An Alien Rescue

by Gordon Mackay

  The Greys operated mainly within the upper levels of this base, just beneath the rusty-red sandy surface of the planet Mars. Occasional bursts of fine dust and grit would filter through crazy cracks in the curved roofs of long tunnels and hallways, forced through by hurricane strength winds whose roar could be heard raging above them. The roaring sound worked its way down into the rooms below ground like a demented lion running wild amidst the corridors. The wind’s destructive force tore at the freeze-dried and barren sand that covered the Martian surface, changing the contours of the landscape with a tenacious frequency. The subterranean base lay in a basin where water once existed; using the high surrounding cliffs of what was once a deep abyssal plain as cover from inquisitive prying eyes and orbiting exploratory spacecraft.

  The planet’s oceans and seas had long since disappeared, either shrinking because of its thinning atmosphere or as part of the monumental shipping project that transported a large proportion of it to Earth many millions of years before. Intelligent extraterrestrials had foreseen the Martian predicament long before it began, where its seas and oceans would eventually disappear into space because of its delicate atmosphere. The enormous project gradually moved a lot of the planet’s oceanic water in zeppelin-shaped balloon ships, gigantic flimsy vessels with the ability to contain extremely high volumes of liquid in the freezing vacuum of space. These vessels were driven into Earth’s atmosphere, where the transporting ship’s fabric and structure was destroyed on entry while the water was vaporised into dense clouds of concentrated moisture. The side effects of these added clouds were that sunlight was reflected back into space, leaving the planet’s surface cold and dark. The project was carried out in several lengthy stages, so as not to drown the planet and its own terrestrial lifeforms. Each stage resulted in an ice age, with the latter only appearing as the heaviest of rainfalls. Animals and plants had to adapt to survive, while the planet’s topography was ferociously altered through its unprecedented raised levels of ice and water. Glaciers slowly reshaped the Earth, scraping mountain ranges from their higher than Everest summits, eroding them to the present levels of u-shaped valleys and boggy-flood plains. While some animals were able to survive by migration or straightforward adaptability, others simply perished. They were killed by the sudden freezing temperatures plus a reduction in available food supplies. Evolution played a valuable part in the survival rate of every species, and of course it's possible demise, but it was mainly its ability to quickly adapt to a rapidly changing environment that decided each and every animal’s fate. The periodic ice-ages persisted over countless periods, with the last effects ending only ten thousand of your Earth years ago. That was due to the last of the massive Martian water transports, but not the final. It also helped to mark the beginning of mankind’s domination. The final transported water supply was used to wash the planet’s mountain ranges and plains of the dead and ancient artefacts of previous lifeforms, burying them while giving the younger and newer a better chance of survival. Its generated lengthy period of rainfall cleansed the land for new growth, sweeping clean the surface from which human life would grow and learn. Humanity was allowed the opportunity to explode itself across the changed planet, altering the environment as it went forth. The use of the planet’s resources, whether through agriculture or restructuring by technological advancement, meant Earth would never be the same again. Atmospheric pollution would prevent another ice-age taking place, while melting ice-caps would ensure the flooding of coastal plains and a shrinking landmass. Marine organisms would flourish, while terrestrial animals would once again need to quickly adapt… Or perish! Just like before.

  Above and outside the base was an extremely hazardous environment, with precious little oxygen to breathe combined with freezing temperatures. The dangerously strong winds could strip the flesh from bones in a matter of seconds with the remains being sand-blasted to flakes followed by dust. No living creature could survive for any length of time without protection, even though the atmosphere’s density was low. Two polar ice caps consisted of frozen carbon dioxide as ordinary water was almost completely absent on the surface. Except for a number of deep subterranean lakes, where the planet’s internal temperature and constant pressure allowed their existence, the planet was largely desiccated. A few indigenous examples of Martian life continued to thrive in these warm lakes where no sunlight shone, mainly surviving by cannibalism. A few species of fish-like beasts miraculously survived, scavenging the lake’s bottom for detritus, while often eating its own kind before it too would be devoured when age and disease would take its toll. As food was scarce, most would painstakingly search with effective mud-raking feelers and grabbing tentacles for anything worth eating. The low levels of available food kept the numbers of animals to a minimum, thus maintaining a healthy balance. One particular animal used a form of sonar for seeking its prey and communicating; it was at the top of the food-chain and would never be ousted from its ferociously guarded throne. This horrendously large beast lived a solitary territorial lifestyle, except during a brief moment for mating. Its protective armour consisted of a heavily segmented exoskeleton, leaving no part of its soft under-flesh vulnerable to attack. Apart from its many pointed claws and spines, its main weaponry consisted of a muscle-bound mouth armed with extremely large, pointed and serrated teeth. They would snap and tear at the flesh and skeleton of their prey and enemies, ripping them apart and devouring them within minutes. It was common for the female to kill her carefully selected mate, a much smaller but necessary gender. These beasts were the royals of the underground seas, with the females being the ultimate ruler while the menial males took a back seat. She would eagerly devour the father of its unborn offspring to sustain her through the long gestation period, not showing concern or consideration for her short-lived partner. Her increased proportions and pregnant bulk meant she would not only be at a disadvantage for hunting and fighting, but also susceptible to being hunted herself. This was the reason she had to eat well before she dived to the deepest depths of a lake, hiding among the gigantic rocks on its bed where cover meant safety; not returning to her former territory until after giving birth. Once the young had left the safety of her belly they were on their own, cast out to survive on whatever luck they had. The mother would leave them to their own devices and credibility, allowing them to survive on their limited yolk sacs until they learned to fend for themselves; or to be devoured. There were no friends in this hidden world, no allies to ask for support or help when danger or starvation threatened. It was a world where no smiles or mercy was given, a place where chivalry and kindness was a weakness and a deadly flaw.

  The highlands of Mars sometimes saw frost developing on the highest ground, but only under exceptional circumstances. A low atmospheric depression with a sharp rise in humidity was essential for its chilled appearance; otherwise it was always dry, cold and inhospitable. For this reason there was very little activity on the rocky and boulder-strewn surface. Mars had long ago been surveyed with the plan of inhabiting it as a secondary base from which to observe and visit planet Earth. Its extreme weather patterns meant any bases had to be underground, buried to escape the inhospitable and lethal elements above. Mars once had an abundance of water, great oceans and seas that covered much of the surface to enormous depths. Life had prevailed in its own blue liquid, where clouds would gather moisture, giving rise to precipitation over mountains where lakes would form in their shadow. It resembled the present Earth in its heyday, where forests gave shelter to animals and massive plains allowed herbivores to graze and migrate. The solar system’s solitary star had proved to be unstable in the earliest of times, where its temperatures and radiation levels fluctuated malevolently, without stability or consistency. Both Mars and the Earth fell foul of its frequent alterations, where changes caused the ambient temperatures and sea levels to alter with disastrous results to life and landmass alike. Mass extinctions would remove many species at once, with new specimens regularly appearing to take the place of
those that disappeared, almost as if a continuous fashion parade. Any one particular model could be lost for whatever reason, with another variant appearing not long afterwards. The latest design would adapt and evolve to suit the environment, while the least fit animals faded with inefficiency or as food. Earth’s singular moon had also been utilised as a forward base at a very early stage in humankind’s development. It was the perfect platform for observation and visits because it does not rotate about its own axis as viewed from Earth. It was also beyond the reach of the then present evolving and inquisitive mammals that roamed freely. But increasing leaps and bounds in technological advancements meant gradual and intricate exploration was guaranteed. The more recent and accomplished lunar exploration meant all extraterrestrial bases and equipment being removed, including magnetically disorientated material. Should any kind of anomaly be discovered on the lunar surface, or below, there would more than likely be suspicious speculation and theorising to why and how this might have occurred. The Greys were especially interested in keeping the human occupants on Earth ignorant, as far as evidence for extraterrestrial species was concerned. It was in their own personal and greedy interests to keep the human factions on the blue planet divided and fighting each other. This, they hoped, would bring about an end to humans’ unrepented destruction and their war-like dominance by extinction. The Grey Empire would make a dramatic entrance and take over without hesitation or concern, quickly neutralising any resistance to prevent organised hostility from any surviving human authority or government, while appearing to be saviours or deities from space. Grey gods to govern the meek. They would move in and take over under the pretext of helping holocaust survivors, eventually ruling with a merciless Grey-coloured iron grip.

  The most recent Grey venture was to provide a hybrid that shared human morphology with Grey intellect and appearance. What made the Grey Empire more determined than ever to replace humans on Earth was the fact that a crude human, a simple and ignorant organism, had destroyed an almost completed group of hybrids. The domination plan had been delayed because of this unforeseen action, which raised concerns that if one man could outwit and destroy a ship of the Empire, what could several million manage to do? The question worried many Greys beyond comprehension. To the higher Grey elite he was nothing but a puny intellect-lacking human male who had the pathetic nerve and audacity to take on the Empire. What he really succeeded in doing was upsetting them, making them more determined in their efforts to destroy all human life. His unplanned interruption of this vital project caused a massive rumpus across Grey space once the information of a wrecked ship and its destroyed crew reached certain quarters. The dignity and credibility of the Grey Empire was at stake. Should this information of destruction be leaked and supported by evidence, the strength of its reputation as a formidable and strong race would be weakened and misinterpreted. This insignificant ant of a being had to be captured and silenced immediately, with his severed body-parts and DNA used to complete the hybrid’s final construction. His two off-world human accomplices had already been captured and were presently held in cryogenic isolation. The female had been found to be undergoing an internal mutating transformation, whereupon a human offspring would have been the result of the newly formed zygote. This condition was confirmed as recent enough to be from the union of the female and the man in question. A decision was agreed-upon in the highest Grey Chambers, that the female would be the bait in a trap, the sweetest honey to attract the disease-carrying insect. Should the human colony, to which she belonged, decide to use him in a mission to search for the missing crew and ship, which was fully expected, he would be caught and appropriately disposed of. Any search and rescue attempt would have to be organised in absolute secrecy. Therefore, if this additional ship and crew went missing there would not be an outcry or any questions asked. There couldn’t be! They were not supposed to be there so no questions could be asked.

  Chapter six

  With the ship well on its way towards the Mothership, Belinda had received a communiqué informing her there was an increase in communications throughout the Grey Empire. It was recognised the increased radio traffic status coincided with the collection of Scott from his campsite on Earth, a mission that was supposed to be completely secret with no official record of the ship’s insertion into Earth’s system being registered or recorded. She considered the implications of the increased communications, recognising her secret mission wasn’t so secret after all. It had been observed and reported by unseen eyes. There were supposed to be no bases within Earth’s solar system since humans began sending unmanned exploration craft into deep space. The purpose of destroying craft that landed on other worlds could only be used as a last resort or temporary measure, until all traces of bases were destroyed and artefacts removed. Mars had been the main planet where exploratory vehicles were neutralised to prevent data being collated and transmitted while work was progressing. All traces of extraterrestrial operations and their effects were to have been removed completely, leaving no identifying marks or obvious signs. However, there had to be a hidden base somewhere, where the Greys could observe all craft as they entered and left the system, whether their own or otherwise. If that were true, they would have witnessed the destruction of the black ship as they attempted to apprehend Frell and Drang during the mission to return Scott to his island home. If this was the case, there was indeed a base close-by. This could mean Frell and Drang might be imprisoned there. Without any transmitted signatures from the organic transponders situated within their heads, and no relayed marker received from the ship’s unique organic memory bank, it could only mean they had not left and were still within the isolated solar system. There was a grave possibility that the lost ship was already dismantled, dismembered into its component elements. It might resemble nothing more than several unidentifiable blobs of purified metal and silicon. The energy field around and within the ship would have quickly discharged, decaying to a minimal capacity as its molecular structure would have undergone extreme changes, well outside its operational and safe limitations. There was much to do, Belinda thought to herself as she checked their present position on the overhead monitors.

  “Scott,” she asked. “Would you like to escort me to a cabin below decks?”

  “Mmm, just lead me to it,” he replied without hesitation. He thought this sounded like an offer of coffee… or something else, which he was keen to accept.

  The cabin’s door slid open with hardly a sound. Scott recalled the same event when he had been with Frell. A clear image of a tall woman with flowing golden hair started his complete memory return in haste. As he stepped into the small room, there was an indescribable sensation of déjà vu.

  It was just as he remembered it. The furniture with its metallic colours, the fabric with its revolting pattern completed the memory restoration.

  “Please, sit down,” she bid him with a hand.

  “Yes, please?” he asked. He knew what was coming; he remembered everything now. When he’d been transported to the Mothership about one year ago, he had been given a drink, a plain cup of water. He remembered it all, including his suspicions at the time that the water might have been drugged or poisoned. The memory-shrouding curtains of fog had finally dispersed, opened at last as the mists of confused haze cleared for ever. His memory was complete and the recollection of the past events restored.