Henry Gallant Saga 2: Lieutenant Henry Gallant (8 page)

“That’s impressive. How did you design and build such a powerful device?” asked Neumann.

“We’re not prepared to discuss those issues over the radio.”

“We’re in need of significant repairs. We would like to establish a base on your planet to mine needed materials and forge new equipment.”

“Commander,” said Wolfe. “Landing any of your crew on this planet would not be recommended until we’ve establish an understanding.”

“We’re surprised to find you here and we would like to establish contact to learn more about you.”

“We don’t want a large group of your people on our planet.”

“That’s a discussion best handled face to face. Perhaps we can send a single representative to your community to discuss how we can cooperate and reach the understanding you desire.”

“Then, of course, we must provide you with assistance. If you send a single representative, we will discuss how we reach a mutually satisfying agreement. We will keep our force field lowered so your small craft can land,” said Wolfe.

“Thank you. We’ll make preparations,” said Neumann. Then to the radioman, he added, “End transmission.”

“They’re not rolling out the red carpet for us, sir,” said Gallant.

Neumann said, “Come to my cabin.”

Standing at attention next to the open hatch of the captain’s cabin, Gallant realized he was going to have a difficult time dealing with his new commanding officer.

Clean-shaven with trim black hair, Neumann was physically impressive. While he could be brilliant and thoroughly professional, he lacked Dan Cooper’s charisma.

Waiting for his presence to be acknowledged, Gallant observed Neumann’s striking profile fixed on a virtual screen as he reviewed the ship-wide repair schedule.

“Come in, Mr. Gallant,” said Neumann, finally turning around. “From your engineering report, it’s going to take a great deal of resources and manpower over a period of months before the
Intrepid
will be fully operational.”

“Yes, sir.”

“As one of only five officers remaining, I intend to remain aboard ship. I’ll use Chief Howard to supervise engineering repairs and I’m going to place you in charge of all planet-side activities. I’ll operate the ship with the doctor and two junior officers.”

Gallant let his gaze wander to the photograph on the desk. It was Dan Cooper’s wife.

“You’ll be responsible for negotiating with Elysium’s leader for access to resources and manpower. You know our requirements including heavy metal mining, heavy water collection, plus the construction of an accelerator and manufacturing facilities.” Neumann paused, and then said, “I want you to listen carefully. Circumstance and distance will dictate you exercise a degree of discretion, but I want to be kept fully informed. I will not accept any freelance activity. You will be held strictly accountable. Am I clear?” Neumann scrutinized Gallant as if daring him to contradict.

Gallant bit his tongue and swallowed hard before saying between his teeth, “Yes, sir.”

“I want a weekly report, in person. You’re going to spend a great deal of time in this cabin debriefing me and listening to my instructions.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

“I want you to make a long term arrangement with Elysium’s leadership to keep the force shield down. See if we can get equipment and men to support our mining and manufacturing efforts. We can provide synthetic foods, or offer to build a nuclear power plant for them, as barter and incentive. Offer to take a representative back to Earth with us. I’m sure that will be of interest. Tell them we can provide defensive support against the Titans, in the future, after we’ve returned from Earth.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We have only one Hummingbird, so we’ll have to rig up a tractor beam for the Hummingbird to pull a container trailer to ferry supplies and people back and forth from the planet.”

“I’ll get Chief Howard started on that before I leave.”

“Good. I expect you to supervise all planet operations and maintain a rigorous schedule. I want maximum cooperation from the planet’s leadership. We must be ready when the destroyer comes back,” added Neumann with a frown.

“Aye, aye, sir.”

“Gallant, your success on Elysium is critical to the survival of
Intrepid.
I expect you to represent the Untied Planets in a manner to bring credit on the
Intrepid.
Given your lack of genetic engineering, I’ve concerns. Your performance will reflect on me when we report back to Earth and I’ll be completing your fitness reports from now on,” said Neumann.

Gallant looked at Neumann’s rigid face and set eyes. He was all too aware of Neumann’s views.

Neumann continued, “I won’t allow your failures to reflect poorly on this ship, or on me.”

“I am prepared to accept responsibility for my actions, sir,” said Gallant, saluting as he left the cabin.

Fire retros,
thought Gallant, prompting the Hummingbird to fall from its vertiginous orbit.

The tiny ship’s battle scars reminded him of what he was leaving behind, but he quickly dispelled his momentary sense of isolation. Instead, he focused on his mission to a new world. He let Elysium fill the viewport as well as his imagination. The fulsome imagery blended with his neural interface receptors, producing a heightened awareness. Optimistically, he resolved to enjoy the eight minute ride to the landing strip at the outer edge of the town.

He had grown up on terra-formed Mars and never visited Earth. Now as he plunged downward toward the aquamarine water, he could appreciate its novelty. The craft penetrated the atmosphere and passed through the dotted white clouds with the sun reflecting off its polished surface.

When the Hummingbird pierced the stratosphere, the hull creaked from strain, alerting him to the many and varied external noises—a startling change from the formal silence of deep space. Buffeted by solar winds and the air pressure of the ionosphere, the ship’s metal fabric added vibrating noises.

He listened to a cacophony of thunderous rocket engines bellowing as fuel gurgled into the nozzles and then exploded; fierce winds howled as they chafed against the heat shield, and a rhythmic plink of particles struck the hull.

Performing a wingover helped to stabilize the fuel mixture and to distribute the heat more evenly. The maneuver caused the planet to swirl around in his viewport, adding a visual spectacle to trump the auditory repast. The sunlight accentuated the blue skies, the vibrant blue-green oceans, and the orange-red horizons. These soon gave way to the planetary features of numerous islands with rugged brown-gray mountains and burgeoning green forests. The islands dotted the expansive ocean teeming with life from multicolored birds to herds of mammals roaming free.

The largest island in the main chain was the eastern most, which sported a gigantic volcano on its northern peninsula. Gallant had seen volcanoes on the various moons of Jupiter. They featured spiraling conical peaks and deep sprawling ravines, but the one below him dwarfed them all. His home planet, Mars, featured the largest volcano in the solar system, but before his eyes was one even larger.

A final crescendo was reached when the Hummingbird thudded to a jarring stop on the landing pad.

While he unstrapped, the AI reported, “The atmosphere is breathable with twenty per cent oxygen content. Indications are the plant life has many similarities to Earth and the ocean is rich in photosensitive plankton. Testing of voluminous bacteria and virus strains is underway and a list of dangerous pathogens will be updated continuously as you travel through the environment.”

“AI, can I use my Comm pin to relay through the Hummingbird to the
Intrepid?”
asked Gallant.

“The planetary force shield has been reestablished. Communication to the
Intrepid
is no longer possible.”
Gallant didn’t like that, but there was nothing he could do until he negotiated a pact with Wolfe.

Satisfied the planet’s health risks were acceptable, he opened his hatch and felt the welcoming rush of clean fresh air on his face. A deep breath of fresh floral air energized and assured him. The fragrance of sweet canary yellow flowers and lush lime green vegetation contributed to the sensory delights. The breathtaking views of natural beauty struck him immediately. There was no place on Mars like this island, none like this planet. The warm tranquil azure-blue waters were welcoming. Gallant hoped for an opportunity to explore those places on this visit.

Walking on grass with bright saffron sunlight shining down on him, he realized Elysium was the sensual bombardment he had imagined Earth to be. This planet was also near Earth-gravity which was far more than Gallant was used to. He wore a tight form-fitting navy-blue jumpsuit uniform with two gold bars on each lapel and campaign ribbons arrayed over his left breast pocket. A laser handgun was strapped in the holster on his right hip.

He stood in a large clearing surrounded by several small buildings with roads radiating outward like spokes of a wheel. The community stood like a mass of block-shaped marbles carelessly arranged across the hillside and shore.

In startling contrast to the welcoming natural environment, the grim and sour faces of the four men approaching Gallant caused him to hesitate before greeting them. Stopping several meters away, they waited for Gallant to speak.

From their demeanor and dress—a formal style of clothing, uniforms without weapons—the men gave an impression of authority, but with an air of an uncertainty, rather than diplomatic welcoming. Such was Gallant’s observations, as he maintained a neutral expression. He waited patiently to be received, but when no one made an effort to greet him, he said, “I’m Lieutenant Henry Gallant of the United Planets’
Intrepid.”

“Lieutenant Henry Gallant, I’m Cyrus Wolfe, Chief of the Safety and Security Police,” said the youngest and most interesting looking of the group. He had a large trimmed mustache, sunken eyes, and a drawn face. His skinny body and sprawling hands showed a lack of physical conditioning; nevertheless he reeked of self-importance.

Gallant concentrated his attention on the one who appeared to be the leader and didn’t pay attention to the others. He had expected someone astute in politics, powerful looking, perhaps flamboyant, but certainly older. This man met none of those expectations. It crossed Gallant’s mind that behind this man’s calm exterior, yet hesitant demeanor, was a seething anger and natural distrust.

“Wolfe? Are you—?”

“No. My father is Cyrus Wolfe, Sr., President of the Elysium Council. You’ll meet him in due course.”

“We’re on a peaceful exploration mission from Sol, eleven and a half light years from here,” started Gallant.

Cyrus Wolfe Junior’s eyes glossed over, “He’ll be glad to hear your entire history when we get to the meeting.”

Gallant decided to think of this person as “
Junior
,” but he didn’t intend to call him Junior to his face.

Junior seemed intent on ending all conversation, but Gallant gave it another try.

“You seem rather young to be in such an important position.”

“No younger than you, Lieutenant.”

Junior didn’t introduce the other members of his delegation, but spoke deferentially of President Wolfe and their need to hurry along to the waiting council members in the assembly building.

Gallant smiled, evaluating the man as a cool customer. “Are you authorized to discuss policy with me?”

A quick mutual glance passed between the Elysium men. Junior said, “No, this group is to evaluate security prior to bringing you to our leadership council, not to negotiate.”

“I see,” he said gravely, taking mental note to not reveal too much too soon. “Okay. What more can I do to reassure you my intentions are for our mutual benefit?”

Glimpsing Gallant’s side arm, Junior said, “I’ll need your gun and communication devices.”

Seeing Gallant’s reluctance he added, “They will be returned to you when you leave, but we are responsible for security on Elysium. The SSP allows no weapons here.”

Having already noted their apparent lack of weaponry, Gallant decided to cooperate and handed his laser side arm to the police chief, but hesitated to remove his comm pin. “This is my communication pin and I’m going to need it to communicate with my ship.”

“You can arrange communication to your ship from our headquarters.”

Gallant handed over his comm pin and said, “I am most anxious to meet with your president. I’ve listened to his speech broadcasts and I hope we can be of mutual benefit to each other. It would help if I learned more about your people.”

“Elysium is an independent planet. Run by Cyrus Wolfe and the planetary council.”

“Forgive me for asking, but you are human, aren’t you?”

“Yes, we’re human.” Junior smirked. “In fact we’re from Sol, but you’ll have to wait for more explanation. For now please come with us. We have a meeting arranged with the planetary council in the town hall.”

Gallant met his eyes and held them, refusing to look away. Finally, Junior blinked and turned away.

Junior and his three guards led Gallant to a building, one of the bigger structures in the community on the edge of the clearing. The strictness and uniformity with which these men treated him was disturbing. He was left in a large room where he stood waiting for events to unfold.

After several minutes, eight men entered the room and took seats arranged around the table. They didn’t acknowledge Gallant, but looked at him as if to evaluate his potential. Clearly, Junior had informed them of his experiences with the new arrival.

“Please sit down, Lieutenant Henry Gallant. Make yourself comfortable. We are most anxious to welcome you to Elysium. I am Cyrus Wolfe,” Wolfe Sr. said, sitting with assured authority, surrounded by his symbols of office and power. Behind him were a strange flag, several marble statues, and plaques. The room was adorned to emphasize influence.

Wolfe was a large, portly man with long flowing black hair with gray streaks and a bushy gray beard. However, he had elegant attire and a proud demeanor. Next to him was man who appeared to be his chief of staff. The stocky man nodded a vague acknowledgment, but then quickly whispered into Wolfe’s ear.