Shroud of Eden (Panhelion Chronicles Book 1)

by Marlin Desault

  “I only need an hour to make arrangements for my return to my ship. After that, I’d be happy to join you. I have one other request, if you have no objection. Our science officer, Lieutenant Zirkel, and my Second-in-Command will make the descent to Niobe tomorrow. My junior officer will then accompany me back to the ship.”

  The chancellor nodded agreement. “You and your crew are welcome. I’m sure you have many questions, as do we. Centuries have passed since our ancestors left Earth, and we’re quite naturally curious about events on our mother planet.” He smiled and nodded. “Then it’s settled. We meet in an hour.”

  That evening, Scott fidgeted, brushing down the wrinkles on his uniform, eager to make a proper impression. His face flushed as he realized his presence on Niobe now had the trappings of a diplomat, a role singularly uncomfortable to him.

  A straight-faced Niobian arrived at Scott’s portal with Anton in tow. He led them both through the halls of the Refectory to a chamber with a high ceiling. An exquisite image of the Niobian landscape covered the wall. On another wall, a tridimensional image displayed waves surging on a serene shore.

  Linghtaz met them at the entrance. At his side stood a woman of exceptional beauty, with high cheekbones and wide jaw. Her close-cropped brown hair complimented her light tan skin.

  He politely smiled, and averted his gaze to avoid staring, but continued to watch her out of the corner of his eye while he maintained his discussion with the chancellor.

  Linghtaz held out his hand, holding a tear-dropped shaped glass. “Would you try some of our Niobian spirits?”

  Scott held up his palm with an apologetic smile. “Thank you, but I don’t take alcohol.”

  The chancellor dipped in a polite bow. “No offense. I’m sure we can find something acceptable to you.”

  To Scott’s delight, he put his hand on Scott’s elbow and steered him to the woman.

  “Ariela, I present our visitor from Earth, Captain Scott Drumond.” Linghtaz released Scott’s arm and stepped next to Ariela. “Captain, may I present Ariela Lavendal, our official historian and an exceptional scientist as well. Her knowledge of our history may interest you, and I’m sure she’d like to hear of the events that have taken place on Earth over the centuries since out ancestors left.” The chancellor politely excused himself and ambled over to Anton where he engaged the young officer in conversion.

  Ms. Lavendal stood nearly as tall as Scott; a mere centimeter shorter.

  He met her eyes with a slight downward tilt of his head, and couldn’t help the mild warmth that flooded his face. “Ms. Lavendal, I am indebted to the chancellor for introducing me to you. I’m anxious to hear more about you and Niobe.”

  With a gracious lift of her chin, she returned his smile. “Your sudden appearance on Niobe has aroused our curiosity.” She carried a light frame for her height, and her complexion suggested a Nordic strain. She was perhaps thirty years old. A chiffon-like Vee-neck dress of a light orange color draped from her slight shoulders to her knees.

  “We are equally curious,” he replied, assuming his most sincere smile, “but I hope to sate your curiosity to the point that you and your people are comfortable hosting us.” Her radiance stirred feelings in him that he hadn’t felt since his breakup with his fiancée, Becky, years ago.

  She looped her hand around his forearm, and the warmth of her touch caused a slight flutter in his midsection.

  She led him across the room. “You might enjoy the view from the window. Our two moons are in their waxing phase. The view of Niobe by their light is quite pleasing.” Her voice was soft and melodious. She pointed to a gibbous disc low on the horizon. “That’s Petra, our smaller moon. She’s farther away and mostly rock.” She raised her hand and extended her delicate fingers toward another larger disc. “Selena’s closer and a bit larger. From the books our ancestors brought, we understand that neither of our moons is as large as Earth’s moon.”

  Scott’s eyes followed her gestures. She aroused an extraordinary fascination in him.

  With her hand resting lightly on his arm, they strolled to a wide, ceiling-to-floor window. Outside on the terrace, trees and foliage cast two shadows, one darker than the other. The view of the dimly illuminated forests stretched from the escarpment to the sea.

  His voice went soft. “Niobians are blessed to have such nature. Centuries ago, Earth possessed sweeping wonders like this, but, even though many of our people have emigrated from Earth to the offworld settlements, our home world population has still consumed much of our wilderness. I’m sorry to say few humans on Earth have seen anything like the natural beauty of your world for many centuries.”

  She released his arm and turned to the window. “Petra and Selena aren’t often gibbous on the same evening and with such clear weather. Tonight is very special. A good omen, I think.”

  He returned her smile. “I hope so, but relying on omens as a sign of future events often disappoints.” He tilted his head toward her. “The people of Earth and Niobe have the opportunity to shape events for a favorable outcome, rather than rely on omens.”

  She again took his arm. “Captain, let us hope that Niobe and Earth find common, peaceful interests. Now, if you’ll follow me we can begin the evening meal.”

  Her warm touch lifted his spirits as she led him to the table and stood next to him.

  He tactfully pulled her chair away from the table and waited until she and the chancellor had taken their seats.

  Anton followed suit and took the offered chair on the other side of the chancellor.

  Linghtaz leaned toward Scott’s ear. “I hope our food agrees with your tastes. It’s prepared according to our preferences.”

  “I’m sure it tastes wonderful.” A salad sat on the table in front of him. He closely watched Ariela, thinking to learn the polite ways of Niobian society. In front of each setting stood a translucent carafe filled with a reddish, tinted liquid.

  “May I pour you some?” She lifted the carafe.

  He moved to cover his glass with his hand.“I don’t drink alcohol. Please understand I don’t mean to be rude. It’s a personal rule of mine.”

  She set the carafe down and picked up another on the far side of the place setting. “This may suit you better. It’s a slightly tart drink from a fruit that grows only on Niobe. It relaxes, but does not intoxicate.” At his nod, she lifted the carafe and poured his glass half full. “Or, if you prefer, I can arrange for water.”

  “I’m sure this will be fine.” He waited to see what Linghtaz would do before he took a sip.

  He shifted slightly to his left. “Chancellor, are your plants from stocks you brought from Earth or are they native to Niobe?”

  “Some are from Earth, and some are hybridized with Niobian plants. We’ve had great success crossing the two. We employ plant biology in most everything you see. The walls of this building, and for that matter the building itself, are actually made of growing plants.”

  “Amazing.” Scott gazed around the room in disbelief. “I’d like to know more about your science—a lot more, actually.”

  Ariela touched a small panel, and a section of the table surfaced with a porcelain tureen.

  Scott did the same. When he opened his, a hint of steam and a pleasant boullion-like aroma wafted from the tureen. He lifted the first spoon full of what appeared to be a goulash with small meat-like cubes.

  “I’m curious,” he said. “What type of animal produces this meat? It’s delicious. Is it an animal native to Niobe?”

  The chancellor gave him a tactful smile. “Captain, our ancestors brought no animals with them, and when they arrived here they found no warm-blooded animals, nor are there any now. A few small amphibians crawl on the shore, but except for them, and us, there aren’t any land animals on this planet.”

  “But this meat.... It’s wonderful. You mean to tell me it’s from a plant?” He took another spoonful, savoring the broth with its tangy taste.

  Ariela paused and repositioned herself in
her seat. She stole a quick glance at the chancellor and smiled. “You see, Captain, we are by necessity vegetarian, with the exception that we take some food from our oceans.”

  Scott touched his lips and furrowed his brow. “I’m curious. Your plentiful planet growth, I take it, has raised the oxygen content of your atmosphere to a significant level. So much vegetation must absorb considerable carbon dioxide. The human inhabitants no doubt provide some carbon dioxide, but that wouldn’t be nearly enough to support the verdure I’ve seen.”

  “Our seas are also sources of carbon dioxide, and a few volcanoes supply substantial amounts as well,” Ariela said, setting down her glass. “The carbon dioxide level on Niobe is elevated, but not quite to the level experienced by Earth during the carboniferous period.”

  “You do know Earth’s history, don’t you?” Scott took another spoonful of the vegetarian goulash. “Regardless, your climate is quite mild.”

  Ariela stopped eating for a moment and studied his face. “When you approached our planet, you may have seen the clouds that cover a large part of Niobe’s surface. The high albedo of Niobe reflects sunlight into space, keeping our weather in balance.”

  “But why do you have no animals on Niobe? You say you have some amphibians.”

  “Niobe has no animal life over twenty centimeters in length, and that life is either aquatic or amphibious. A large planetoid struck Niobe two hundred million years ago, resulting in a mass extinction. All the land animals, and much of the sea life, died out. There hasn’t been enough time for the land animals to re-evolve, although the plant life thrives, as does the life in our seas.”

  Linghtaz rested his interlaced fingers on the top of his prominent belly and twisted his wrinkled neck around to face Scott. “Ariela has explained a little about Niobe. Perhaps you would indulge me with a few comments about events on Earth since our ancestors departed.”

  Scott took a sip from his glass and rotated to face the chancellor. “Certainly, what would you like to know?”

  The chancellor went silent for a moment, then said, “Our ancestors left Earth during a devastating war. Does Earth still endure such conflict?” He rotated his glass between his fingers and tilted his head toward Scott.

  Scott stroked his throat with thumb and forefinger as he weighed his answer. “The nuclear war that drove your ancestors away ended a few years later. The war ravaged our planet, but from the ashes of that conflict, the people of Earth formed a new government, the Panhelion. Earth and the solar system have had no nuclear conflict since, although the Panhelion has had to suppress minor rebellions on Luna and Mars. Both those settlements fought for independence and failed. They now form two of the eight semi-autonomous states of the Panhelion.”

  The chancellor’s face turned somber. “It would be a sad day for us if warlike passions were to come to our gentle shores.”

  “These war-like passions, as you put it, reside deep in the psyche of humankind, to awaken when we least expect it.” Scott plunged his fork into a vegetable in his tureen.

  The sides of Linghtaz’s mouth curved up in what Scott took to be mild derision. “We have lived peacefully on Niobe for over two hundred years. Would you include us in your analysis of the human psyche?”

  “Your peaceful history certainly refutes my statement, but then I’m not as wise as you.” Scott withdrew his fork from the tureen.

  The chancellor stopped eating and stared Scott in the eye. “What compelled you to make the long journey to Niobe?”

  “Chancellor, we came because my superior ordered us to investigate an anomaly, the very anomaly that shrouds your star system.”

  “Yes, the time gradient.” Linghtaz slid back his chair and studied Scott’s face. “But how did you find your way through to us?”

  “With a great deal of luck and persistence. The keen observations and skill of my science officer brought us through.”

  So far, Anton had remained silent, observing and listening, showing little interest in the discussion.

  The chancellor abruptly squared his shoulders to Anton. “Tell me, Lieutenant, why did you travel so far?”

  “It’s as my captain said. Orders.”

  “And exactly what were you ordered to do?” Linghtaz asked in a stern voice.

  Anton hesitated and looked to Scott for a signal as to how to answer.

  Scott nodded and mouthed, It’s okay.

  “Sir, we were ordered to investigate the anomaly, and to seek out the fate of the Themis. That’s all I know.”

  Linghtaz’s eyebrows arched as he sat back and repositioned himself, the better to study Scott’s expression. “Captain, I’d very much like to know why your orders told you to search us out. I gather from the lieutenant’s answer you knew about our ancestors.”

  Scott faced him directly. “We were aware of the departure of a primitive ship named the Themis, but the nuclear war destroyed many of the records.” He locked an intense gaze on the chancellor. “The few records that survived told us little more than the ship’s name and that the destination was the Hyades Cluster. My superiors didn’t tell me why they ordered me to search for remains of the Themis. They don’t always explain their decisions, and I’ve learned it’s not always proper to ask.”

  “When you return, they will no doubt be pleased with your success. You’ll find favor and career advancement.”

  “That may be. My career has been a checkered one.”

  “Well, I drink to a change in your career fortunes.” Linghtaz smiled and lifted his glass. All at the table did the same.

  When they finished, Scott and Anton thanked them for the evening. Scott followed Ariela’s every move and was delighted when she took his hand and wished him a good evening.

  In his room, he had an overwhelming desire to sleep, which was strange; during his normal sleep routine, he slept at very specific hours, and this wasn’t one of those hours.

  The patter of a brief rain shower announced daybreak. Scott rose refreshed and began organizing the report he’d make to Admiral Delmar. As Linghtaz had promised, Thane Gotow took him and Anton to the landing area, where an unusual sensation filled his nostrils—a sweet smell he hadn’t experienced before. How peculiar. How pleasant is the smell of moist grass on Niobe.

  Before he could comment to Anton, Linghtaz arrived.

  He approached the Niobian. “Chancellor, what takes you away from your busy schedule this morning?”

  Linghtaz shifted his weight, his eyes barely visible through the folds of his eyelids. “I’ve been instructed to tell you that a person of great influence would speak with you when you return. Will that be soon?”

  “I’ll enter my report in our ship’s log tomorrow and return to Niobe the day after. Will that meet the needs of the person you speak of?”

  “Yes, he is a reasonably patient man.”

  At that moment, a low whine sounded in the eastern sky. Over the water, the shuttle came into view, looming large as it neared. Scott and Linghtaz ducked their heads and shielded their eyes from the blowing exhaust as the craft hovered for a moment, pressing the grass hard against the ground before settling once again on Niobian soil.

  In less than fifteen minutes, Klaas and Marie disembarked, after which Scott took the controls, and Anton moved to the copilot’s position.

  Orbit over Niobe

  -

  Pegasus

  ~~~

  The shuttle engines emitted a roar as they propelled the craft out of Niobe’s gravitational influence and into high orbit, where Pegasus waited patiently for benevolent human guidance.

  The docking grapples gently closed around the craft.

  Scott marched through the airlock into Pegasus’ ingress-egress cabin. With Anton tagging behind, he headed for the command deck to perform a check of the drowsing systems. Both shivered in the chilled air flowing through the ship. Only the glow of the instrument lights illuminated the deck. After a quick scan, he was satisfied that the ship’s auto helm still held Pegasus in true orbit.


  He walked back to Anton and laid his hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder. “Anton, warm the ship and bring up the interior lights. After that, search the data archives and dig out any more information you can find on the Themis mission.”

  Anton arched his brows. “I already browsed through it once. Except for a few after-the-fact reports, there’s not much else to read.”

  “I’m aware of that, Lieutenant, but search again. Cross-reference everything, including the commercial publications, no matter how trivial. Who crewed the ship? What did they work on before they left?” He paced the deck for a few moments, waiting for the air to warm. “The chancellor’s questions about our orders to search out Themis stirred my curiosity. Something more—something much more important—drove the higher-ups to order us on this mission, and I want to know what compelled them to do it.”

  Anton nodded. “It’ll take an hour or so to cross the entire data set.” He sat down at his station, and his face reflected a light green glow as text scrolled across his display.

  Deep in thought, Scott straddled his chin with thumb and forefinger. Why did Linghtaz quiz us about our orders? He exhaled and marched to his quarters.

  In his cabin, he sat behind the small workspace and brushed his hand lightly over the lighted panel on the back surface. He tapped the skin behind his ear to activate his implanted transceiver and open the computer log. “Message to ECCO Central. Dictate now.”

  The words he spoke floated in space in front of him as he began his report on the events from the time Pegasus entered the opening to the first day on Niobe. While he dictated, he used his fingers to move the words around in the space in front of him, rearranging and editing the message.

  The final entry made, he told the computer to save as footfalls tapped outside his cabin.

  Anton stepped in front of his open door and knocked on the side bulkhead. “I received a text. You want to see me?”

  “Yes, I put a file in the send directory of the computer memory.” Scott reached to the back of his ear and tapped the implant to off status. “Code it for ECCO and send it to Admiral Delmar. He’s in for a surprise when he learns we’ve found descendants of the Themis voyagers.”