by Paul Dayton
“HAL, absolutely no interruptions for the next hour. I don’t care if Armageddon itself comes banging!”
“No interruptions, and I’ll make sure to hold off Armageddon until you’re done,” HAL replied. Ruth giggled as he closed the door just as Elkana was leaving the restroom.
An hour passed and HAL ended up quietly playing music in Timothy’s quarters. HAL would have given them more time, but it calculated that the human scout ship’s destruction presented an unusual set of circumstances, and that the humans on earth would need as many bases functioning as was possible. HAL also needed more information on the event, and perhaps some remnant of his counterpart’s computer system was still functioning and gathering data, or perhaps it could shed some light on the reclusive China Lunar Base people. Either way, they had to get going. HAL was also having trouble holding Elkana back.
Timothy and Ruth had been piloting the Gravplane for about an hour when they started seeing lights far below. They had been cruising at an altitude of nine-thousand meters and had just begun their descent when the cloud cover cleared. Most in the passenger section commented on the lights, except for Elkana who was still upset at Timothy for having locked him out of their room.
“At this altitude it can’t be fires, Timothy. Those lights have to be manmade,” Ruth said.
“HAL, scan the wavelength and let me know what you found,” Ruth added.
“Already did that Ruth. The light is synthetic. My guess is that they have been stripping the base of materials for their own purposes.”
“Those are a lot of lights HAL,” Timothy said as they descended to 800 meters. “I didn’t know that a base had that many.” The lights stretched out for miles in all directions. “I wonder what they’re using them for,” Timothy added. “Have you ever seen this in your previous flybys?
“No. My last thorough inspection of the area was about fifty years ago, and since then only high altitude drones have come by with no lights visible other than the usual fires.”
“Maybe it’s for illumination, Timothy,” Ruth said.
“I don’t think so, unless they’re all immune to the poisons. This whole area is in a depression.”
“You’re right,” Ruth said.
“Canada Base was one of the largest of all the Earth bases,” HAL said. “They were testing what came to be known as The Super Efficient Positron Emitter, or SEPE for short. The base was also equipped with a large teaching hospital and a section of it went in the study and effect of deep space missions on humans.
As to the lights, it seems that someone is using them as a form of communication,” HAL added.
“How do you know?” Timothy asked.
“The lights form a precise pattern of two constellations, both the big and little dipper. It’s very accurate, considering the rudimentary tools they must have used to position them.”
They looked down in wonder as they recognized the pattern. “Who were they trying to communicate with? It could only be to someone looking down from high up…” Timothy said.
“Based on my calculation of the diameter of the light pattern, it could clearly be seen from space. It also has the star A51 Pegasi highlighted, which was the first star that our starships travelled to. It appears that they may have set up a ‘welcome home’ message to our early explorers.”
“They may be saying the same to the aliens too,” Ruth said.
As Ruth finished commenting, lights set out in a circle about 300 meters in diameter lit up one by one on a rise half a kilometer away. “HAL, I think you’re right!” Ruth said as she piloted the Gravplane.“The automated ILS just came on. If that’s a landing pad, it’s almost on top of the original base, according to the ILS. Wouldn’t that mean that the base is still active?”
“No. Landing signals are automated, although the base computer could access and modify them if needed.”
“Well, I would suggest we land,” Timothy said. They circled around and the Gravplane’s spot light showed a clearing with a smaller building off to one side. Infrared showed a number of humans around the perimeter just outside of the lighted area, but none in the building itself.
Once the Gravplane landed, the landing lights around the perimeter of the pad turned off, and a single spotlight ran over the craft. After a few moments, the humans that had been standing off in the darkness walked forward, and Timothy and Ruth could see that they were wearing military uniforms and were carrying machine guns, though none of them had their guns pointed at the ship. They walked up to it and ran their hands over its surface while talking excitedly among themselves. Ruth and Timothy listened in to their conversation for a few moments as they spoke in the same old English that HAL spoke, which, thanks to the instruction units, they could now understand and speak fluently.
“HAL, put me on external speakers,” Timothy said.
“Timothy, four more people have shown up and they’ve taken up positions just outside of the circle of light.”
“Are they attempting to conceal themselves?” Ruth asked.
“Judging by their body language, I would say they are being careful. External speakers are on,” HAL replied.
Timothy thought for a moment. “Fellow brothers, we come in peace with a very important message. Your weapons will not be necessary. We have no weapons ourselves.” Timothy knew that wasn’t quite true. HAL could easily defend them all with the weaponry on the Gravplane, but he felt that it would reassure those people outside. The people around the plane looked up in astonishment at the sound of a human voice but quickly regained their composure. Timothy got Ruth to say something too. “My name is Ruth. My husband and I will be coming out of our Gravplane. We have a number of our tribe with us too.”
Ruth and Timothy got up to leave, but Elkana was giving them the evil eye. “You forgot me. Again.”
“Elkana, I’m… I’m sorry.” Timothy was going to explain but one look at Elkana made it clear it would be no use. “You’re right, I didn’t mention your name. But it was only because we obviously expected you to come with us.” Ruth nodded and Elkana slowly smiled, but Timothy could see worry on Ruth’s face.
To allay her fear, he said, “Elkana, you just have to promise me one thing. Please stay behind us until everything is safe.”
It might be dangerous, but Timothy felt that bringing Elkana could actually end up helping them. His position in the group would come across as non-confrontational. They walked to the Hatch, and turning to Sam he said, “Sam, I need you here. If anything happens, follow HAL’s direction on what to do.”
Sam was about to protest, but he could see the reasoning behind it all and stayed quiet.
“I will keep an eye on them, Timothy. By the way, I can’t be absolutely sure, but I think their weapons no longer function. My scans aren’t picking up any signs of gunpowder, copper or lead, so as near as I can tell there are no bullets in the machine guns carried by the three men. One more thing. Their stance gives me the idea that they are viewing this as a confrontation.”
“Why would they invite us to land, then?” Ruth asked.
“They are in short supply, judging by the lack of bullets. None of the base equipment will work without the central computer, so perhaps this is simply a trap to try and get machinery that is still functioning.”
“Like the Gravplane!” Elkana piped up.
“Exactly. Be careful, and keep your eyes open.” Sam was liking this less and less, but the hatch opened and they exited the Gravplane before he could add anything more.
Those standing on the outside were stunned when they saw a whole portion of the Gravplane disappear and reveal three people in the now open doorway. The one person was so startled that he dropped his machine gun, an old M16 from what Timothy could recognize. Eventually he regained his composure, and with some embarrassment he finally picked it up and stood back as he watched Timothy, Ruth and Elkana, and then the rest of the tribe. Sam was standing just behind Timothy, ready to jump and pull him out of harm’s way if necessary.
Timothy looked down at the three men standing outside and smiled. The tallest of the group stood slightly taller than Timothy and had a sharp angular look to his face. His skin color was slightly reddish and he had thick ink black long hair. He was obviously of American Indian descent and stood tall and proud, looking condescendingly at Timothy. His stance gave Timothy and Ruth the jitters, while Elkana looked and scowled.
The second one to his right was similar in appearance although slightly shorter and Timothy figured he was related in some way. They were all fit in appearance, although their military uniforms were obviously handmade and well worn. Their weaponry had the luster of daily use on them, and appeared in good working order. All three seemed to know how to carry them well, including the younger one of the three, a thin man with kind eyes and a nervous look about him. He was obviously unrelated to the other two.
Timothy asked them in old English to please step aside so that the ramp could deploy without bumping into them. They looked at each other and the one said, “Loading Ramp, port side, one of three on the Gravplane MARK III medium class Troop Carrier.”
The second nodded and added, “Shield capable - three second duration; Medium 60 MM anti-tank cannon, Mag-rail gun, 20kg capacity; and three 14 mm machine guns typically loaded with high impact depleted plutonium rounds…”
“Firing forty-five rounds per second Sir!” said the third.
“Are your guns loaded sir!” the tall, imposing one said to Timothy. Timothy didn’t know what to say, but felt that now was not the time to lie. “Who am I speaking to, Sir?”
“Captain Ian Lee Stormdancer, Sir!”
Timothy looked at Ruth and then said, “With aliens in the skies, guns should always be loaded Captain! Now who’s in charge here?”
“General Harvard, Sir! He’s been notified of your landing and I must take you inside until he is ready to meet you! Sir, If I may ask, what is your rank?”
“I’ll notify General Harvard of all the pertinent details of my visit, Captain,” Timothy replied with a smile.
He looked at Ruth, but her defiant stare told him she wasn’t going to let him go in alone. Elkana stood as resolutely as Ruth did. He didn’t like the look on Captain Stormdancer’s face, and it was obvious he was not to be trusted. He looked at the other two guards, and noticed the thinner one had an embarrassed look on his face, while the other one had a sarcastic smile. Timothy sighed and walked down the now extended ramp, with Ruth and Elkana following.
“Please follow me Sir!” Captain Stormdancer said. The Captain could clearly see that these people were civilians and thus beneath them, though they were most certainly Chinese spies, he figured. But he was somewhat confused as to how they gained the ability to control a Gravplane, seeing as all of theirs had been grounded for almost seven-hundred years. He wanted to know what else they were able to do, but he wanted to do that under controlled conditions and with them under detention, not out in the open. As it was now, they were outnumbered, though he was sure they were no match for him with his military training.
They walked into the small building on the side of the landing area which was little more than a control room and guard house. Ruth and Timothy figured that this landing site was used to ferry in material and supplies to the actual Base, now accessed through a small underground entrance leading down from the inside of the small building. Timothy also noted that the lights weren’t automated, and their escorts had to turn them on and off as they walked down the very long corridor. They could smell old dust their shoes kicked up as they walked, and the stale air inside soon became nauseating.
“Where are you taking us Captain?” Timothy asked.
“You’ll see,” was all Captain Stormdancer would say, and one of the three guards fell back and came in behind Timothy, Ruth and Elkana.
Eventually they walked into a larger complex, a gateway that controlled access to different parts of the base. On the one side stood a bank of elevators which had obviously not been used in a very long time. Near them was a stairway leading down, and the door appeared well worn. In the same large room was a desk with chairs and tables behind it, and a few offices branched out on either side of the continuing hallway. Captain Stormdancer led them to a door at the other end of the room which opened up into another short corridor. This one had a de-activated Guard-Bot at the end. Captain Stormdancer waited for their reaction, but was upset to see that Timothy and Ruth appeared unconcerned. It was only Elkana that seemed to be somewhat uncomfortable at the imposing robot. Captain Stormdancer was irritated, but he didn’t say anything.
Timothy did notice the handmade sign above the only door in the hallway, which said ‘Detention Center’. He continued walking until he reached the Guard-Bot and paused. He knew HAL needed time to work things out, so he stood there looking the Guard-Bot over, noticing the layer of dust that had accumulated on it over the centuries. The guard misunderstood the staring and started getting his self-confidence back.
“Doesn’t look like you’ve been around here very often,” Ruth said as she ran a finger over the dust.
“That’s none of your concern!” the second soldier in the group now said.
Timothy had enough of their attitudes. Calmly looking at the three, he asked, “Why are you attempting to incarcerate us? We have come here without weapons and meaning no harm.”
Captain Stormdancer replied, “You are to wait in our ‘guest quarters’ (the other two broke out in a smile at this) for as long as needed until the General decides to see you. If you attempt to leave, this Guard-Bot here will destroy you.”
Timothy’s anger started to boil at the insult. He looked the Captain straight in the eye and said, “Captain, this Guard-Bot hasn’t moved in over seven hundred years. It has been inactive. Your weapons are inactive. And...” Timothy leaned into the Captain’s face, “you have no ability to stop us. So I would suggest that you run off to let your General know that I need to speak to him now.”
Timothy could see livid anger boiling under the Captain’s skin. He could also see the Guard-Bot’s eye sensors start to glow as its systems activated and started up thanks to the transponders HAL had inserted under their skin. Timothy thought he would have to fight it out, but fortunately the batteries in the Guard-Bot held some residual charge. Ruth had moved slightly to give herself as much of an advantage as possible while still shielding Elkana.
Captain Stormdancer finally got himself under enough control to say through clenched teeth, “I can snap your neck like a twig! I can rip your arms…”
Timothy interrupted and said, “Then go ahead,” and he stood there at the ready, waiting as he stared into the Captain’s eyes. He could see the anger boil over as Captain Stormdancer stood there, and in a lightning quick move he reached across the back of his neck and pulled out a large dagger. Just as quickly, his hand shot out and would have slashed Timothy’s neck had it not been for the Guard-Bot’s solid grip on Captain Stormdancer’s wrist. The grip tightened and they could hear bones snapping as the he squealed in pain. He desperately tried to pry the bot’s hand off his wrist, but the grip tightened more, until Timothy finally said, “Let him go, HAL.”
“That would be unwise, Timothy. He is a present and obvious danger, perhaps even more so now that he is injured,” HAL replied.
“Still, let him go. Let his own actions judge him,” Timothy said.
“You must not injure the New World Leader!” HAL said, and released the Captain’s wrist.
Timothy could see a bloody pulp where fragments of bone protruded from the skin. The Captain’s face had gone an ashen white with the shock and pain, but Timothy could see that HAL was right. This matter with the Captain would have to be dealt with. The other two soldiers, still in some shock from the resuscitation of the Guard-Bot and Stormdancer’s crushed wrist, didn’t know what to do with this ‘New World Leader’ thing and backed away. The Captain finally made a signal, and they walked off without saying another word.
Once they were gon
e, HAL said to Timothy, “This bot’s energy reserves are extremely low. It has been able to maintain a current from the only source available, the sporadic and intermittent availability of light and heat in this corridor. The charge connectors on the wall are not functioning and haven’t functioned since the shutdown. The priority right now is to turn the base computer back on so that it can assign bots for repair and for your protection.”
“What do we have to do?” Elkana said. Ruth gave Timothy a hard look, which he avoided.
“You must do this as quickly as possible, before more soldiers come back. To reach the main computer, go to the stairway near the elevators and go as far down as you can. Once at the very bottom, go into the corridor there and that will lead you to the main computer room. Follow the signs. In that room you will find all you need to restart the system, including the computer’s own power supply if needed. Use the knowledge you gained from the instruction unit to power up the power supply and the computer system, if it in fact can be powered up. Now hurry!”
Timothy, Ruth and Elkana ran over to the stairs and ran down them as fast as they could. They went down flight after flight, and it took them almost twelve minutes to reach the bottom. Timothy counted eighty landings with twelve steps each before they reached the bottom. They could hear footsteps much higher up, no doubt soldiers coming to get them, and Timothy was worried that the soldiers made no attempt to stay quiet.
“They don’t appear to be in much of a hurry…” Ruth said worried. The three could hear them opening doors on each landing as the soldiers moved their way down, and they seemed to pause as some walked down each hallway in a thorough search of Timothy and his group.
“We have to hurry,” Timothy whispered.
He opened the door and felt relieved after seeing that the lights in the hallway were on. They walked in and came to the door marked “BASE CENTRAL COMPUTER”. Standing next to the door was an inactive Guard-Bot, and on the right side a finger print scanner and card key slide. “HAL, can you hear us?” They received no answer. “HAL?”