Planetfall

by L. E. Howel

  Jane stared angrily at Birch for a moment, his sudden dismissal of her from the crew seemed to catch her off guard and she had no reply to offer before she stormed silently back to her truck. No one else moved. Birch shrugged. “Keep your eyes open,” he ordered, “let me know if you see anything noteworthy.” They nodded and moved quietly back to the trucks to get their gear for the night.

  Birch walked thoughtfully toward the perimeter. He had finally had it out with Jane and that was the end of it. If she wanted to go her own way then he would let her, and if NASA didn’t exist for her then she didn’t exist for him. She had been right about one thing though, this had started with Ratliff. That’s when it had started for all of them, but there was nothing he could do about that now.

  As he neared the boundary his mind turned again to their surroundings and the equipment the men had been assembling moments ago. He wanted a closer look. It clearly was intended to protect them in some way, but their flimsy construction didn’t seem to offer much reassurance. Edwards approached as he bent down over one of the insignificant little sticks that marked the area around their camp.

  "I wouldn't go out there," Edwards warned, "it's getting dark and you wouldn't like what you were looking for, or more to the point, what’s looking for you."

  "Thanks for the advice," Birch replied sharply, "but I can look after myself. So, what’s out there that scares you so much anyway? You seem to do a lot of running and hiding from these guys. Why don’t you just face them down and flush them out?"

  "That’s just it," Edwards was looking over his shoulder to where Konik stood talking to the sergeant. “They won’t face us. They’ll size us up, and if they’re certain they can win they will attack. If they don’t like the odds then they’ll bite at our heels all the way to the Mississippi and melt into the ground any time we try to turn and fight. They’ll resort to any method that will bring them success. It’s barbaric the things they’ve done, so if the soldiers seem a little nervous you’ll have to forgive them. If you knew what you were in the middle of here you’d be more than a little nervous yourself, Major. Ignorance can be a blessed thing.”

  “You might think so,” Birch replied, “but then you’re the one who knows everything. You said earlier that we needed to know more, so what are you going to tell me?”

  At that moment the sticks gave an electrical buzz and sprang to life with a display of green light crisscrossing the sky to form a glowing grid arcing above the camp. The grid was quickly filled by a shimmering, reflective surface. It had almost a liquid look to it, like mercury flowing above their heads in rippling tides. The canopy blotted out the entire sky, making it impossible to see anything beyond it.

  Edwards sighed, “I see you’re determined to gain knowledge of what’s good and evil in the world. Okay then. This little technical display you just witnessed is just one part of the game we play with the Ares. It sets up a barrier of illusion around us, makes us blend in with the surroundings, and protects us from attack. They could still get in if they could find us. All this screen can do is hide us, but that’s important. If they could see us at night we’d be in deadly danger; that’s when they’re at their fiercest. It’s their way, to attack when their advantage is greatest, and no one knows the night like the Ares. They live for the night.”

  “Who are the Ares?” Birch asked.

  “They’re the enemy, dangerous and violent. They live out here in the wilds. They are wild. This is their home. Wherever there is wilderness and isolation there is danger. They’re all over the world, but this is their stronghold. They wander mostly in small groups but have been known to band together for a common goal, when the need arises. In recent years they have been growing bolder. They have begun to attack where we once felt safe. Our society is under threat and so we have responded.”

  Birch nodded. “So, what’s the difference between you and them? What started it all?” he asked.

  “What you’re seeing here is the difference; they attack and we defend. Individually there is humanity in them, but as a pack they’re wild, and so we’ve been forced to defend ourselves.” Edwards sighed and kicked moodily at the dirt.

  “Maybe one day they’ll change,” he added wistfully. “All we can do is work to make that happen. Maybe one day it’ll happen.”

  “Sounds like the same old story to me,” Birch muttered. “People don’t change, no matter how long you give them. The faces may change, the banners they march under will be different, but people always stay the same.”

  “I hope you’re wrong,” Edwards responded gloomily. “I really hope you’re wrong.” His manner implied the suspicion that he was right.

  “So, this is what all the dreams have come to.” Birch smiled mirthlessly. “Peace can never grow where the wounds of hate have pierced so deep! It’s embedded, it’s in our DNA, but how did you let it get to this level? If they’re just a wandering band of savages why have they got you on the run like this?”

  “It’s hard to give you an easy answer to that. You can’t put the events of hundreds of years into a simple frame. It’s been gradual; they’ve grown strong as we have become weaker. Maybe it has something to do with their indomitable will or just their stupidity. No matter how many times you defeat them, they never know when they’re beaten. They keep fighting, keep dying, and keep coming back for more. How can you beat that? You can’t, except now maybe things are finally changing.

  Something in his manner and the way he looked at him gave Birch the impression that this change had something to do with them.

  Birch shook his head, “I hope you’re not thinking we can help you with that. There isn’t much we can do. My crew aren’t exactly fighters, and we’re no diplomats either.”

  Edwards laughed, “We know that! But maybe you can do something. We understand that the Hypnos missions were all about trying to help humanity, to unite us all. Many feel that you represent what we should have been. Perhaps with you here we can finally bring us together. We’re lucky to have you. That’s why we have to get to Washington.”

  Birch looked doubtful.

  “Well,” Edwards continued, “there isn’t much you or I can do about it right now. In fact about all we can do at this point is get some sleep and hope the Ares don’t find us.” He turned to leave. “The guards will be keeping close watch for them tonight,” had added reassuringly as he trudged back toward the camp. “They’ll keep us safe.”

  Birch cast a thoughtful glance at the shimmering arc above them before turning to walk back to the truck for his gear. His mind raced with strange thoughts of what Edwards had told him. He had learned a lot more about what was going on, but it had still left him feeling powerless, perhaps even more so than before. This world was a dangerous place. He still didn’t understand it all, and yet somehow they were supposed to be some kind of example to everyone else about how things could change. It was too much to expect after all they had been through. He had tried to escape all that, but even after all this time he still owed humanity something and he would have to pay.

  As he settled down into his sleeping bag he noted with satisfaction that the guards on duty were vigilantly watching the shimmering field. They couldn’t see out any more than their enemies could see in, but they were ready. They had to be, there would only be a split second between alert and attack. The first and only warning would be when an enemy breeched the field and entered the camp. They would have to act in an instant, and so they glared blindly at the reflective surface, guns ready. It was as close to comfort as the wilderness would allow them. Birch wished he could do something more, but for now all any of them could do was wait, watch, and hope not to be discovered.

  FifTEEN

  The night had passed without incident and Birch stretched stiffly as he was prodded awake by one of the soldiers. It was barely dawn, but the routine of preparing to leave was already well underway. They were almost as quick at packing away as they had been at setting up the night before, and soon they were traveling again
as the morning sunlight came streaking low across the clearing.

  Breakfast was a military ration eaten as the convoy traveled, there was no time for unnecessary delay on the mountain, he was told. There would be time enough for proper eating when they reached the other side, but for now they had to hurry. The mountain passes were already known as dangerous, treacherous places where an ambush was likely, the narrow roads were ideal for that, but the presence of that mine on the western side of the mountain spoke of a greater danger than usual. The Ares were active here and might already be watching them, waiting for a chance to attack. They had to hurry. Once they were in the open country on the other side they would be safer. Their firepower would give them the advantage on the plains.

  It was a hard, slow, day’s travel toward the evening. More stops were made than the previous day as mines were discovered and disposed of. Birch could see Edwards shaking his head by the fifth stop, and Konik’s face seemed to glow red with frustration. As the day progressed Birch lost count of the number of times they had stopped. They came at ever shorter intervals. Finally, as the sun was drawing low in the west, the trucks pulled off the road and came to a halt. The routine of setting up their protective shield immediately began, and, if it were possible, the process seemed even swifter than before. The day’s evidence of the insurgent’s activity seemed to provide even greater motivation for speed, and the blanket of shimmering light soon covered the camp in its protective glow.

  For a time Birch stood at the boundary, watching the display of the reflective field. It was a beautiful view of fractured rainbows glistening on a liquid canvas, but the effect was lost on him. He was straining to glimpse anything beyond it, seeking any sign of what might be there. He looked up as Edwards approached.

  “I don’t like it,” Edwards muttered as he came near. “This has been the worst day I’ve ever seen for mines. The army clears them regularly, a patrol swept through here only about a week ago, so these are all part of a new batch, probably put in very recently I’d guess. I think we could be in the middle of something here.”

  “Like what?” Birch asked.

  “Like something big, they really slowed us down today and I think that was the plan. They may know we’re here.” The words hung ominously in the silence that followed.

  “What does that mean?” Birch asked eventually. He was straining to see through the shield again. “Do you think they just know we’re on the mountain or our exact location?”

  “I think they know exactly where we are. We were slowed down so much that we’ve been kept in this one small area all day, and I think there’s a reason for that.” Edwards sighed, “It looks like something’s going to happen here tonight. You better be ready for it.”

  Birch nodded thoughtfully, “Isn’t there anything we can do? We can’t just sit here and wait to be attacked.”

  “You’re right,” Edwards smiled grimly. “That’s my job. I get to go out there and see what we’re facing and let Commander Konik know. We’re blind in here so I have to find out if they have our location yet and, if they’re there, how strong a force they’re bringing. If they know we’re here we may have to drop the shield and fight it out. It’ll be brutal, but it’s a better chance than sitting here blind. On the other hand, if they don’t know we’re here, it would be foolish to drop the field and expose ourselves to attack.”

  “Sounds tough, need any help?” Birch looked expectantly at Edwards.

  Edwards shrugged. “We’re supposed to protect you. You really would be safer if you stayed here, but I get the feeling you’ve had enough of being safe. Anyway, it looks like we’re all going to have to protect ourselves by the time this night is through, so you might as well get a feel for this thing now. So, yeah, I could use the help, but keep your head down and watch your back. Here, take these,” he handed Birch a pistol and another device he didn’t recognize, “only use the gun in absolute necessity because it’ll bring everything down on our heads once it goes off. The other thing is a heat sensor, just press that big button and it’ll register and display any human body heat in the area. It’s not going to tell you exactly where they are but it does give a good general reading we can follow. It’s our best chance of picking them up. Ready?” Birch nodded. “Good, let’s go.”

  Edwards took a step forward and disappeared through the silvery barrier of light. Birch followed. It was a strange sensation as he passed through a reflection of himself and reemerged on the other side of the glowing shield. For an instant he was blinded by its intensity as he passed through, and then it took him another moment to see anything in the darkness beyond. As his eyes adjusted he was just able to make out the dark shadow of Edwards standing a few feet away. The camp was now invisible, though they were still standing adjacent to it. It was an odd sensation to know that it was there, but not see it.

  A moment later Edwards signaled to Birch and they cautiously made their way across the dirt track and through the tall grass toward the woods. The still of the night seemed peaceful and the cool air refreshed Birch in a way he hadn’t felt for a long time. He was careful to keep close to Edwards as they moved for the trees. They stopped frequently, either to observe something on the ground or in the air. Edwards almost seemed to be sniffing for danger, as an animal might. Birch couldn’t distinguish any possible threats, but he knew that this man would see things he couldn’t.

  Their progress seemed painfully slow, but it was really only a few moments later that they reached the edge of the woods. The last embers of dusk were a distant memory in the west and Birch couldn’t see much under the canopy of trees, Edwards however seemed unhindered by the darkness as he busily scanned the area. “I thought so,” his voice seemed hollow. “It looks like we’re really into it here.” Even in the dim light Birch could see that Edwards’ face had transformed suddenly. There was a strange, wild look to him.

  “What?” Birch whispered hoarsely. Edwards looked alarmed, and yet looking about him he could see nothing. The night was as still and peaceful as it had been before.

  “This,” Edwards hissed, pointing to a mark about twelve feet up the nearest tree. It wasn’t anything Birch recognized or could distinguish, just some scratchings on a tree. But it had a powerful effect on Edwards and the gravity of his words indicated a significance he didn’t yet understand.

  “What is it?” Birch asked, “Is it something to do with the Ares?”

  Edwards laughed bitterly, “You could say that. This is probably the worst thing you could hope to find out here. The Ares are both a primitive and advanced people and they like to play their little games with us. To them it’s some kind of honor to announce what they will do to us before they do it, even if it is only to a tree in carved form. What you see up there is their personal favorite, the ‘hail to death.’ Essentially it’s a greeting to us: ‘welcome to your destruction’ would be a rough translation. It’s fresh too, it’s meant for us in fact, that’s pretty clear by this marking. ‘Your goods are ours.’ They know we’ve got something important here.”

  “Goods?” Birch wondered aloud.

  “We’re a pretty big convoy, they must expect us to be taking something important, but I’m surprised they got onto us so quickly, especially in force. That third stripe at the base of the marking means ‘certain destruction’ for us. The Ares aren’t given to empty bragging in these carvings, it’s some kind of honor code, so that means they must have amassed quite a force to show that kind of confidence. It doesn’t make sense though, they usually stay in small cells of maybe three or four, so how could they have the kind of numbers they would need to do that? They usually wouldn’t have the time to draw together before we got through, but it looks like they were waiting for us.”

  “A trap,” Birch muttered.

  “Exactly,” Edwards agreed, “but let’s see if we can get back some of the advantage. See if you can pick up any body readings in the area on that device. Let’s see what we’re up against.” Birch pressed the button; two flashing red dot
s appeared on the black screen.

  “What does this mean?” Birch held up the display. Edwards shook his head.

  “It means trouble. Those two dots are us, the camp is shielded so the heat from them can’t escape, so the only thing we’re seeing there is ourselves.”

  “That’s good though isn’t it?” Birch was puzzled.

  “No,” Edwards voice was hard, “you can bet they’re here. They don’t leave these kind of marks and go away. This is a marking of territory and a statement of intent, so if we’re not seeing them it’s not because they’re not here.”

  “So what is it then?” Birch shot the words at Edwards. He was growing weary of his own ignorance and wanted to get some sense of what he could do.

  “I’ve heard of this kind of thing before,” Edwards looked around cautiously, “but only from the northern tribes. Usually these guys rely on speed and tough terrain to keep ahead of us. They hide underground during the day and fight in small bands with surprise attacks at night. They’re vermin, but in the north they have grown very bold. Somehow they’ve come across some way to avoid detection by our equipment; they leave no heat trace. That’s not something that I would expect them to share with the tribes outside of their own area though. They’re not exactly a collaborative bunch. It doesn’t make sense.

  “You were right, Major,” Edwards continued, “this is a trap, but one of the best I’ve seen. I’m sure we were herded right here, this marking proves it, so our camp is an easy target. We better get back and get ready for a fight.” Edwards’ words were punctuated by the screeching sound of an owl nearby. Both men froze.

  “More games!” Edwards spat the words. “It looks like it’s about to begin. At least I haven’t heard a reply yet so we may just be dealing with an advanced scout at this point, though that’s dangerous enough. Okay, Major this is important, we need to get back to the camp. I’ve radioed back a warning about the attack but you can’t expect them to come out and get us now, it’s up to us. I don’t think the Ares know our exact location yet so keep it quiet and stay out of sight. Keep your head down and follow me, and whatever you do don’t look back, it’ll just slow you down and there’s nothing back there you want to see anyway. Let’s go!” Edwards crouched down and crawled slowly through the tall grass they had walked through just moments ago. Birch followed.