by David Buck
‘Hi sweetheart it is daddy, how are you going?’
Grace gave a squeal of delight and started talking fast.
‘Daddy I saw you on the TV. Shoshanna and I saw you lots. Hears Mummy!’
Gavin gave a smile at his daughter’s excitement as he spoke to his wife Cindy.
‘Cindy it sounds like the girls are excited and has everyone been well?’
Cindy sounded relieved to hear from him and no doubt found the incredible distance he had travelled to be daunting as she replied.
‘Darling we are all okay. I got the four wheel drive and trailer loaded as if we are going on a holiday. I trust you still are thinking of us going?’
Gavin had no doubts as he replied to his wife.
‘I just stepped back through, the place is incredible but I am glad to be back talking to you. I think we will be safe enough if we go and we will eventually have schools and hospitals. The major has already sounded me out about leading what members of the squadron go to the colony.’
Cindy gave a warm giggle that he had always found endearing.
‘Slow down Gavin as I am already convinced. We must remember that it is for the rest of our lives at least and we cannot return at any stage.’
Gavin had a sombre thought for a moment before he replied.
‘Cindy we cannot risk being separated during this deployment. For it could last forever otherwise as you say. The best way out is for you to just come through as soon as you can as we do not know how long the gate way is open. When you get down here, just say who you are with, and they will take you to the front of the queue. Now I have to go real soon as I have to talk to Major Donaldson.’
Cindy quickly agreed with his logic and he could hear her asking the girls to grab their packs and favourite toys as she then replied.
‘Gavin, don’t worry as I am leaving. I will drop the keys off for the service house with the quartermaster when I get to the airport. I love you.’
Gavin responded with the same sentiment as he reached the airport control post. Major Donaldson looked flustered and in a hurry as he turned to regard him and return his salute.
‘Gavin, it good to see you again and no doubt you have reassured your wife. Your two men injured earlier are in stable condition in hospital and will be okay. Now have you though about my request for you to lead the squadron off world?’
Gavin had no trouble in agreeing with the request, and he noted the relief in the attitude of the Major. He knew that the Major had a disabled son that required a lot of medical care so no doubt he would not have wanted to go off world for that reason alone. His thoughts were interrupted by Major Donaldson as he spoke again.
‘Gavin, have you managed to find the other gate ways off world? There have been helicopter and Maveen sightings, so they cannot be too far apart.’
Gavin looked at the new maps that he had of the Australian gateways that were obviously some distance apart. He then looked at the new map data that had been supplied via reports that had come through from several other gate ways. He turned the series of maps and spotted a couple of strong trends in terrain as he gave his reply.
‘Sir, we are all well west of a big line of ridges that must be the spine of a continent. I did manage to earlier speak with the Paris site to our north. I assume we are anywhere from two hundred to three hundred kilometres apart in roughly similar terrain.’
The major looked at the maps and voiced an agreement, as additional messages came through from a sergeant that saluted as he walked into the command tent.
‘Sir we have just had reports from an American UAV and it has found the Barede end point for the Sydney gateway. It is roughly two hundred and forty kilometres south of the American position for the San Francisco gateway.’
Gavin turned over an unrelated map of Western Australia and began a quick sketch of their relative positions as further news about the London gateway being south from the Perth gateway arrived and was added to the sketch.
Gavin looked at the Major with a sense of relief for a moment as yet another message was relayed inside the command tent.
‘Major another UAV from the San Francisco gateway has found the Beijing gateway to their north, and they seem to be delayed in the setup of their camp.’
The major also looked relieved as he turned to speak to Gavin and shake his hand.
‘You best be getting back now Gavin. I will update your maps as we receive further data. I will send through Cindy and the girls when they arrive, and the best of luck to you all.’
Gavin returned the major’s sentiment first and the salute next, and he quickly walked back to the gateway. In minutes he had hitched a ride on a truck that immediately went through the gateway back to his new command.
***
Steve drove the runabout back to the island in the still morning and Ian had time to consider the unique problems presented by the new colony. The key one from what he could tell from the first reports was there was no fossil fuels like oil and coal present on the relatively young Barede world. He knew that these problems the colony now faced would require assistance from both the Traders and the Maveen.
Ian Ridge stepped from the rails of the runabout into the ankle deep water and walked up to the Traders to formally greet them with a polite bow. He could see several Maveen probes resting quietly at their usual location on the island. By agreed with Steve earlier, they had arranged for Ian to take the lead in the day’s meeting with the Traders and hopefully the Maveen.
Steve, Samantha, Dan and Rebecca ensured that their video cameras were working and started filming the island. For a moment Steve stopped filming as he regarded the gateway east of the island through which an occasional Maveen probe would fly through from time to time. Captain Narindestat returned the bow from Ian Ridge, and the rest of the boats came ashore as Ian began to speak.
‘Good morning captain, we are looking forward to our discussions and training today. However we wish to speak with the Maveen lead probe on a matter of prime importance to us before we start today.’
The Trader captain looked thoughtful as he replied.
‘Certainly prime minister and I for one would like to accompany you if I may?’
In moments a few Traders and several humans stood in front of the Maveen probes, and Ian Ridge nervously addressed the large dark forms of the alien ships.
‘Lead probe, it is the Australian prime minister, Ian Ridge here, and I need to speak with you urgently please.’
After a moment the second probe from the left opened a large blue vision strip and regarded Ian as he replied.
‘Yes prime minister, I have been expecting your visit this morning. Your race is finding the new colony to be suitable for your use?’
Ian swallowed his nervousness and replied.
‘Lead probe the world is most suitable, though we are concerned about the lack of fossil fuels and we will need further assistance. However the animals and plants on this world, together with your own nature, had led to several important questions that I need to ask you.’
The lead probe looked at the assembled humans as it replied.
‘I must place emphasis on three things before your questions. First your race must pass as much resources and people through as possible to give the colony the best possible chance for survival. We will provide assistance until the colony is capable of supporting itself, but you must help yourselves as much as possible. Secondly you must look after this planet’s environment in a more effective manner, and this has been stated to you beforehand. Finally we will not answer questions that may cause you to know something that is detrimental for either you or us at a later stage. Now your questions may be asked.’
Ian paused for a moment as he parsed the long answer. He felt a moment’s confusion over the probe’s final statement, and then he gave a preamble before starting his questions.
‘We agreed to all of your requests to the best of our abilities. Now it is obvious to our race that you have been on this world previously, my own cult
ure has recorded you in our prehistory and seeded at least one world with our flora and fauna. So how long ago were you last on our planet?’
The probe knew the way forward here was the truth, as it in turn stated a simple question.
‘Prime minister you are from an older Earth culture, and you know of past events from tens of thousands of years ago?’
Ian drew himself up to his full height and looked the probe over as he answered.
‘My proud culture is that of the aborigines of the island continent to the east of here. We have references in our antiquity of tens of thousands of years ago to travellers, known as the maker of worlds and our stories tell of their work in our lands.’
Rebecca came forward and held pictures of ancient aboriginal artwork depicting as beings similar to the Maveen sub probes, and then the sub probes themselves. The probe replied after a moment in the softest metallic voice that any could recall it speaking.
‘We were on this world both sixty thousand years and forty thousand years ago, and the initial visit allowed us to transfer the building blocks of several Earth ecologies off world. After twenty thousand years we returned for the larger animal species as the biology on Barede and other worlds had become established. We decided to leave on both occasions to ensure your races survival by our absence. So you know the story of the serpent, and the thunder and rain, new life, of old lands lost and new lands remade?’
Ian looked around at the assembled humans and replied.
‘We have been stewards of the island continent for many thousands of years. The harsh land has shaped our people and our outlook. Our peoples have never forgotten the earlier times.’
The probe considered the reply and beams of blue light suddenly appeared between all the landed Maveen probes. The humans looked around with concern, but then took their lead from Captain Narindestat as he now hurriedly spoke.
‘Prime minister, the probes now speak between themselves via the blue lasers. I do not know when the lead probe will speak again. Now we have a busy day ahead of us as we need to move your trade items, including your two ships, to safety on another island nearby so we can launch from here with destroying them.’
Ian looked over at the damaged ships and the equipment stockpile as the Maveen lead probe now spoke again.
‘We request that the prime minister and human known as Rebecca remain and speak with us. You do not need all the humans to help you with your own tasks. Captain you must never repeat this conversation to any of the vassal races, and I also strongly advise the humans to keep this discussion private.’
Captain Narindestat and Steve led the others away as Ian and Rebecca stayed to talk with the Maveen. Dan gave Rebecca a long look and she flashed him a reassuring smile as the Maveen lead probe spoke again.
‘Firstly, note that we took many species off world, but we were forbidden by our directives from taking primitive humans with us to other worlds. We do not claim to be gods as that is against our prime directives for dealing with young biological sentient races. However we respect your free will if you still choose to revere or worship us…’
The mission team was now divided in four groups and each group was helped aboard a sneak ship. In moments they had been secured to the cargo hold sides with short cables, as heavier cables were then attached to the two damaged ships the humans now owned. The four sneak ships paired off as they previously had done and after a delay while the attachments were checked, the two pairs of ships had then lifted the damaged ships into the air before slowly flying across the twenty kilometres to Rat Island.
Steve pointed to a location to the east of the runway on the now deserted island and the two damaged ships were gently lowered down. The Trader crew landed their ships and recovered their heavier cables, and Steve placed a call to Jane Walker on HMAS Sydney, who answered immediately.
‘Steve, I can see four ships moving things to Rat Island, is that were you are now?’
Steve looked around and he could see Garendestat walking over to check the runway out as he replied.
‘Jane, we are returning to ferry across the other equipment we now own so the main ship can launch and not incinerate these items. After we finish this afternoon can you please send across a detachment to guard the items? They may get wet though when the main ship launches, but they should be safe enough from the exhaust plume.’
Jane and Steve talked for a few minutes more as the Traders finished their work. As they boarded the sneak ship again, Steve advised Garendestat of the arrival on Rat Island of a small amount of human soldiers at a later stage. Garendestat did not look concerned as he now informed Marenkestat, who was piloting the sneak ship. After several more minutes they arrived back on Middle Island and were met by several Traders driving waldo units and carrying the smaller trade items.
Steve looked across at the Maveen ships and noted that Ian and Rebecca were still in discussions with the lead probe. The waldo operators unhurriedly moved the guns, shields and generators into the holds of the four ships. With the items split amongst four ships there was plenty of space for the humans, and they filed back on board to once again secure themselves. Garendestat caught Steve looking at the water filtration system and at the ship hold once again before he spoke.
‘We had though about sending it through to the new colony by using the Maveen or we could leave it here on your planet?’
Steve looked around at the items in the sneak ship hold and replied.
‘We really should place some of these items on my own ship, as it is going to the colony at a later stage according to the Maveen. We should do the same with the filtration equipment if it can be divided up. Also we now have more food to transfer to the Illuria.’
Garendestat looked at the items in the hold now and gave instructions to Marenkestat. He then turned to Steve and replied.
‘We have duplicates of all the items so we will place one of each on your ship. We will hover over your ship and lower items from the ships as required. It will make the day a lot longer though to take across the filtration system and we will have a shorter amount of time for training.’
Steve got on the phone again and spoke with John Robertson to alert him of their arrival, and to get the Osprey off the rear helicopter deck so the first sneak ship could approach. He listened as John gave him the status of the Lotus Marai loading operations before he made a request to John.
‘So John you will have to clear decks forward but the additional equipment should fit aboard. We will go over the changes tonight.’
Steve finished the call and attached himself to the side deck of the sneak ship, and after several more minutes they were airborne again and heading towards the Aurora Discovery. He reflected on how small his ship looked from up here, when Garendestat looked at the Osprey as it took off and turned to Steve to comment.
‘Several of us are fascinated by your helicopters and the Osprey. Your race does seem to do things differently to other races.’
Steve watched as the Osprey gained enough altitude to swivel the wing forward and begin horizontal flight, before heading towards the mainland.
‘Well Garendestat, we are taking both types of aircraft to the new colony so you will see them when you get there. I will see about getting you a ride on one if you like?’
Garendestat enthusiastically agreed to the future offer as the sneak ship slowed to hover over the rear deck of Steve’s ship. Over the next two hours several items were lowered onto the Aurora Discovery from each the sneak ships in turn, and stowed in the forward section of the rear deck below the helicopter deck. A cargo net was stacked with several pallets of food and it was attached to the lifting cable, before the sneak ship lifted the net effortlessly into the air
Steve noticed that his ship now sat lower in the water, though he was not concerned, as John Robertson was a capable captain and would ensure the safety of his ship as required. The four sneak ships returned to Rat Island to unload the rest of their cargo. After another hour had passed they were ba
ck on Middle Island and had a break for a late lunch. Ian and Rebecca joined them thought the Maveen probes were now all absent. Ian took Steve aside and he spoke quietly once he was sure he had some privacy.
‘Steve, Rebecca and I had a good discussion with the Maveen and it has cleared up a lot of things. We will seal the records of the discussion on a need to know basis and you will have a copy of your own to take with you.’
Steve listened with a mixture of awe and horror as Ian briefly listed out the contents of the discussion. He asked Ian a couple of questions about what had happened in space nearby, before Ian again replied.
‘Steve also I think they are hiding something, even from the Traders, but I do not think whatever it is dangerous to humanity. Another reason I will seek to hide the discussion with the lead probe under the official secrets acts.’
Captain Narindestat now made his way over to them and they stopped talking. The captain looked at each of them and then spoke.
‘Thank you for the additional food, and I see you have had a chance to discuss with the lead probe the finer points of galactic politics. Do you both now know the galactic events that took place near here in your prehistory? So now you can understand my urgent desire to flee this world?’
The two humans answered that they in truth knew the whole story, and turned to regard the Maveen gateway hanging in mid-air east of the island.
***
James Mudbury was starting to feel tired from his football training in the afternoon. He grabbed several pizzas from the delivery rack and Smokey gave him a ‘hurry up’ look as he moved towards the door. They were doing a roaring trade tonight with all the vehicles massed at the nearby Perth airport, after his fiancée Rachael and his sister Amanda had dropped him off at work much earlier. He had already been down Kewdale Road three times tonight to deliver several pizzas at a time to vehicles massed along Horrie Miller Drive. Sometimes he wished he was back at school up north and just kicking football around, or fishing and hunting with his mates.
On the last run he had even again met Rachael’s uncle, Vic Mitchell, and his four children, who were all somewhat older than James. James had admired the impressive white and green hull of the Mitchell’s sleek new yacht and he had asked if the yacht had a name yet. Vic Mitchell had looked at him for a moment and asked if he had a suggestion, and James thought for a bit as he admired the green and white paintwork before he replied.