by Karl Morgan
Plasma blasts filled the open space and troops on both sides were blown to pieces or lay bleeding on the ground. The agents fired again and the lead Marines collapsed to the ground, including Um-de-Bo who died instantly from a blast to his chest. The remaining Marines took to the air and fired relentlessly on the enemy, who began to retreat. Luka ordered his troops to stand their ground. Suddenly, the Baloos flew back into Luka’s group. He saw his best men eviscerated and maimed all around him. He shouted for medics just as Um-de-Bo’s Baloo tore through his back, severing his spine and leaving a foot of its bloody blade protruding from his chest. He fell over dead. The second ship never arrived, having been intercepted by the next Gallicean cruiser to arrive.
With the leadership dead, the agents quickly surrendered and were chained together. Following the ancient rites, a group of doctors and priests joined the Marines and helped to remove the rank insignia, daggers, a DNA sample, and name tags from each fallen solder from both sides. Those articles were placed in black bags and sealed for their families. A prayer was said over each dead soldier and then two of their comrades committed their bodies to the Dar-Fa by dropping them over the edge.
Chapter 26
Dave Brewster slept very well after his adventure with Lini and Ulook. He dreamt of Lubna, the mysterious gas planet Fak Mondoka told him about. He was floating in space a few thousand miles over the swirling bands of gas. He could see the two terrestrial moons bathed the reflected light from the massive planet. He noticed he was wearing only his uniform yet was not surprised he was breathing normally in the vacuum of space. It could be said that traveling in Universal Power had changed his perspective. As he watched the colorful bands moving against one another, he saw one of the massive snakes breach the surface of the clouds and then dive back below. It was at least five hundred miles long and dark brown with mustard yellow spots. The site of the creature did not frighten Dave. Instead, he felt warm and safe in its presence.
Suddenly, Dave was riding on the back of the beast, plunging downward into the gas. He thought he might be thrown off, but the creature was very gentle and seemed to be reassuring him telepathically. Dave lay down on his stomach and stretched his arms out to hold on. The animal’s skin was soft, elastic and quite warm. It seemed to be enjoying his company very much. It continued diving deeper and deeper into the atmosphere, and Dave knew he should have been crushed to death by the pressure by this point, but he still felt happy and safe. The creature dived through the last layers of cloud and into a clear level of air. The hard surface at the center of the gas giant stretched out below him. He imagined he was fifty or sixty thousand miles below the gas surface so far above him. The surface was flat as a table with no distinguishing features in this area. It was like a silver billiard ball, five or ten thousand miles in diameter.
He heard an odd singing sound and looked around. Dozens more of the giant snakes were flying through the air next to them. They seemed to be communicating with each other with their odd music, a harmonious combination of dolphin and whale song. The animals had heads and faces like whales, with large expressive eyes. Looking from side to side, he felt as though they were smiling at him with their eyes glistening in the sunlight. The snakes began to spin and dive around one another, as if dancing or just playing together. Dave was filled with joy in their company.
The singing stopped suddenly. Far ahead, Dave could see countless tornadoes grinding away at the planet’s surface. He realized he was seeing the base of a Dar-Fa. Even though their song stopped, the creatures seemed to be accelerating toward the funnels. Dave began to feel very apprehensive, knowing he would fall off the giant beast in the beating winds and heavy rain inside the swirling storm. He tried to hold on as tightly as he could, but his fingers were smarting and his hands let go. He felt his body float off the animal and became terrified at the thought of being alone on this alien world. He could see the snakes far ahead of them and tried to follow.
Then Dave was one of the snakes. He felt his body undulating to catch the wind. He was beginning to catch up to the others now. Where he had been a tiny speck on the back of the beast, he was now as large as them. He felt their minds reaching out to him, but could not understand their thoughts. A smaller snake moved toward him and touched his skin. His mind touched the other, who thought, “Welcome Dave. We are the Bolofaz, and this is our home world. My name is Ondeen and I have been chosen to be your guide here. I sense you have been on a world like this before.”
“This is a wonderful dream, Ondeen,” Dave thought back. “And yes, I have been to several gas planets before, riding on the chest of my brother, Fa-a-Di.”
“You are a friend of the galli then,” Ondeen replied. “We have seen them, but they avoided our planet out of fear. That was a shame. Perhaps you can let them know that we are not dangerous to them.”
Dave laughed. “But this is only a dream. I will forget all of this when I awaken in the morning.”
“That will be up to you, Dave,” Ondeen replied. “We are approaching the helix. This is where we feed and play. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.” As he finished speaking, the group flew into the sea of tornadoes. The Bolofaz opened their large mouths and breathed in the air laden with dust from the hard surface. Dave followed suit and could taste the sweet and savory flavors of the material around him. One by one, he could see the creatures diving into the funnels and shooting upward. He followed Ondeen into a very large vortex and felt himself rising up through the atmosphere. He was being pelted by the winds and debris, but felt warm and relaxed. The ride was exhilarating as he spun around in the tornado. He then followed Ondeen out of the funnel and into the open sky again. The Bolofaz were now thousands of miles up in the gas. Dave could feel the refreshingly cold rain washing his body. The liquid seemed to permeate his skin and his body relished the fluids. He was totally at peace flying with his friends and playing in the Dar-Fa. Now he knew why the Galliceans loved these storms so dearly. He hit the wall of the Dar-Fa and felt his body shaking violently.
Dave woke to find Fa-a-Di shaking him gently. “Dave, there’s been another attack,” his friend said.
“What?” Dave murmured, still half asleep. “What happened?”
“Last night, a fleet of ships attacked the Lagamar system,” he replied. “I’m sorry to tell you that Colonel Um-de-Bo died in that battle along with two hundred other Marines.”
“Oh my God!” Dave blurted. “But he was on the Kong-Fa and on his way to Tak-Makla. How did this happen?”
“Shortly after they dropped us off on Gallicea, Ka-a-Fa received orders to travel to Lagamar Boley. Our intelligence forces had heard rumors an attack on Lagamar was imminent. The ship arrived there just before the attack began,” Fa-a-Di replied. “There are also reports of attacks on the Opa ship Kalidus as well as the other inhabited planets in that system. The reports are not good, brother. Information is sketchy, but we expect to hear more soon.”
“What do we do now, brother?” Dave asked.
“There is nothing we can do now, Dave,” the Gallicean answered. “The Kong-Fa will be returning to Gallia later today to make a full report. Since you met Um-de-Bo just a few days ago, I thought you should know.” Fa-a-Di stood and walked away, then stopped and returned. “One last thing, Dave,” he began, “who in the world is that woman with Odo?”
Dave climbed to his feet and said, “Her name is Dar Lini, and this is her home planet. I told you I sensed life here. Odo and I were taken to their camp last night after the party here ended. That’s why we need to stay here one more night. There is something amazing here that we have to see.”
De-o-Nu had heard the conversation and jumped in, “That’s not possible, Dave. I need to contact the families of the injured and fallen soldiers. That sacred duty cannot be delayed. They deserve to know what happened.”
“Fa-a-Di, please stay here one more day,” Odo begged. “What Dave is saying is true. De-o-Nu and his brother can leave, but you have to stay here. They can handle the not
ifications, and you can contact the families personally tomorrow.”
“I don’t know Odo,” Fa-a-Di winced. “Last night was fun, but I’m already feeling my skin crawl being here. I’ve completed my Sojourn and need to get back to work.”
“Brother, please stay with Odo and me here,” Dave replied. “Look at this young woman. Here is a person who has lived here all her life. I’ve seen their village in the tree tops not far from here. There are hundreds of homes there. All of you have cajoled me for claiming there is intelligent life on this planet. Well, here is the proof. Certainly this is significant enough to warrant one more day.”
“That is pretty amazing,” De-o-Nu said. He put his hand on Fa-a-Di’s shoulder. “Brother, I will handle the notifications today and return early tomorrow to pick you up. I will tell everyone you mourn their losses and will contact them soon.”
“Dave, why do you do this to me?” Fa-a-Di scowled. “Of all the places to be stuck, here I am on this rock. Do you have another good reason I should do this?”
Dave thought for a moment and replied, “Of course you remember the Grand Conclave, but do you remember the Zula we showed there?”
“Ulook!” De-o-Nu shouted. “Of course we remember her.”
“She’s here,” Dave replied. “I spoke to her last night and we will see her later.”
“That’s not possible,” Fa-a-Di laughed. He looked around the campsite and suddenly noticed dozens of humans at the edge, trying to conceal themselves in the brush. “Well, then again, it seems like anything is possible here. I’m breathing an oxygen atmosphere. It seems that Nan have been living here for generations. Why not Ulook? You have your day, Dave Brewster. I hope it’s worth it.”
“Just one more thing then,” Dave smiled. “How many communicators can we get that will fit someone like Dar Lini? They only speak the ancient Nan language and I want you to talk to them.”
De-o-Nu laughed. “A star cruiser will be coming here in a few hours to pick me up. I’ll ask them to bring as many as they can. I assume you can upload the Nan language?”
“Of course! That’s great news! And we’ll all need pressure suits tonight. We’re going for a swim in the ocean,” Dave finished.
Chapter 27
The Kong-Fa was diverted from Gallia by Fa-a-Di. It headed instead to the Gallicea system so he could personally mourn with the crew for their losses and then celebrate their victory. When the ship arrived, De-o-Nu and his brother were jumped by maklans on board, where Ka-a-Fa provided a full briefing on what was known about the Battle of Lagamar. The Boley planet was heavily damaged before the additional Gallicean battle cruisers arrived. After the first two Brotherhood ships were destroyed, the rest of the fleet fled the solar system as quickly as they could. The only reported hand-to-hand combat occurred in the battle that killed Um-de-Bo and Luka Nance. The other ships targeted the few floating cities that were under construction. The floatation systems on two failed and the rubble disappeared into the lower atmosphere. Five more Gallicean warships were now on the way there to take care of casualties and provide more security.
The other planets fared somewhat better, as they each had a number of star cruisers for defense, although specific intelligence was hard to obtain or verify. Those planetary leaders were still sifting through reports and speaking to their military leaders to get a clearer picture of the situation on the ground. The attackers did not engage the defending ships, but instead targeted cities and major industrial facilities on those planets. Damage reports from the Opa and Vol planets showed minor damage as the attacking ships seemed to be quite weak. Once those ships were pursued by the defenders, they fled the area and returned to deep space. Each of the capital cities reported moderate damage to government buildings.
Lagamar Ulu suffered the most damage. The attackers focused their efforts on major defense industry sites. Two star cruiser assembly plants were completely leveled, along with twenty associated subcomponent plants nearby. Fortunately, the three other assembly plants were missed entirely, most likely due to poor intelligence. The attacking ships blasted away at unimproved lands miles from those locations. For once, the thick blanket of smog may have saved lives. Much of the capital city was also flattened. The President and his team were at the Mount Alila Temple at the time of the attack. There were spotty reports the temple was also a target, although no information on that location had been reported when the Kong-Fa was jumped back to the Milky Way. None of the leadership on the Boley, Opa or Vol planets had any contact with Lagamar Ulu.
De-o-Nu and his brother spent the rest of the day contacting the families of the dead and wounded. It was heartbreaking for De-o-Nu. Those men had been his crew and his friends. When he spoke to Um-de-Bo’s wife, they both cried and tried to console each other. Later that day, De-o-Nu would ask his wife to travel to Gallia to be with her personally. Captain Ka-a-Fa made arrangements for the effects of the fallen Galliceans to be sent to their families by another star cruiser diverted to Gallicea for this somber mission. Before they had jumped back, an unmanned funeral probe was launched to Narta Ela with the effects from the Brotherhood agents who had died.
Looking out the window, De-o-Nu could see the terminator move over the site of the camp where Fa-a-Di was staying. Soon, they would be traveling to the ocean to be with Ulook. He remembered her dearly. He thought Dave Brewster was crazy for having him evacuate the Zula from Lagamar Vol and delivering them to Nan. When he was in the water with her and felt her touch him, he changed his mind. In those few minutes, she touched his heart and soul and he knew he would never be the same again. The only other extremely spiritual experience he had in life was his journey into the Hive days ago. He swirled the whisky in his glass and watched it. “I’m a fool!” he said to himself. “Dammit, I need a maklan!”
As if on cue, Mitch Nolobitamore appeared in his quarters. “De-o-Nu, Jake asked me to come here to help out. I heard about your journey into the Hive and wanted to hear the details,” he said.
De-o-Nu laughed and clapped his hands together. “Mitch, this is an amazing coincidence! Can you tell where Jake is right now?”
“He’s in the camp with Dave and Fa-a-Di,” Mitch responded. “Why do you ask?”
“I need you to jump me down there with a pressure suit,” he replied.
Dave Brewster had his bubble suit on again. He and Jake were climbing on board the Gallicean shuttle for their ride to the ocean, just as De-o-Nu suddenly appeared right behind them and followed them up the gangway. “De-o-Nu, this is a surprise. I didn’t think you were going to make it here,” Dave said.
“Brother, after the day I’ve had, I need something to distract me from my emotions,” he replied as he strapped himself in. “The only good thing about today is that it’s almost over,” he laughed.
Fa-a-Di entered the cabin and smiled when he saw his dear friend. “De-o-Nu, this is a blessing. How did it go today?”
“Not well, as you can imagine. Everyone has been notified, and they all know you will call them soon,” his brother-in-law replied. “Just so you are informed, Brother Luka Nance was also killed in the battle on Lagamar Boley. Um-de-Bo’s Baloo killed him instantly.”
Fa-a-Di sat next to the shuttle captain and strapped himself in. “That’s a damned shame. I hated that idiot with all my heart, but death is the most extreme punishment. I will pray for his soul tonight as well.”
After Odo and Lini joined them, the shuttle rose slowly off the ground. Lini provided directions, and in seconds, the ship hovered over her village in the trees. Hundreds of locals stood on their balconies and waved at the ship. “My God, I can’t believe my eyes,” Fa-a-Di sighed. “My people have been coming here for the Sojourn for countless generations, and no one ever saw this. That’s almost impossible to believe.”
“Don’t worry, dear general,” Odo said smiling. “There is much in the universe that can only be seen by one willing to look. Your people came here in fear and sorrow. The last thing you wanted to see was the truth. Y
our ancestors did attack this planet most viciously, but they did not destroy the life here. This is just one small village. Lini, what can you tell us about others on this world?”
She was almost too terrified to speak, never having been in a flying vehicle before, but Odo held her hand tightly and she finally replied, “I have been to several other villages with others like me. I am told that there are cities full of our people all over the planet, but we do not travel extensively, so I cannot verify that is true.”
On her direction, the shuttle moved away from the village and followed the wide river toward the sea. As the vessel left the forest, it crossed wide plains where small farms could be seen dotting the landscape. Every few miles, another small village sat at the intersection of dirt or gravel roads. After another half-hour of travel, the ship moved over a cliff and out over the ocean. The sun was setting behind them and within minutes it was pitch black. The vessel continued for twenty more minutes until it reached the location Ulook had programmed and began to drop in altitude, until it hovered a few feet over the water. The sea was calm and reflected the light of the two full moons overhead. The pilot opened the bay doors and the team made sure their pressure suits were secure. Dave could not help but look at Dar Lini who looked so tiny in her bubble suit. It had only been last night when she stood nude in front of him smiling. Now she was clearly scared. The group sat on the edge of the opening with their feet dangling over the edge. Dave put his arm around Lini’s shoulders and could feel her body trembling through her suit. “Lini, it’s going to be okay,” he said. “Ulook will take care of all of us. This is the greatest adventure of all of our lives. Don’t be afraid.”