the sooner you follow your hunch the better. I’ll explain to you as we return to the shuttles. Every moment is vital.”

  Barlor motioned for the guards to depart, accepting the professor’s decision.

  “There’s no time even to collect my equipment,” Protus said harshly as they went along a corridor to the elevators at the far end. “I have this recorder, and I’ve got all the information we need. The crux of it is this, Captain. There’s an explosive device on this planet which is powerful enough to cause a chain reaction intended to shatter it. The countdown for this destruction was started many years ago, after the aliens who built this place had departed. But something caused a stoppage in the countdown when it was just halfway to zero. Professor Tosk caused that countdown to resume, and by my reckoning we have barely six hours in which to get back aboard Voyager and get to hell out of orbit before the big bang.”

  Barlor compressed his lips at the news. They were entering the elevator, and he experienced a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as they sped to the roof of the building.

  “Is there any way of stopping the countdown?” he demanded.

  “No. The information which I gathered indicates that there can be no reversal, unless the malfunction which stopped it before occurs again, but that is most unlikely.”

  Barlor jerked as the elevator halted with a slight jar, and he led the rush up the stairs to the roof when the elevator doors opened. When he gained his shuttle he sprang through the hatch and hurried to the main control seat, flipping open the communicator lines. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Franklin staring at him.