The Black Planet (9 page)

Chapter 15

Steven felt like he had only been asleep for minutes before Buzz shook him awake.  ‘Wake up bud, duty calls.’

Steven groaned, ‘what the hell.  How long have I been sleeping?’

‘You got six hours solid.’

‘It feels like two.’

‘Know the feeling.  The freighter is ready for lift off and as soon as it reaches orbit the pilots are going to start loading those scout craft.’

‘Yeah let’s hope those brackets we welded to her hull will hold.’

Buzz agreed, ‘I think they will, but you have bigger fish to fry?’

‘Oh!  Like what?’

‘The captain of the battle cruiser has requested your presence.’

Steven came alert at once.  ‘Oh yeah!  Is that it?’

‘Yup sure is.’

‘Nothing more since they requested our laws on salvage?’

‘Nope, do you think they realise that we just reworked the maritime laws from Earth.’

Steven frowned, ‘do you think they are going to try and stop us Buzz?’

‘Get your arse over there and find out bud.’

Steven slid out of bed, ‘I’ll need you here to oversee everything Buzz.’

‘Yeah OK, at least take Howe.’

‘Will do, you want breakfast?’

‘Nah, I have little appetite for those little green bars.’

Buzz shrugged, ‘well you were the one who wanted to wake up all those people a few days away from the moon and they will need to be fed.’

Steven pulled on his uniform, ‘I think we need to do that Buzz.  Rather find out if they are going to be a problem before they hit Moonbase and start kicking up shit there.’

‘Not saying you're wrong Stevie, just saying don’t moan about the food and don’t turn your nose up at it.  You need to eat.’

‘Yeah OK stop going on like my mother and get back to it; tell Howe to be ready will you?’

Buzz laughed, ‘on my way.’

Babes was directed to an air lock high up on the battle cruiser and they docked.  Steven was told he wouldn’t need his suit so they went as they were.  Both carried a pistol and Howe carried his weapon slung in a casual manner.  When the cruisers airlock door slid open it was to reveal a line of heavily armed Modloch.  As the Steven stepped in there was a growl and the soldiers came to attention.  Captain Gairloch appeared and did something strange with his hand.

Howe gave Steven a nudge, ‘he is saluting you.  Salute back.’

Steven panicked for a moment and tried to remember how he had seen Howe and his men do it.  He saluted back and Gairloch growled in a fierce manner which seemed to mean acceptance.  He then produced a strange looking scroll that was clear to the naked eye, then words seemed to appear on it.  The captain was obviously dressed in his best uniform and it seemed emblazoned with colour.

‘I have a communiqué here from our beloved lord and Emperor,’ the name was little more than a long drawn out snarl to the human’s ears.  ‘Greetings to the people of the planet called Earth from myself and all my subjects.  This past few weeks the royal court has been entertained greatly by the pictorial records your people call documentaries.  We find your planet a rare beauty, a jewel in any universe.  To find a species that has preserved its wild animals and their environments depicts a people of great heart and understanding.  As your people are unaffected by the effects your sun has on all species from this side of the great barrier, our best scientists and doctors believe that your people will also be immune to the great plague.  With this in mind we will welcome a delegation from your planet to visit us.

We would be honoured to begin trading with your planet and taste your many wondrous wild grasses.  So as a gesture of our good will I make a gift to you of the battle cruiser Burning Wind, to help defend yourselves against your gathering enemy.  I sincerely hope that this gift is accepted by the people of Earth as it is a measure of the high regard we already hold your race in.’

Gairloch closed the scroll, ‘would you join me in some light refreshments Captain Gordon.  There are a number of small issues I would like to discuss with you in private if I may.  Of course you may take your man.’

‘Certainly captain.’

The captains private quarters were quite spacious but Spartan.  He did however have his own dining area.  The seats were more like large benches and Steven felt punitive sitting at it.  Gairloch was polite enough not to mention it.  They were served water in a pint glass.  In the humans hands it looked big but in the captains and his first mates hands they looked like tumblers.

‘There was a number of things captain Gordon that my Emperor wanted to ask off the record.  The first are simple requests and will in no way prevent the handing over of The Burning Wind.’

‘Please feel free to ask captain Gairloch.’

‘We noticed how carefully you have handled the bodies of your dead over this past week.  We assume you are returning them to Earth.’

‘Yes we are.’

‘What will you do with them then captain?’

‘For those that can be identified, they will be returned to their families.  For those that cannot be identified they will be buried or cremated.  The names of the people we have discovered will most likely be put on a monument.  That way whomever wishes may come to visit and pay their respects to the deceased.  Also relations of people who have loved ones disappear in mysterious circumstances may also come and visit; to check and see if indeed a missing loved one is on the list.’

The big head nodded, ‘you treat your dead with respect; that is good.  We do much the same thing.  This is the request that our emperor asks.  That the remains of the crew of The Burning Wind be interred in the wild lands your people call Africa and that a monument be built and their names be recorded on it.’

‘I cannot see that being a problem Captain.’

He grunted his pleasure.  ‘Also that those who make it to your planet be allowed to run free upon those grass lands for as long as they may live.  I know that is a lot to ask captain; many species have rules and fear of contamination.  However it is also a fact that those who may survive will not do so for long.  Being so close to your sun will kill us like flies.  I doubt if many will survive one revolution of your planet.’

Steven thought it over, ‘you are right of course, however I presume an area could be prepared for all of you and that area could be quarantined.  What you bring to us is worth the risk in my estimate and I am sure the authorities on Earth will see it the same way.’

His number two suddenly cried out in pain.  He snarled and shook his head.  Steven could feel his fear factors rise until the being lifted his head again.  A large bruise began to appear along the side of its face.  Gairloch grabbed his chin and burst out laughing, ‘that was close Jorge.  He laughed again and turned to Steven, ‘do you see the damage your sun does to my people captain.’

Steven nodded, ‘I do, that is remarkable, we had no idea that was the damage the neutrons from our sun could do to other races.’

‘Are your people not affected at all?’

‘Some believe that they have some contribution to the aging process of my race.  Nothing has ever been proven.  Physically they do tear tissue on the way through however you can only see it under the most powerful of microscopes.  We don’t even feel it.  We thought all suns had them.’

He shook his massive head, ‘no, we call your sun the death sun.  It is the only one we know of in existence.’

‘May I ask why you Emperor wishes to trade with us.  I thought our grass illegal in your universe.’

He barked what Steven presumed was a laugh, ‘not illegal if you are trading with the legitimate producers of the grass Earthman.  The grass from your world is being sold on the black market at extremely high prices.  A product needs to have a planet of origin on it before it can be sold as a legitimate commodity and confirmed by an official of the planets trading in it.  That would be one from yours and one from mine.  Anyone left alive when we reach your planet will be promoted to such a position so he can sign the agreement.’

‘Which would make your planet the sole legal distributors of any Earth grasses.’

He barked another laugh, ‘you catch on quickly captain but do not be upset by this.  As the legal distributors it becomes our responsibility to stop any black-market sales of the product.  As we now know who is responsible for the illegal import and distribution of the grasses from your home world, it gives us powers of investigation and pursuit.  Do you understand what I am saying captain?’

‘I understand perfectly captain Gairloch.’

‘However we cannot pursue the matter until the treaties are signed and the first delivery made.’

Steven grinned, ‘and on that day the Albany are in for a big shock.’

Gairloch laughed, ‘trust me captain if you wish for a friend in our universe you want my people and my emperor.  We have actually done a little investigation since you told us what has been happening here.  The Albany are a race that doesn't mix well with other races and seems to keep itself to itself, rarely getting involved in any conflict.’

‘I have heard that.’

Gairloch nodded that massive head of his again, ‘they have strict codes on mixing their blood with other races as well.  It would seem they had ulterior motives for staying out of other people conflicts for so long.’  He pushed a button in front of him and the walls lit up.  The scene of a planet with three moons appeared on the wall.  ‘This is their home planet; we sent a stealth probe to investigate.  We didn’t think we would find anything but we were wrong.’  The scene zoomed in on the inner moon and then the screen split.  The differences in the same moon were apparent.  ‘A hundred years ago that was the inner moon on the left, the scene on the right is the inner moon; literally a few hours ago.’  The scene changed and zoomed in on the latest picture.  The surface of the moon seemed to be covered in craft and on the dark side came the biggest shock.  The probe had been able to sneak inside a large cavern.

‘What the hell is that?’  Steven asked.

‘That is a city ship.  It is capable of supporting millions.  Factories, spaceports, everything you need to support a massive invasion fleet.  They have been illegal to build in our universe for over a hundred and fifty of your years.’

Stevens mind raced, ‘why has this never been seen before?’

‘The inner planet is serviced by a ring of outer planets; no ship is allowed to approach the home world of the Albany.  They aren’t the only race that does this.’    

Steven nodded, ‘I understand.’

‘We will make this footage available to you and your forces.  We will also supply you with the number of ships, their types and armaments, also an approximation of the amount of your enemy you will be facing.  A gift from the emperor.  However we will not be able to intervene for you earthman, the first battle will be yours and yours alone.  The best we can do is escort their battle fleet out of our galaxy.  You will at least know they are coming.’

‘Any information would be welcome.’

‘Before the builders ships arrived on your world what level of technology did you have?’

‘We had reached our own moon but stopped there; we never explored farther.  We used rocket fuel.’

‘Very primitive.’

‘I am afraid so.’

Gairloch shook his head, ‘then you have a very hard fight ahead of you Earthman.  I will need as many of your people as you can spare on board my ship before you leave.’

‘Is that wise sir?’  Howe asked.

Gairloch growled, ‘are you his military advisor?’

‘I am sir.’

‘By the time we reach your planet most of my people will be dead.  We will need every minute of that time to teach your people.’

‘Captain Gairloch is right colonel.’

Gairloch grunted in satisfaction, ‘do your people have hand held recording devices?’

‘Yes we do.’  Steven confirmed.

‘You will need them to record what is being taught.  Our ship is faster than the freighter.  You can leave before us and we will join you before you reach Earth.  That may give some of us longer.’

Steven nodded, ‘I will send you a detailed plan of our intentions captain.’

‘Good, there is one more thing.  The emperor requests to meet the narrator of those documentaries if at all possible.’

‘I am afraid that will not be possible, Sir David Attenborough died many years ago.’

‘That is a shame; I will convey that news to my Emperor.  In the mean time I would transfer as much of your crew as possible along with what supplies they need if your people cannot eat grass.  We have plenty water.’

‘As soon as we have finished preparations I will send the crews across with their supplies.’

Chapter 16

Buzz had overseen the lift-off of the transporter.  When Steven arrived back the first two scout craft had already been locked down and the second two were on their way.  He listened to Steven intently and paled considerably as he was shown pictures of the invading fleet.  Now the freighter was in space Steven had the engineers do a complete diagnostic on the ship.  He was worried something might go wrong on the homeward journey.  He need all his engineering staff on The Burning Wind and was worried something would go wrong on the journey back to Earth.  The diagnostics however helped reassure him.  Babes created food packs with a strict daily intake guide for everyone.  If they disobeyed it then they would be in trouble.  Gairloch requested more documentaries for his emperor and Steven chose them carefully.  He had any programs with primitive humans in them edited carefully to take out any scenes of humans killing animals or eating flesh.  He knew the herbivores hated flesh eaters and didn’t want a knee jerk back lash.  He also sent a few of Cookies personal videos on vegetarian cooking to help elevate any doubts or fears their new friends might have.

The crew almost rebelled when they discovered where they were going to spend the next few weeks.  Steven realised he was becoming tired of the attitude of many of them.  Despite being told how important this mission was many of them shirked form the task.  In the end it was Sergeant Kelly who resolved the situation.  He told them how ashamed he was of them.  To think that so many of his friends had died to produce such a ‘yellow livered bunch of selfish assholes.’

Steven had cringed from the tirade as Kelly turned the air blue with profanities.  It had the desired effect though.  Most picked up their bags and marched over to The Burning Wind without so much as a backward glance.  Howe had wanted to stay with Steven but he bit his tongue.  He knew the weapons systems on the battleship would take some getting used to.  He left with all of the military personal.  They also took their personal weapons with them to compare them to the weapons their hosts had and the weapons their enemy would have.

Steven was left with himself and Buzz on-board.  Komoru was also alone apart from Lewis.  On the freighter were the two pilots, Hailey and Ico’s navigator; all the medical staff from both vessels and the nine people already rescued.  Amanda was in charge of the vessel and seemed to get a kick out of playing captain.  They had a lot to do.  Once the freighter was up Babes and Ico filled up a portion of the freighter with black sand from the planet.  With this they were going to build the cots and amenities that their passengers would require once awake.  There was now plenty cloth to provide clothing and blankets for everyone when they awoke.

The freighter was slower that the builder ships and slower than the battle cruiser.  The journey home would take months instead of the weeks the outward journey had taken.  Back home the world began to panic as news leaked out about the forthcoming invasion.  Steven began making plans for the construction of a fleet based round the information he had been given by Captain Gairloch.

The three vessels began the long journey home side by side.  Steven felt the tension ease a little knowing that they were on their way home.  Even if the enemy arrived now they were months behind them.  Only the smallest scout craft could make Earth in a few weeks from the barrier but there had been little sign of them amongst the fleet.  Steven suspected that they would stick close to the huge city ship which was a lot slower than even the freighter.  He knew every day was a gift and prayed there would be enough days.