The Blue People of Cloud Planet

by Brian Wolfenden

  AJ has overseen the activities of the past 5 years and helped where possible. However, he spent most of his time aboard LifeSeeker-1 and had just received the fantastic news that all the astronauts aboard LifeSeeker-2 had woken safely from cryo–hibernation and that this starship was less than 1 year from arrival at Cloud Planet.

  He sat alone in the command dome of his starship and stared out at the planet below. The change in the cloud collar was quite dramatic, particularly at the coast lines. You could actually see the red beaches, thought AJ, and all the way up several estuaries where Alison and Steve had completed their amazing feat of deforestation.

  He was composing a text report to the commander of LifeSeeker-2, Brian Harrington, a close friend and respected colleague. He had been sending regular reports to the General at Mars Base in which he had expressed his anxieties concerning the incredible riches of Cloud Planet and the need to keep this information as confidential as possible. He kept his report to Brian fairly brief just outlining the main findings concerning Cloud Planet. He described the Blue People and how they were threatened with extinction at the hands of an advanced alien force from another galaxy.

  ‘That will certainly get his attention!’ AJ said as he hit the return key to send the message.

  Martha and Pete had travelled through hundreds of dwellings over the last 5 years as they helped the Serenites build their heated underground chambers. Martha’s hot water bottle design was now in regular use across the whole planet and Pete had designed a thermal valve to maximise the flow of hot water into the chambers. Both had become fully integrated into Serenite life including their afternoon activities!

  And as for Alison and Steve? Well, they kept themselves very much to themselves.

  Chapter 73

  Farewell to Hotenka

  Twenty planet days later, Olivia docked ROL-1 with the starship and AJ joined her in the lander. They took off and travelled nearly one third the way around Cloud Planet arriving at night above the dwelling at the equator where Martha and Pete were currently based.

  Zec-1 took ROL-1 down through the cloud and landed in the open space in front of the pyramids. They waited for sunrise.

  ‘I never tire of seeing a dwelling light up,’ AJ said and Olivia nodded in agreement.

  ‘I love the moment when the sun shines and casts the deep red shadows across the ground,’ continued Olivia. ‘But I still remember the thrill of that first black dome rising from the floor and the Blue People emerging – it was magical.’

  ‘I have deep concerns, Olivia, for these people. This planet has untold riches and we must not let it be exploited. Unfortunately we can hardly keep these diamonds a secret forever and just think how much energy could be generated by them. Why, I think these crystals could replace nuclear plants – think how beneficial to the environment that would be for Earth!’

  ‘You’re right; this must be handled very carefully. We mustn’t let it get into the wrong hands!’

  ‘Olivia, that may well be your responsibility if you decide to return to Earth on LifeSeeker-2.’

  That evening, Martha and Pete joined Olivia and AJ in the lander and they took off for their journey to a very special meeting on the coast.

  At about the same time in the ‘capital city’ a very strange and unique event in Serenite history was about to unfold. In the late afternoon sun, ROL-2 was sitting in the centre of the open space in front of the huge pyramid dwelling. Thousands of Serenites and blue workers had crowded around the lander occupying every available space in the dwelling structure.

  They waited in anticipation as Hotenka emerged from the huge pyramid followed by Scott, Seren and Zac. Two blue females helped their frail leader as the group walked slowly towards the centre of the open space. Just before they reached the lander, the leader turned and raised up his arms and everyone in the dwelling responded likewise. Suddenly the drums started and Hotenka, supported by Seren, moved under the lander and sat in the control seats. Scott ensured that they were both securely strapped in.

  Alison and Steve instructed Zec-2 to raise the control seats and two Blue People from Cloud Planet entered a spacecraft from another star system. Scott and Zac followed a short while later and slowly the dwelling structure cleared of the thronging masses as they moved underground.

  Whilst they waited for the light sheath to shut down, Hotenka again protested that he should be allowed to travel the Serenite way but Seren put her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes,

  >> twenty days and nights used to be an easy journey for you > hotenka > but now > now you must be certain to reach your destiny >>

  One hour later, ROL-2, piloted by Alison and Steve lifted from the red clay of the ‘capital city’ and took their unique passengers to the very special event on the coast.

  Meanwhile Olivia had instructed Zec-1 to fly the lander across the red plain and then turn and follow the edge of the mountain range until they reached the outer dwellings opposite the ‘capital city’. This journey took the remainder of the night and they were now positioned above the lake near the edge of the plain. Although there was cloud below them it was only thin and wispy.

  They waited for sunrise and watched as dwelling sheaths broke through the clouds getting closer and closer to their position,

  ‘Olivia!’ Martha said with alarm, ‘We’re too near the dwelling below!’

  ‘It’s OK.’ said Olivia and AJ nodded reassuringly at Martha.

  Below them was the dwelling obliterated by the missile from LifeSeeker-1 that had been redirected by the black. Alison and Steve had not deforested this valley because the devastated dwelling had effectively severed the transport system for the Blue People from the plain to the valley. The astronauts had decided not to visit this dwelling until the cloud thinned sufficiently to allow a daytime inspection.

  ‘Command Zec-1, descend to landing coordinates.’ Olivia instructed.

  They left the lander and walked across the red clay under a thin watery sun. Fifty metres away was the dwelling, or what remained of it.

  ‘My God!’ said a shocked Olivia.

  The front and side walls and lower triangular pools were completely gone. Part of the rear wall and upper plinth had survived and had probably protected the canal behind from the worst of the blast. But it, too, was damaged and water gushed from a breach in its near side.

  ‘We must repair that!’ AJ pointed.

  They scrambled over the front wall and looked aghast at the collapsed central area, the clay blackened from the fireball of the explosion. They could hear water flowing somewhere underneath.

  ‘We’ll never fix this!’ Pete said dejectedly.

  ‘That’s a job for the future. We have other priorities first,’ replied AJ.

  Then in deference to the Blue People who had perished from their missile, they formed a circle. They held hands and, with heads bowed, stood in silent vigil for 1 minute of this incredible planet’s time.

  ‘OK!’ said AJ, finally looking up, ‘We’ve got a meeting to get to!’

  There were hundreds of Serenites and blue workers on the red beach in front of the six restored dwellings. It was midday and the brilliant sunshine flooded down from the cloudless blue sky onto the coast and the blue waters of the estuary. Blond Serenite children darted back and forth at the edge of the sea watched carefully by the attentive blue females. It was a beautiful day, fit for a very special occasion.

  Suddenly, the Blue People on the beach all stopped as one and turned to look into the sky across the estuary. They had heard the deafening roar first, but now they saw the two strange objects dropping from the sky. Although they could not understand how he travelled through the sky, they knew their leader was coming.

  ROL-1 and ROL-2 descended in perfect synchronisation, 75 metres apart, onto the red beach across the estuary that faced the waiting crowd. In a whirl of dust the two landers touched down simultaneously and waited for the air to clear before they disgorged their passengers. Boats were drawn onto the n
earby edge of the estuary and blue females waited beside them. When Hotenka emerged from under ROL-2, two came forward to assist him to the boat. All the astronauts, the leader, Seren and Zac were then paddled across the estuary and moved into a space on the beach surrounded by the crowds of Blue People.

  The leader turned and saw the restored dwellings and the pyramids, saw the triangular plantations and enchanting valley which stretched away to the mountains topped with white cloud.

  He grew in stature and he smiled! The proud face of the Serenite leader with his strong square jaw line looked at his people and his eyes blazed,

  >> this is what i know > we were once a proud and beautiful people and we lived in paradise >>

  Paradise thought Scott, how right you were.

  >> we > the serenites and our revered workers > then a disaster occurred and we lost a lot of our people and our sea >>

  The tsunamis, Scott thought when you lost your coast and valleys.

  the serenites did not know why >> then our world changed >>

  The cloud collar formed.

  >> and >our blue workers started dying >>

  The planet started cooling.

  >> we > the serenites did not know why > then >>

  The Black attacked.

  >> we lost nearly all our male serenites > we did not know why or how >>

  The Black killed them.

  >> then our blue workers were dying faster than they were birthing >we > the serenites could not birth enough males > all our people were doomed > our world was dying >>

  The planet continued to cool.

  Hotenka then looked directly at the astronauts, his eyes continuing to blaze.

  >> then came a sign through the clouds > we called your name and you came > you fought our enemy and they are gone >>

  Then the leader fell to his knees and raised his arms to the group of astronauts, and all the Blue People on that beach on Cloud Planet saluted in unison.

  >> you repaired our dwellings > restored our valleys >gave us back our sea > you have stopped our people dying and given us more males > you are all respected among my people >>

  The leader pointed at Seren and Zac.

  >> you have given my daughter many males > and now you >>

  Hotenka then gestured with both hands to Scott.

  >> are our new leader > the leader of the serenites and our blue workers > you must take us forward into a new future >>

  Then the leader closed his eyes, lowered his arms and remained perfectly still. The sun beat down on that silent scene and no-one moved. Suddenly he clutched his chest and collapsed forward onto the red clay. Seren, distraught, ran to him and cradled him in her arms, tears streaming down her face. Scott knelt beside her and looked into her eyes.

  >> his work is done > our leader is no more >>

  Hotenka was dead.

  He had fulfilled his destiny and secured hope and a better future for his people.

  The blue females lovingly wrapped their leader in large leaves and placed him in a black boat at the edge of the estuary.

  Seren asked Scott and Zac to join her and then beckoned to a surprised Olivia. Together they assisted the boat out into the slow current of the estuary. They stood silently in the cold water and looked at the wrapped form for the last time.

  Suddenly Olivia thought of the leader as he had just knelt on the beach and she remembered the boy who knelt on a similar beach in the holographic image in the dark pyramid - the proud face and the strong jaw line.

  ‘Surely not!’ she said aloud to Scott. And Seren’s eyes blazed,

  >> you are right > that boy > in the dark pyramid > was our leaders ancestor >>

  Then under the blazing sun of Cloud Planet the black boat drifted quietly out to sea.

  ‘It is very difficult to be precise about the timescale of events on Cloud Planet. I research this quite deeply and arrive at a surprising coincidence.

  ‘It appears that, in the holographic amphitheatre, the blond Serenite boy is kneeling on that red beach with his arms raised at the same time that......

  ....... ten light years away another lad of a similar age is shuddering with delight as Pioneer 10 bursts into the sky on its eventful voyage!’

  Chapter 74

  One Year Later – Decision Time

  LifeSeeker-2 had arrived at Cloud Planet approximately 60 planet days earlier and had moved into high orbit. AJ had manoeuvred LifeSeeker-1 into a similar orbit but 10 kilometres from the other starship. Even at that distance he could clearly see the mammoth object through the dome of LifeSeeker-1. He knew that it was nearly three times the size of his starship and it had four modules protruding from its massive ion drive. Although it could accommodate 28 astronauts, it actually carried 21 with 7 berths available for his crew, if needed.

  He also knew that LifeSeeker-3 would already be on route to Cloud Planet but its final destination would be dependent on his earlier communications back to the General at Mars base. If his report had stated that Cloud Planet was of little future interest then a message would have been sent to LifeSeeker-3 changing its direction to the second choice star and planetary system.

  AJ chuckled to himself.

  ‘Of little interest! How far from the truth could that be!’

  Now there would be a 10 year shuttle ‘service’ of star ships between Earth and Cloud Planet starting with the arrival of LifeSeeker-3 in another decade. But now it would soon be time to decide when, or if, he would return to Earth.

  However, his mind had been made up some while ago. There was no way at his age that he could face another 20 years’ cryo–hibernation and return to Earth. He would remain on this amazing planet as number two to Brian Harrington, who would be the Commander of the LifeSeeker-1 space station for the next 10 years. He looked forward to carrying out research and ensuring that this planet and its people were not exploited in the future.

  AJ’s immediate priority was overseeing the complex task of transferring the accommodation and research modules from LifeSeeker-2 to LifeSeeker-1 – the first stage of turning his starship into a permanent orbiting space station around Cloud Planet.

  ‘My designs and procedures for this critical operation are as follows. Non-technical readers may wish to skip this detail without losing any of the plot.

  ‘Two, 5 metre diameter, 10 metre long cylindrical modules are carried in the huge cargo bay of LifeSeeker-2. Each is flanged at both ends which provide the links between a mating flange on the underside of Lifeseeker-1 and the topsides and undersides of the accommodation and research modules. One of the cylindrical modules is firstly removed from the cargo bay using the grappling arm of the lander and the delicate operation of positioning it precisely below the flange on LifeSeeker-1 is the next stage.

  ‘The two flanges are manoeuvred with precision until they are exactly one half metre apart and perfectly aligned. Around the circumference of the flange on Lifeseeker-1 are 15 high tensile steel rods, each threaded at their ‘open’ end. These are now extended, hydraulically, towards the receiving female threads on the flange of the connecting cylinder.

  ‘In turn each threaded rod is rotated slowly clockwise and moves forward into the receiving thread until it locks against the blank end of the female receptor. When all 15 threaded rods are locked into position, the hydraulic rams retract, drawing the two flanges together. Special seals now inflate between the two surfaces completing a vacuum tight seal.

  ‘When Zec-C confirms the satisfactory mating of the two flanges, the lander releases its grappling hooks and moves away.

  ‘The accommodation module is 100 metres long and 30 metres in diameter and is attached to LifeSeeker-2 via two mating flanges which are held together by 45 hydraulic rams, each 2 metres apart. The principle is similar to the coupling of the 5 metre cylinder with LifeSeeker-1 – only in reverse. First, all the hydraulic rams extend in unison moving the entire module 2 metres forward from the ion drive. Then three landers move into position and attach their grappling hooks to hold
the module. Next, in a controlled sequence, the rams rotate counter clockwise and unscrew from the flange of the module. Finally, when all 45 rams are confirmed unscrewed, they retract leaving the module detached from the starship and 2 in front of it. Now it is held in place by the three landers.

  ‘The accommodation module is gently ‘tugged’ away from LifeSeeker-2 by the landers, moves 10 kilometres towards LifeSeeker-1 and, ever so slowly, aligns so that its 5 metre top flange sits half a metre below the flange of the connecting cylinder on the underside of LifeSeeker-1. The accommodation module is aligned to the command module at an angle of 90 degrees of the starship to avoid the ion drive. Now, as before, the flanges are coupled, seals inflate and the landers release their hold.