Food aboard these freighters was eaten from cans, doing little for a person, no cutlery, eating with fingers, toilet facilities like that given to mentally disturbed persons of the early nineteenth century, faeces dropped indiscriminately upon the floor, doing nothing but inviting a continuous feeling of dry reach. Criminals too were exploited to labour and then the deportation to the jails of the moon, to live amongst the Vertons where murders were the occurrence, day in and day out; the few guards that were present doing nothing but turning a blind eye to the living insanities. But of course, none of this was seen by the public eye.
Those who refused to leave without their pets were informed that the animal in question would be delivered safely, after quarantine, once a landing had been secured on the planet, not of their choosing, but that which the government had told them was suitable. Once the animal was taken from the owners it was immediately put to death by electric shock. They were placed in a room with a metal floor and killed in mass. This served another purpose, for food shortages were very common; so not all meals came in cans. The family was then later informed that the animal in question had died in quarantine, as the planet’s surface was not capable of sustaining such animal life.
Two uninhibited planets were soon to become the home of the Nationalist-new, a purely, westerly orientated domineering society of temperamental and prejudicial whites.
The two planets were Palmier and Arambay of Quadrant Nine and Ten. Palmier was a land of sweeping plains and a very moderate temperature; rain was frequent so lakes and rivers were similar to those on Earth. The planet Pinton was their closest neighbour and ran by a man named Swaitor Reccoin. Although the air on Pinton and Palmier were both breathable and capable of sustaining human life, the Pintons weren’t as fortunate when it came to the planet Palmier. The entire planet contained a virus that was dangerously lethal to the Pintons; this was why they never ventured near it.
The other was Arambay. It had a rocky surface with plateaus of enormous size that gave to some magnificent views. As with Earth, it contained four seasons, though had a year that lasted 343 days. The two closest planets to Arambay were Mitusa and Jatarma. The Beings of these two worlds had never visited Arambay before and had no intention of doing so. They had given the earth beings a warning. The legend of a meteor that was supposed to hit the planet with such force that it would split it into two. The legend was taken from an old saying and although there was no proof to the event ever occurring they still remained very suspicious to the fictional-fact. They were also very keen on keeping their culture to themselves and felt that as they had given a whole planet to the Human race that that was reason enough for the humans to be denied access to their own.
One other planet existed between these and Earth, that was planet Siest of Quadrant Six. Representatives from Earth had travelled to the region only to be held at bay on the outskirts of the outer atmosphere; one of these was Bob Neil.
The planet stood shrouded in cloud the whole year round. According to the myth, and Amagrat Kune – the only being ever met from the planet – it was a land of flourishing blossoms and had forests overflowing with fauna and flora. Bob couldn’t quite understand how life was maintained without the much-needed rays of its sun being able to reach the surface.
Amagrat Kune was a lively Being and very human in appearance, though Siest was the only planet amongst those of the Mildratawa not colonised by man. It was the only Alien race encountered – to date. He kept his distance from Bob and the others when he boarded the Atlantic and no doubt felt quite uncomfortable with his present company. He was more than satisfied to remain standing throughout the meeting.
Bob Neil joined Amagrat by standing and found himself to be slightly put off by his composure: “We don’t ask for much, sir. All we request is that we be permitted to use your planet as a means of emergency in case of transporter trouble and as a relay station for communications if required. I don’t wish to sound ungrateful, but you’ve already denied us sanctuary on the surface of your planet, even for just one day.”
“You’re an intelligent Being, Mr Neil, and I hate to repeat myself for the third time. It is impossible for you or anyone else, to land, attempt a landing, or even communicate with the planet’s surface. We wish to remain unaffected by outside forces. The only link we have, and ever will have, with the outside world, is my representation in the assembly halls of the Mildratawa. The only other means of communication is our satellite, just the one. It can’t be used as a relay for any of your messages; whether they concern the helping of another being or for the carrying out of plans against another world. We have nothing to do with your societies except to monitor disruptions within our folds of space, and the only social call we shall ever contemplate to make is that to the Mildratawa; when, and only when, a meeting is called. That’s all I wish to say.”
“What’s so important about your planet? Have you a plague, unbreathable atmosphere?”
“Nothing like that, Mr Neil, nothing like that at all. I couldn’t and won’t lie, but in the same token, I refuse to play a game of question and answer. It stands a fact, and will remain so, that you will never be permitted to enter the area beneath the clouds of the surface. It has remained that way for a hundred million years, and will remain that way until the end of time.”
“How long did you say, sir?” Bob asked in disbelief.
“Does it really matter, Mr Neil? I have no answers for you or your people. The way in which you and the others led their lives is of no concern of mine I’m afraid.”
“No concern of yours. What of your people, are they concerned? Or do you all hold onto the same negative ideas and sanctions?”
“Please, Mr Neil, this conversation is pointless and getting a little ugly. I maintain peace the best way possible. I’m going to leave now, but pay heed to my warning. If you enter inside the cloud you’ll not live to tell the tale to others of your kind.”
He departed without further comment. ‘A very protective species indeed,’ thought Bob. He reported the goings onto the people of Earth and high representatives of the Mildratawa. All that the council could say was: ‘So let it be, they have the right to refuse entry, so long as they maintain peace with the remainder of the galaxy’.
PLANET VUDD.
SPACE.
Planet Vudd filled the screen as the Vertons looked on from within the stem. “Rimai. Have you sorted the earth clothes out yet?”
“Yes, Tuai.”
“Do the clothes match? Humans are known to care about such things as colour coordination you know.”
“I think they match. I’m not sure.”
Kaur spoke: “What does it matter anyway, Tuai?”
“The Vuddenes will know the difference. That’s what matters. If we’re to pass as earthmen, then we’ll have to dress in the same manner as they do.”
“Do you think it’ll work?”
“Yes Kaur. I’m very confident. We’ll deliver our gift and mingle with the crude race on that stinking planet below.”
“I don’t think it’s meant as a gift.” Marrth drew a document from a draw. “It appears that the domes are here as a type of experiment, to see if the atmosphere will preserve them. We’re supposed to be the keepers of the cactus.”
Tuai looked astounded. “You read this new and confounded continental language of the Mildratawa’s, do you, Marrth?”
“Indeed I do.”
“Good. When we’re on the planet’s surface, you’ll act as the leader in my place. Just in case, you understand?”
“Of course, Tuai. I understand.”
“Good. Now we’ll prepare for communications and allow the Vuddenes to board our vessel. Kaur.”
“Yes, Tuai.”
“Jettison the ellat and I’ll move away from it. And get dressed before they see the vessel and try for a tele-visual with us.” He looked over to Rimai. “Give me those funny looking clothes you hold. Now!”
“It’s called a suit.”
“I don�
�t care if they call it shit; give it to me.”
“Yes, Tuai. But another thing worries me.”
“And what’s that?”
“Those earthmen that we left afloat near the moon. What if—”
“To find their bodies would be like seeing a needle amongst a tonne of pine needles; and as the computer suggests, our departure was set and all permission to do so handed down the day before.”
“You’re right, Tuai. I’m just uneasy is all.”
“You’re not uneasy, Rimai; you’re a wimp.”
The comment was let slide and all were soon dressed and ready for the transmission. All evidence of a Verton nature had been destroyed, apart from a slight speech impediment, but even the Vuddenes had picked up a vocal change due to QEM migration.
The transmission sent was a success and the Vuddenes were on their way.
The meeting had gone extremely well and the cargo of eight domes was on their way to the surface with the aid of slow descending, round platforms, which controlled the move with reverse thrusters. The elongated vessel remained in space for future tasking – not that the Vertons wanted anything to do with it any more.
The planet leader Crabach Zimoily met with them and soon after all were taken away to a secluded spot where the domes had been placed upon hard ground.
Tuai looked heavily at the burden. He knew well that if the plants weren’t looked after then their disguise as earthmen could be jeopardised. At least they were safe for the moment.
He grabbed Marrth by the scruff of the neck. “Listen to me Marrth. I want you to get all the books that we salvaged from the ship and read them; decipher the more interesting into plain English. Tomorrow you can teach us how to care for the plants correctly. All I know is how to water them.”
“I can’t read all of those books in one day Tuai.”
“And why not?”
“It took me the whole flight just to read the small manual that I found.”
“And to think I put you in charge on the way down here.” He shook Marrth from side to side. “Do your best, Marrth.”
He spared no time and commenced with reading.
QUADRANT SEVEN.
NEGABBAN’S MOON.
The Ziggurat sat motionless on the far side of the moon to the planet Negabba after successful exfiltration from Nicaragua. This moon was thought to be about the only place where they’d also be able to go undetected, even though the QEM-gate between Quadrant Four and Seven was not stringently guarded by the Mildratawa, they were more than likely picked up during the move from Earth to Glaucuna, within Quadrant Four, due to the Alliance.
Pasnadinko pressed a button on the panel to his side and spoke into the small box on the wall. “We’re ready to launch your pod, my emperor, as soon as you’re ready.”
All those on the bridge heard El Pasadora’s voice come over the speakers. “I’m ready. But before I descend upon Negabba I wish to reiterate your orders. Don’t under any circumstances approach the planet. I’ll get in touch with you when possible. I’ll be the only one of us capable of going undetected. Even if it takes me ten years, I will return. It may take some time for me to interact with remnants of the Verton Military and organise for the theft of a vessel from Negabba. You must remain on the far side of this moon. Only travel out of the region for food, and avoid the QEM-gates wherever possible. You understand, Pasha?”
“I do, my emperor.”
“Believe me, Pasha, our time will come. Okay, I’m ready now. Detach the pod.”
Pasnadinko turned the communications off and ejected the pod. It streaked off towards a non-populated area on the surface of the planet below. Pasnadinko now put attention to the landing of the Ziggurat and its crew of one hundred.
They landed without a hitch and the gravity of the ship was turned off, allowing the moons gravity to take its place. He addressed the crew and all understood the situation well enough. They were unable to show their faces anywhere, for the time being. Some of the crew would be lucky enough to escape undetected, but others, they would be put to death as soon as looked at, by any species of intelligent life.
Six of the crew dressed themselves into spacesuits and emerged onto the surface of the Negabban moon for a closer inspection. No atmosphere existed here and the entire surface was guaranteed to be uninhabited; except for the unknown; it lay below the moon’s thin crust.
PLANET NEGABBA.
CITY OUTSKIRTS.
The pod entered the atmosphere, spitting off red gases and then cooling as thrusters brought the small sphere-shaped vessel to a soft landing amongst a large crop of trees.
A Negabban boy of seven, out exploring the wilderness by himself, saw the contraption coming in to land. He raced towards it and stood in front of what looked like the entrance. He’d seen vessels like this one many times before.
He scratched his head with his two-fingered hand in puzzlement and stared. Nothing was happening. This puzzled him even more.
All of a sudden the door shot up and came to rest on the roof of the round ship. His face turned to horror as he looked on. A man stood to his immediate front. He had a badly scarred and burnt face, the signs of a radiation accident on Earth many years before. This was the reason for El Pasadora’s mean streak of evil and vengeance. The ears stuck to the sides of the head as though melted into place by a red-hot poker. His beastly forehead cringed in disproportion to the remainder of his face. The mangled body of the most horrifying creature the boy had ever seen in his entire life now stood to his front.
El Pasadora looked at the boy, up and down. “Where is your closest city?” The boy pointed and El Pasadora looked. “And how far is it?”
“I— it’s— ah—”
“Settle down boy. I’m not going to hurt you. How far?”
“About thirty krons.”
“Good.” El Pasadora lifted his laser gun from its holster and shot the boy dead. The body fell heavily to the ground. “Thank you.” After setting fire to the surrounds, the charade was complete. He now turned and commenced the three-kilometre journey into the city.
PLANET EARTH.
IRELAND.
Five ellat fighters came into a smooth landing to the rear of a deserted farmhouse in Northern Ireland before the 15 Vertons disembarked and entered the old building.
A systematic search for food and clothing had commenced until the entire legion was clad in some type of garment from Earth. They sat at the table and ate greedily. “The food here tastes strange, Niras. Do you think they may have poisoned it?”
“No, Boak; no poison. Eat now. Make the most of this opportunity.” He looked at the others as they feast. “We’ll not stay long. Tonight we leave. Boak and Twani. You take your ellats and crew to planet Negabba. Once there try and go your separate ways. The remainder of us will go to planet Vudd.” He wiped his hands ungraciously upon the tablecloth and swallowed hard. “You’re right, Boak, this food does taste like shit.”
Gennilamis let out a laugh, spitting food over Zaei. “You’re an animal, you dirty ass!” Zaei pulled his weapon from his hip holster.
“Put that weapon aside,” said Niras with little conviction. “We’ve other matters to concern ourselves with. Zaei and Huwaina, you’ll bring your ellats with me.”
“Where do we go?”
“Why don’t you listen for a change?” Niras shook his head. “We’ll travel past Vudd and come in from the rear to the planet in case they have tracking sensors in the area between here and there. We have clothes and a belly full of food.” He shoved the remainder of the drumstick down onto the plate breaking it into two halves. “Come! We go!”
They grabbed what food they could and boarded the ellats.
PLANET NEGABBA.
CAPITAL CITY.
Boak and his two companions had arrived on the surface of Negabba shortly after mid-afternoon and not too far from a populated town. They were immediately taken into custody and blamed for the death of a seven-year-old boy whom had been shot; they were also a
ccused of war crimes against the Mildratawa. “Then tell us; how did you come to be in the possession of ellat fighters? Don’t lie.”
Boak took heed to what Niras had told him. “Please, sir. You must believe us. These Verton scum,” he sank to his knees, “they forced us into these contraptions of theirs and forced us to land here. They’re on the planet’s surface somewhere; hiding; laughing at you, sir – laughing.”
The Inpuloid looked down upon the weakening form and pulled the shirt from his shoulders, tying his hands behind his back. The other two watched on, restricted by guards. Boak was forced into a chair. “If you speak the truth then you will be apologised to and rewarded for the gift of the ellats. If you lie, you’ll be executed. You understand the rules of the game we play, yes?”
“Yes of course.” Boak thought of their bluffing. The only way to tell whether a Verton was lying or not was to give him yantus milk. They surely wouldn’t have any here.
An Inpuloid approached from the outside of the room; in his hands he carried something. Boak’s smile evaporated and he knew what was going to happen. The small device was waved over his head as Binumana spoke. “All those of Earth have chips implanted on birth into their world.” The wavering object was pulled back and Binumana shook his head. “And you, you Verton scum, do not have one. Take them away,” and he thought; ‘The seven year old was killed in a scene set by these Vertons to look as though someone else had committed this heinous crime; surely.’ The three were taken away and put to death, dying very slowly in the most horrific of ways. It took six hours for each to die under the Negabban’s means of Death by Execution.
MILDRATAWA Page 27