by Kocho
“A civilization…captain this planet is obviously taken. We can’t interfere with their development, not now anyway.”
Jennings looked at the anthropologist that said the words. Richard Heisting was a late addition of the team. He was included at the request of Antonov who somehow guessed that this might happen. It was strange how the old men’s intuition seemed to be right every time. They all knew that there might be a chance to discover a civilization on one of the planets. But from all of them only Antonov thought of the need to take a man from that branch. He actually insisted that Heisting comes. As it showed he was right.
“Well this complicates things…doesn’t it?”
“Yes it does Sergei. It makes you think of the prime directive and Star Trek.”
Jennings comment made everyone grin. The show still held its popularity and it probably would in the future. Too many generations grew up watching it. Even now as the first navy was being constructed somehow it was influencing the way the navy ranks and it was being formed.
“You are right Dr. Heisting. We don’t have a prime directive like Star Trek but I believe that this will be the moment when it is created. Linda i want you to inform the pilots that they should do the flyovers and scans of the planet at high altitudes so that they are not visible from land. Let the natives go about their business.”
“Yes sir.”
“Erasmus what about the two moons, what do the scans show?”
As he mentioned his name the AI avatar appeared before him. It didn’t surprise anyone. They were used to it by now.
“Pandora is a moon that is slightly bigger than the moon you call Titan in your solar system. It has 0’89 gravity and it has a rich and colorful plant and animal life. It and Hestia both have atmosphere that humans can breathe and are worlds that in your terms would be called beautiful. Especially the one you named Pandora. Hestia is a bit more arid with several deserts and it will be harder to colonize. None has any indication of any advance culture or any other kind of civilization. I believe that they will be perfect for future colonization.”
Jennings and the rest of the scientists listened to the short briefing that the AI gave them and then looked at each other. The discovery of the residents of Proxima changed their plans for now. But the time was short and the whole mission had only two weeks. Two weeks in which they had to check and map two star systems, and if they discover any habitable planets try to map them as well and bring samples for further study. They all knew that that was too little time to do all those things. So the plan was to keep to the basics. Jennings assured them that there will be further missions. He was sure of that, and he knew from his discussion with Simonson that they were already planned. How fast and how big they were going to be depended on the information’s that were now being gathered and the samples they would take.
“Launch the shuttles. Tell them that they have a day to complete the scans and take samples and photos. The shuttles will make round trips and carry multiple teams on the surface. I want platoons of marines on the mission as well. I want one platoon for Hestia and four for Pandora.”
As he gave the orders the bridge burst with activity. The scientists that were already planned for the missions exited. The crew continued its work. As he watched everyone Jennings felt pride. Just a few months ago they were strangers to each other. Now they really looked like a crew. Even the ones that were already on board when the crew of the Deadalus transferred to the Intrepid looked like they are a part of the same crew.
Jennings knew that in a way he was watching the forming of the first real crew of the fleet that earth was now building. He knew that he had already seen a similar coordination in the crew that now worked on the three military ships but the crew he had, he commanded had the biggest experience and it showed. They had several more months to get acquainted with one another, to learn their faults and virtues. They were the first ones to start the training on the ships systems of the Alteran ships. That showed now.
“Linda I will retire to my room. You have the bridge.”
She turned as he spoke to her and smiled.
“Yes sir. I have the con.”
As she confirmed he stepped out of the bridge and retreated in to his room.
Gunter watched stunned at the vast green world that was revealing in front of his eyes as the shuttle descended on Pandora. He was on the last crew to land. The first shuttles carried the soldiers that were here to protect the scientists. Gunter was expert in several fields but his true passion lay in studying plants. He was a botanist in his heart and what he was now seeing was a dream coming true. The moon had it seemed only vast forests with trees that rose hundreds of meters in the air, high mountain picks and valleys that had fast rivers. On the plains you could see herds of strange and yet in a way familiar animals running or grazing. As he and his colleague Dr. Fuentes watched, the old paleontologists gasped as he saw some of the animals that were running. Even to the inexperienced eye of Gunter it seemed obvious that they are reptilians and those are in a way some form of dinosaurs. It was obvious that they have no close relation with the long extinct species on Earth, but they were clearly reptilians that evolved on an alien world. And there were others as well. And they were big. Even the smallest one seemed to be as big as an average human.
“Well it seems that we are both seeing a dream coming true before our eyes, aren’t we Miguel.”
Fuentes turned as he heard his name and just smiled. He knew that the creatures he was seeing had no relation with the creatures he studied so long on Earth. That was obvious from the shape of their bodies, even from this distance. He knew that the name living dinosaurs will stick though. To people that never had a chance to study the magnificent creatures that eighty million years ago were the dominant species on Earth they looked the same or they would almost look the same. And yet to his experienced eye they only had one similarity. Some of them were reptilians. There were also mammals and other creatures he still could not identify.
The way they moved, and the third eye some of them had clearly put them in the alien category. Their limbs were different, and as he watched them, he concluded that even their bone structure must be different. They were moving in ways an Earth dinosaur would never move. And most of them used only two legs for running with the front extremities clearly developed for other means. That especially went for the predators. Strange looking creatures could be seen flying in the distance.
They past a ravine and they all saw the camp site. The scientists were scattered in the surrounding area in several groups. The soldiers were watching the perimeter, keeping a close eye on the creatures that could be seen in the distance.
As the shuttle landed Fuentes and Gunter were the first ones out. The rest of the group followed after them.
Fuentes and two other scientists immediately raced forward toward the place where other scientists were studying several creatures that were grazing nearby. Gunter just smiled as he watched them and went to join his colleagues. He started gathering samples immediately. The trees were similar to the ones on Earth. From what he could see just as on the other two worlds the trees had deep roots and were stronger. It was hard to cut in them. Some of the leaves were large and similar to fern on Earth. As he watched them he was amazed at their size and beauty. It seemed that they really found paradise. He knew of the abilities of fern on Earth and he wondered if this leafs shared them. From what he could see they must have many more uses. They were similar but not the same. At the same time they resembled the leaves of oaks and other trees on Earth. And he could swear that among the trees he could see pines and oaks although they had to be some different family then the ones on Earth.
As he and the others gathered the samples from the plants and soils he heard several shouts and the he heard the shooting. They all did. When they turned they noticed two large animals lying dead. One of the marines was being tended to by a medic. He had a large gash on one of his arms. The animals were about three meters tall and from what
Gunter saw they looked like carnivores. He noticed Dr. Fuentes approaching. As he was coming several more shots ranged. From the experience he had Gunter concluded that they must be snipers…
“Probably using large 50 calibers” he thought as he looked at the size of the wounds on the two dead animals before him.
“They came out of those bushes there. They were on to him before he could react.”
“They were watching us. Probably set the ambush for some of the animals that were here before we arrived. But as we chased their prey…”
Everyone looked at the paleontologist. He was kneeling near one of the predators.
“They look like dinosaurs doc…don’t they?”
Fuentes raised his head and looked at the marine that asked the question.
“Yes son they do. And if I would compare them to any kind we had on Earth I would compare them to raptors.”
As he said those words he started examining more closely. He looked at the teeth and then at the claws. The four fingered arms and legs had retracting long claws, the ones on the sides lightly longer than the others. He looked at the scull and after several seconds he stood up and went towards the bushes the animals used for cover. As he started heading that way two of the marines went after him. They kept their weapons raised and aimed at the bushes, ready to fire at the first sign of trouble.
The bushes were tramped and torn at the place the two predators burst from. As he came close he could see the tracks they left as they came in and he started following them. Suddenly he stopped.
As he did both soldiers that came with him stopped too.
“What is it Dr. Fuentes?”
Fuentes didn’t answer. Instead he was intensely looking at the tracks that the animals left on the grass. He knew that what he was seeing were tracks from more animals and something was telling him that they are all in danger. He raised his head and looked at the small clearing on his right side. And what he saw made his blood freeze.
He now understood the reaction of the two creatures. And the shots that probably ranged in the distance were shots fired at animals that were testing the perimeter. On the clearing dozens of nests could be seen and they were all filled with eggs. The creatures, the two that the soldiers killed, and probably additional two were the guardians. And the expedition landed right on top of their nesting ground. He knew that Earth raptors were smart, really smart. And these creatures were similar. And even if they weren’t he knew that they are predators and it was obvious that they hunt in packs. And they protect their nests.
“Private I want you to call the Major and inform him that everyone needs to pull back. We need to leave this place fast.”
As he said those words they heard a strange sound in the distance. It sounded like an animal sound and it wasn’t a lone animal as soon others joined it.
“And I mean right now!!!”
The marines needed no urging. They called in immediately, and started retreating after the paleontologist.
Major Rivers looked at the paleontologist as he came out from the bushes. The older man was practically running. He received the call of one of the marines that accompanied the paleontologist and he was intrigued. Something spooked them.
“Mr. Fuentes can you explain this please?”
The scientist stopped when he heard his name. He looked at the major and then at the two creatures lying in front of him.
“We need to leave this place major. And we need to leave now.”
Rivers knew that the Intel told that they should listen to the scientists. And although the old paleontologist was a late addition to the team and he was largely ignored, from what he saw and from the talks on the ship he knew that he was probably the best expert on the life forms they encountered. But he still needed more evidence, a true reason to leave. Not even the injury of one of his man gave him good enough reason to abort.
While he was thinking the paleontologist kneeled to the bodies and started discussing something with the other scientists that were there. And as he did Rivers saw their faces turn white for a moment.
“Dr. Fuentes? Miguel?”
The paleontologist stood up and scratched his white hair. His dark eyes were looking calm. The excitement could be seen on his body but he wasn’t scared. He looked at Rivers.
“Major those creatures, they are in close relation to the creatures that on Earth we named raptors. They are not the same species obviously because we are in a different star system but they are similar.”
“Raptors, like the ones with the claw?”
“Yes…”
Rivers looked at the two dead animals and recalled the attack. They attacked fast and indeed one of them cut the arm of Oz with its claws. And it was a nasty wound. He remembered one of the snipers reporting that two other creatures were hiding in the bushes and disappeared after the first two were killed. He was never much in to the paleontology stuff but same as everyone else he remembered watching some shows about the long lost world of the dinosaurs and of course the famous movie Jurassic Park. He knew about the theories about the raptors and the fact that a known paleontologist thought that they have living relatives on this moon alarmed him.
“We really need to leave Major Rivers.”
“I will need a good reason for that doc. I can’t give that order without it.”
“Will the lives of everyone be good enough? Will that be good enough?”
“What do you mean? They are just animals. They might be smart but they are just animals.”
Fuentes sighed. The old men turned once again towards the nesting grounds.
“Major they hunt in packs. Large packs. They protect their nests with ferocity unknown and unseen in any other creature. They, the raptors on Earth there is a theory that they could speak to each other similar to dolphins and whales. And behind those bushes, not a lot further are the nesting grounds. And from the size and the number of the nests I’d say that we have a big pack here. A really big pack and right now they are headed this way.”
“You are sure of that?”
“Yes. And trust me it would be best that we are not present when they arrive.”
Rivers thought for a second. He knew that there was a second site about a hundred miles away that they were planning to visit later. It was on a mountain slope and well placed for making a camp with natural barriers that allowed easy defense. Similar to this site but he hoped without the nests.
He activated his ear radio and started issuing orders.
“Jackson.”
“Yes sir?”
“I want you and your team to establish a perimeter around the shuttles. Call in the vipers for close air support. We might need them soon.”
“Sir…?”
“Just do it Lt.”
“Yes sir gamma out.”
He turned to the scientist.
“We will retreat as soon everyone is on the shuttles. I would appreciate it if you and your colleagues move there. And inform all the scientists that you encounter on your way back.”
The paleontologist smiled. The smile showed his white and well cared teeth.
“Thank you Major you made the right call.”
After this the paleontologist and his colleagues headed towards the shuttles. As they did they picked up the other scientists that they found on the way.
“Anders you and your team secure the perimeter here till the scientists are back on the shuttles. Then start retreating.”
The marine saluted and with the rest of his team moved to take positions from which they could cover the retreating groups of scientists and soldiers.
Rivers and the men he had with him headed toward s the place where Alpha and Beta were protecting the rest of the scientists. He was most concerned about Beta considering that they had the largest group of scientists with them and they were in the forest so a shuttle couldn’t reach them.
“Beta what is your position over?”
“Home base we are one mile to the east of your position over.”
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Rivers picked up the map they all had from the surveillance. He marked the position they were in. He noticed that alpha was close to their position. He calculated how much time they would need to retreat and he didn’t like the result. And the empty space between the two groups. There was too much empty space.
“Beta we are abandoning camp. Start heading back.”
“We copy. What’s wrong Major?”
Rivers sighed and scratched his head.
“We stumbled on to a nest site of what appears to be creatures similar to the Dino raptors on Earth. From what the scientist think they might attack. In fact they already have. Oz was injured. To avoid trouble we are moving to our second target.”
“Copy home base. Beta retreating. See you in twenty.”
Rivers turned the frequency and contacted Alpha. He knew that they were already heading back.
“Edwards?”
“Yes major?”
“How are things looking?”
There was a short silence on the other side.
“We are heading back major. The scientists are moving a little bit slow but we will be there in six maybe seven minutes.”
“Is there anything unusual?”
“Now that you mentioned we noticed movements towards Beta, and in front of us. We both might need help.”
“Copy that Alpha. We almost have all the scientists gathered here. As soon as they are in the shuttles I will send Bravo to pick up your group. You will then reinforce Beta. Do you copy?”
“We copy home base.”
As he watched he noticed the positions of Bravo. They were covering the retreat and slowly coming towards him. Most of the scientists were already at the shuttles. Several strugglers were now being taken by soldiers from Gama.
“Pitters take your men and head toward Alpha. I want you to take the group of scientists and lead them this way. Alpha will connect with Beta and escort the large group of scientists. And be careful. There might be some of those predators already there. They are expert hunters.”