Alien Manifesto

by T. W. Embry

  “Your will is our command, my Queen,” answered all of the elders in unison.

  “Then listen carefully, for your life and the life of your nest mates depend on how well you carry out my commands. I want every full grown adult to find an energy collection globe and take it to the alien ship,” the Queen commanded.

  “Once there you are to fill them with energy from the ship’s main engine plasma and return here. Only then will I be able to regain my full strength. You must use every caution for it is important that the aliens do not know who stole their power. We are not yet ready to reveal ourselves,” instructed the Queen. “I doubt you will encounter any aliens as they are undoubtedly out searching for treasure.

  “Once you have returned and I have regained my power we will capture the aliens’ ship and begin reclaiming our place in the galaxy,” she commanded. “Leave the young and old here to begin preparations for the hatching of my new army.

  “Senior aide,” called the Queen.

  “Yes my queen, I am here,” answered the young nymph as he scurried to her side.

  “You will stay here. See to it that my orders are carried out and that I am not disturbed in my meditations,” commanded the Queen.

  “Your will is my command, my Queen,” answered the young nymph, scraping his chest plate on the floor.

  Turning to the senior elder the young nymph said coldly and with absolute surety of purpose, “Well: what are you waiting for? Gather all of the adults. The energy collection globes are in the next chamber. See that each adult gets one. The alien ship is in the canyon at the head of the north river. I expect you to feed, then start out immediately after. You must collect the energy under the cover of the dark cycle.”

  “You there,” said the young nymph pointing to the senior female of his nest, not even acknowledging his nest mother. “You will be in charge of the young ones,” knowing she hated children. “Now go, all of you, the Queen wishes to meditate,” commanded the young nymph.

  With much scurrying the Queen’s chamber was soon empty except for the Queen and her new senior aide.

  “Well done, young one,” said the Queen, “I foresee that you will be a powerful senior aide. Now see to it that I am not disturbed until the energy collection globes return.”

  “Yes my Queen, as you command so shall it be,” said the young nymph as he swelled with pride while guarding the entrance to the Queen’s chamber.

  PART THIRTEEN

  The Queen’s Chamber

  After an uneventful rest period, the team gathered in the forward lounge for a briefing from Snarth. They did not have to wait long; he soon arrived followed by SSlice.

  “Well, my friendsss,” Snarth hissed, “we now know for sssure that the Onesss were not completely wiped out azsss we once thought. However, all that we know about the Queen’s aidesss tellsss usss that they are not aggressssive. That is not to sssay that they are not dangerousss,” he hissed warningly.

  “It also raisesss the possssibility that sssome One warriorsss may have alssso sssurvived. There isss alssso a sssmall chance that the Queen may ssstill live. Very little isss known about the Queen, ssso from thisss point on, no one travelsss anywhere outside the ship alone,” hissed Snarth: “Teams of two at all times.”

  “We will alssso be posssting a team to guard the outside of the ssship at all timesss. Each team member will carry a blassster rifle at all timesss when outssside the ship. That isss in addition to your personal weaponsss. Any questionsss?” hissed Snarth, finishing his orders. The quiet acceptance of his orders was all the answer Snarth needed.

  “We are going into a place where no one hasss been in five hundred yearsss, the Queen’sss chamber,” Snarth hissed. “The very center of the mossst feared warrior race the galaxy hasss ever known. I do not know what we will find but we mussst be prepared to fight our way out. So ssstay sssharp,” hissed Snarth. “ssStay in contact with your partner at all timesss. Human Tom, you and the feline massster will ssstand watch while the equipment is loaded. I want you cloaked. You have your ordersss, we move out azsss sssoon azsss the bikesss and equipment are loaded on board. Dismissssed,” hissed Snarth.

  In short order the equipment and cycles were loaded and the ship was enroute to the extinct volcano that SSlice believed was the location of the Queen’s chamber. After a reconnaissance pass, Snarth landed the ship about one click from the volcano in a grove of dense vegetation, the only cover available. I, the feline master and Snarth reconnoitered the immediate area then stood watch as the Irishman and Rowl unloaded the bikes.

  “Irissshman, you and Rowl will ssstay and guard the ssship,” hissed Snarth as he mounted his cycle and put his helmet on. “ssStay cloaked, keep in contact with each other and report any sssighting of anything at once. Be ready to join usss immediately if we call for help.” Then Snarth closed his visor and took off with a burst of acceleration, followed closely by myself, the feline master and SSlice.

  The extinct volcano jutted up abruptly into the sky from the bare and flat plain in a huge valley, the largest of a series of three peaks. Its rocky slopes were devoid of any vegetation, scarred, presumably by the final bombardment that ended the war, yet still defiant and majestic.

  Slowly Snarth and company circled the volcano, our cycles scanning as we went. The team had completed one and a half circles before the scanners picked up an opening halfway up the volcano’s side. Closer inspection revealed a large flat area jutting out from the steep cliff side, looking out over the bare earthen plan, a perfect landing spot; and Snarth signaled us to do just that.

  After we all had landed and dismounted Snarth began hissing orders.

  “ssSSlice ssset up a sssensssor perimeter around thossse bikesss. We don’t want to be forced into a retreat only to find our meansss of essscape isss out of energy or missssing. Tom, you and the feline massster invessstigate that opening. ssSSlice and I will join you azsss sssoon azsss the sssensssorsss are ssset. ssStay in conssstant contact and report anything you find immediately,” Snarth hissed.

  My senses were tingling and not just because of the feline master’s closeness. We were going where no one had dared to go in a thousand years if ever and lived to tell about it. I had no idea what to expect as I made my way down a slight slope toward a small opening in the cliff face under what looked like a small natural cistern.

  As I looked, I realized that that opening was too small for Snarth and SSlice. My mate and I might be able to wiggle through it if we left our weapons behind. As I turned to tell Snarth, I noticed my mate intently examining the small alcove’s wall.

  “There is a hidden door here my love,” she purred. “See this hairline crack and these marks here; we just have to find the lever to open it.” After several minutes I heard her say, “Ahh there you are,” as she pushed against a portion of the wall. With a loud scraping noise, a huge door opened revealing a downwardly sloping ramp that opened up into a huge room, its walls lined with crystals of every color in a beautiful mosaic. The shock of what was in front of us stopped my mate and me in our tracks. It was the sight of a huge throne in the middle of the huge room, and the presence of the Queen’s body, still and unmoving.

  PART FOURTEEN

  The Aliens Have Returned!

  The senior elder watched as the alien ship settled down into a thick grove of wild vegetation. He must tell the Queen; the aliens are coming! The senior set off toward the queen’s chamber at a dead run and far too quickly for one of his advanced age. The sheer terror gave the senior elder a strength he had not known since he was but a young nymph, and he covered the erg to the Queen’s chamber in record time.

  The chief aide immediately intercepted the senior elder once he entered the Queen’s chamber. He waited patiently for the senior elder to regain some semblance of calm before disturbing the Queen. Finally, the senior elder was able to gasp in a panicked voice, “The aliens have landed a single erg from here. They are coming, what will we do?”

  The excited voices of her chief aide an
d the senior elder roused the Queen from her light post-feeding nap.

  “Who dares disturb my rest?” she screeched loudly, her agitation scents filling the space between them.

  Scraping their chest plates on the ground, the chief aide spoke first, “My Queen, the senior elder reports that the alien ship has landed a single erg from here.”

  “We must hurry,” said the Queen, “they will be here soon. Take half of the nest, gather energy collection globes and drain enough power from the alien ship that it will be unable to take off. The other half of the nest will hide in the chambers until I call on them to swarm the aliens,” commanded the Queen. “Fear not, my children, we will be victorious, and soon we will bring the glory of the sun to all once again.”

  “My Queen, the aliens have many powerful weapons and we have none. We have already lost two of our nest mates to their weapons. How will we fight them?” asked a quaking senior elder, his fear scents clouding the air around him.

  “Now that I have feasted on their ship’s power I have regained my full strength, they will be no match for me. Just be ready to swarm on my command,” answered the Queen.

  “As you command so shall it be,” both the senior aide and the senior elder answered in unison before they scurried away to carry out the Queen’s orders. Things are proceeding exactly as I have foreseen it thought the Queen to herself as she preened her antennae, basking in the warm glow of one who is about to fulfill her destiny and knows it.

  PART FIFTEEN

  The Queen is Found

  “Snarth, we have found the Queen,” I reported as soon as the shock of the sudden encounter passed.

  “Hold position until we get there,” Snarth ordered, so we held position.

  “There has been much activity in here not long ago,” warned the feline master with a loud hiss.

  “Full stealth mode from now on,” came Snarth’s message across my wrist pad.

  That was okay for Snarth, the feline master and me, however SSlice presented a problem as he had no cloaking device. Realizing his oversight, Snarth said to SSlice, “You go up the walls to the ceiling and we will cover you.” In an incredible display of agility, SSlice scurried up the closest wall and made his way to the center of the ceiling directly over the Queen’s throne.

  SSlice blended in perfectly with the empty ceiling around the opening. If I had not known he was there, I would have missed him completely.

  “It is time to check out the Queen’s throne. You two flank the sides, I will take the middle; move out,” came Snarth’s order over my wrist pad.

  As I broke to the left, my mate went right. The Queen’s chamber was a huge round room with a high domed ceiling. Oddly, the floor was perfectly clean and smooth, not even a grain of sand underfoot. I was almost half way around when I discovered the first chamber. It was filled with what looked like small glass globes.

  I signaled Snarth about what I found. “Continue your sweep,” came back my orders, so I continued forward. I would be getting close to my mate anytime now.

  “Another chamber here,” came a message from my mate the feline master. “It leads to a large passageway that slopes down,” reported my mate.

  “Tom, join up with the feline master and reconnoiter a short distance down the passageway,” ordered Snarth, “I have reached the throne and I am beginning an examination.”

  PART SIXTEEN

  An Unexpected Raid

  “HA, I have you in my sights,” said the Irishman. He and Rowl were playing their favorite game of cloaked hide and go seek to pass the time.

  “I don’t think so,” growled the canine in his ear from behind, causing the Irishman to jump in surprise.

  This caused Rowl to erupt in laughter, “That’s two points for me, one for sneaking up on you and one for scaring you like a little girl. I win,” said Rowl with a boastful chuckle.

  “Best out of five?” asked a disgruntled Irishman. Before Rowl could answer, a loud crash sounded from behind the ship, snapping the pair to full alert and sending them running toward the noise, one to the right, one to the left.

  They arrived at the rear of the ship at the same time to find it swarming with the same creatures the feline master had killed at the entrance to the defense complex just the night before. Rowl drew his twin swords and began mowing a path through the crowd of creatures on the ground. The Irishman unslung his blaster rifle and began cleaning off the ship’s rear quadrant.

  The slaughter was over in just a few minutes, as the creatures offered no resistance. They each carried a glass globe and seemed intent on escaping with it. Very few escaped the Irishman’s aim or Rowl’s twin swords.

  “Better tell Snarth then check the ship’s power supply. They were not there ten time units ago, no telling how much damage they have done to the main engine plasma,” Rowl said to the Irishman.

  “I will check the ship’s condition, you tell Snarth, after all it was your idea to play,” retorted an indignant Irishman.

  “I will stand guard while you check out the power systems, then we will tell Snarth,” said Rowl, no longer in such a good mood and hoping little if any damage had been done.

  A short time later the Irishman’s voice interrupted Rowl’s intense search for any of the surviving creatures. “We got lucky, old friend, no noticeable power drain.”

  “Now that is some good news. I will tell Snarth what happened immediately,” answered Rowl, his good mood returning.

  PART SEVENTEEN

  The Queen Wakes

  As Snarth stood in front of the Queen’s throne, he was amazed at the artisanship, and even more so by the huge jewels that decorated it. So intently was he studying the jewels that he failed to see the Queen open her eyes. The Queen’s antennae instantly located Snarth even though he was cloaked.

  “Who dares invade my nest,” she screamed in galactic standard, causing Snarth to jump back, blaster drawn. “I can smell you. I recognize your scent,” said the queen, “Your species once called me Queen. Have you come to declare your obedience once again? SPEAK or risk the destruction of your home planet,” screeched the Queen.

  “My home planet wasss dessstroyed a long time ago becaussse of you,” Snarth hissed angrily. “My people killed or ssscattered, having been wrongly accusssed of collaboration with you. Your threatsss mean nothing to me,” he hissed as he decloaked, his blaster rifle trained on the Queen.

  “So you have come to claim vengeance then?” asked the Queen, completely unconcerned about the blaster rifle pointed at her.

  “Yes and no,” hissed Snarth.

  “Riddles,” scoffed the Queen “I should have expected it from such a worthless species as yours.”

  Realizing he was being baited Snarth paused to get his temper under control before answering. “Yes, I will take my vengeance, and no, I was actually here looking for treasure. The whole galaxy thinks you are dead and I am about to make sure that happens.”

  With a shrill laugh the Queen said, “It will take more than you and your two friends to kill me, foolish one.”

  Shocked that the Queen could detect me and the feline master, Snarth tried bluffing the Queen. “I am here alone; all of my assssociatesss are guarding my ssship.”

  “So, you think I am a simple fool to be deceived by a puny being such as yourself,” said the Queen as she preened her antennae. “I smell a female feline and a male of another species that I have never tasted before. Perhaps he will make a pleasant desert after I have feasted on the two of you.”

  With a lurch, the Queen left the throne where she had been seated for five hundred years and bore down on Snarth. Snarth let loose a volley of blaster fire as he scrambled backward to escape the oncoming Queen.

  Seven direct hits and no effect, thought the retreating Snarth. “Engage and fire at will,” he hissed at the top of his lungs to me and the feline master. An instant later two other blaster beams arched toward the Queen also scoring direct hits, still with no noticeable effect. Turning the power setting on his rifle to m
aximum, Snarth fired at the Queen’s head; no effect.

  At this power level, the blaster rifles were only good for two, maybe three shots, before their power cell would be exhausted, realized Snarth. “ssSingle ssshot volleys at full power,” hissed Snarth to me and the feline master.

  After a shot from each of the teams’ rifles, the Queen was almost on top of Snarth, nearly boxing him in against the wall. I barrel rolled between them, stopping directly in front of the Queen, and fired at close range directly into her abdomen.

  With a scream, the Queen paused in her headlong advance, giving Snarth time to slide away from the wall. The feline master angled in from the opposite side and fired, scoring a direct hit in the same spot on the Queen’s abdomen. This caused the Queen to stop her advance and rise up to her full height, towering over me, nearly capturing me in her long arms.

  “No,” screamed the feline master as she leapt straight at the Queen’s head, delivering a blow with her feline blade that would have cleaved an ordinary being in half. Instead, her blade shattered on the Queen’s diamond hard exoskeleton. The feline master quickly recovered midair and almost made it clear of the Queen’s reach.

  However, she was a split second too slow. The feline master screamed with rage as the Queen’s arms snared her. The Queen’s feeding appendage appeared and began dissolving the helpless feline master, her screams of rage turning to those of agony.

  In desperation and in a rage I had never felt before I attacked the Queen head-on only to be swatted away by the Queen’s second pair of arms. Stunned but not out, I rolled with the blow, landing on my feet then leaping toward the Queen’s head. I sliced off the feeding appendage midair with my feline blade as Snarth fired the last shot from his blaster rifle into the Queen's abdomen. With another scream of rage and pain, the Queen flung the feline master against the wall, and with a sickening thud she landed in a heap on the floor.