The Andromedan Saga (Among the Stars Book 1)

by C. O. Amal

  “Ok then.” Graham said.

  “Pod doesn’t detected other life forms yet. But there are lot of flora we can see from here. In fact the whole place is filled with trees. Nano robots have analysed the air and it seems that it is perfectly breathable to us. Atmospheric gas levels are similar to that of earth.” Josh said looking at the monitor which is displaying the whole details about the planet.

  “So is this the first animal we have seen?” Graham said looking at the image of the human-ape on the control panel.

  “Yes. It seems that it is perfectly harmless.” Captain said. “Prepare your research team doctor. We are going to land our ship on the planet’s surface. Jimmy, find me a place to park our ship.” Captain said with a deep breath.

  “Land somewhere near the origin of transmission.” Said Thomas.

  Thomas given his tablet in which the coordinate from where the initial transmission has originated is depicted.

  “I will find someplace near there.” Jimmy said looking at Thomas’ tablet.

  The ship entered the Planet Green’s orbit. It moved toward a hilly region. Then the ship entered in to the planet’s atmosphere. Ship steadily moved through the clouds. Ship halted in mid-air in a place surrounded by mountains. Captain commandeered the ship to the middle of the region where surface is more planar. Ship landed with a heavy thud. Josh switched off the engines.

  Captain moved toward the second level where everyone was waiting. When he reached there everyone turned toward him so everyone could hear what he is going to say.

  “We have landed some place near the initial transmission. We have checked the atmosphere and it is found to be perfectly breathable to us. So no need to worry.” Captain said.

  Everyone took a deep breath of satisfaction. Soldiers are armed to the teeth.

  “Everyone go to the hangar where vehicles are arranged. Vehicles are specifically designed to carry out researches. I will be staying with the ship with my pilots.” Captain said.

  “I am staying here too.” Thomas said. “There is no need of me out there, after all I am an Astrophysicist.”

  Captain smiled.

  “Sir I will be going with Samson’s group. Is there any problem with that?” Jenny asked Thomas.

  “Not at all. You go ahead and explore the planet.”

  Jenny walked towards Samson. Samson grabbed her hand and they both starts to walk toward the ship’s hangar.

  Hangar is filled with heavy duty vehicles both military and research vehicles. There are about twenty vehicles in there. Ship’s ramp opened. Thick air flowed inside the ship from outside. The planet’s land scape is spectacular. Judging from the atmospheric condition and the position of sun, it is morning.

  Researchers took necessary equipment from ship’s research wing and reached the ship’s hangar. Everyone got inside their vehicles. At the far corner of the ship’s hangar lay rows and rows of diesel barrels.

  They started their vehicles and five heavy duty military truck rolled out of the ship into the Green planet’s soil. Far away near the foot hills small houses can be seen and also a large structure possibly a hospital can be seen.

  Part 3: The Green Planet

  Chapter 11

  Locovilla, Green Planet

  Trucks stopped in front of a group of houses similar to the cul-de-sac on earth. Soldiers got outside first, followed by a team of researchers from the last truck. These soldiers are leaded by Corporal Sandy.

  Sandy leaded them to a near house. The house is entirely made of wood. Trees are on both sides of the house. They entered the house. The house is similar to a house on earth. House’s interior is decorated by wall murals. Big lights are hanging from the sealing. The house is small.

  It seems that power is still working. The lights in the house were all switched on all this time. Soldiers went deeper in to the house. The house’s kitchen is small. Plates are neatly stacked on the far corner. Still no sign of life. No blood mark. Nothing. The house is empty. Soldiers start to go outside the house. Sandy take a look at the clock on the wall. It says 9:45 AM.

  The inhabitants indeed use English as their common language. Sandy went outside the house. Researchers are analysing the soil and the nearby trees. They are taking samples of everything too.

  Soldiers walked to the heart of the town. Street sign indicated that they are on a town named Locovilla. The street is similar to a street on earth. This place is everything like a twin of earth except that this planet is filled with trees. One can see tree everywhere on this planet. Earth don’t have trees this much. Earth is filled with buildings and other artificial structures. Green planet’s residents are an advanced civilizations no doubt about that.

  At the time the soldiers and researchers reached the heart of the town, others in the remaining trucks also got outside. Researchers are looking at the trees with excitement. Suddenly Sandy’s team detected some movement in the back of a house. They carefully went to the back of the house pointing the assault rifles. Some soldiers have big guns which shot plasma bolts.

  Finally they reached the back of the house. At the back of the house were a human-ape similar to the one detected by the surveillance pod back at the ship. Researchers carefully approached the creature with excitement and wonder.

  The creature is perfectly harmless and it stared at the researches who are approaching it. The creature’s eye also indicate a wonder.

  “Be careful, that thing may get aggressive.” Sandy said.

  Researchers reached near the creature and one of them slowly touched it. The creature stepped back to the far corner. One of the researchers approached near it and take out a Genometer. He carefully pressed the needle of the Genometer on to the hand of the creature. It growled with pain. The researcher quickly draw back the Genometer. The screen of the Genometer came alive and it showed the structure of the creature’s DNA.

  “It shows that this creature is a distant relative of human.” One of the researcher said.

  The creature rubbed where the pain has come with its other hand. Fortunately the creature didn’t become aggressive instead it backed away with fear.

  “Come here kitty, kitty.” One scientist said playfully.

  The creature looked at him with wonder.

  “I am sorry…Did I hurt you?” The scientist said.

  “What do we call it?” Another researcher said.

  “We can call it Terrata” The scientist said with a grin.

  Other scientists smiled with that. Samson came near Sandy. Jenny was with him.

  “What do we have here?” Samson asked Sandy.

  “It’s a living being. Scientists called it Terrata. It looks like a monkey to me.” Sandy said.

  “Ok. If you guys are finished with it check the rest of the houses.” Samson said.

  “Ok, sergeant.” Sandy said.

  Jenny and Samson returned to their truck. Other researchers with them also followed Samson into the truck. They drove the truck deep into the city. Houses are on both sides of the road. The road is made with tar and stones similar to earth’s roads.

  “So where are we going to?” Jenny asked Samson.

  “We are going to the origin of the initial transmission.” Samson said.

  ***

  Captain watched his people’s movement on the ship’s control panel. Everyone has been injected with a tracker so that captain could watch over them from the ship.

  “So how things are going?” Thomas asked the captain.

  “It seems they encountered one of the human-ape thing again. They are now searching all the houses.” Steven said.

  “This place is filled with trees.” Thomas said.

  “I noticed that too.” Steven said.

  Sandy and his team entered inside a two story house.

  “Justin, you go and search the upper level.” Sandy commanded.

  ‘Ok.” Justin answered.

  Justin and four other soldiers moved to the upper level of the house. The scenery from the upper window is
marvellous. Justin could see all the surrounding houses from there. The upper level have three rooms. They checked each room. Still no sign of humans. The tables are filled with dust. It hasn’t cleaned in a while.

  Researchers also got inside the house. They watched the house’s interior decoration with astonishment. The resident’s photos are pasted on the wall. It seems like they are similar to humans on earth. They could tell the difference only if they got a DNA sample from one of them. One of the researcher went inside the kitchen and opened the tap. Water flowed from it. He took a sample from the tap, and placed it inside a device. The device’s screen showed that it is in fact pure water.

  The house’s equipment all are in working condition. Nothing happened to them even though it’s being long since they have operated. On the far corner of the living room was a personal computer. One scientist switched on the computer. It booted in seconds. It showed a window to enter password for the PC. The scientist turned back with unsatisfied eye.

  Rows of books are neatly placed in a shelf. One scientist took one book and flipped through the pages. Books are not different from an earthen book. He put back the book and searched the remaining house.

  After the search inside the house is complete everyone got outside and walked toward their truck. In the distant a dog barked. Everyone looked in the direction from which the sound came. Everyone got inside the truck and the driver drove it toward the origin of the sound. Truck stopped when they saw the origin of the sound. It was a small regular dog. One of the scientist and a soldier got outside the truck and walked toward the dog. The dog stayed still and watched them with wonder. The scientist approached the dog and petted it. The dog seemed to like his touch. He carefully takeout his Genometer and pressed it against the dog’s body. The dog growled and then remained silent.

  The Genometer showed that this dog is similar to an earthen dog and there is no appreciable amount of difference.

  The scientist take the dog in his hand and moved toward the truck. When he reached the truck he given the dog to another scientist. The scientist accepted it and placed the dog inside the truck. The dog remained silent.

  “Are you sure you want to keep that thing?” Sandy asked to the scientist who is petting the dog.

  “We may need to analyse it thoroughly.” The scientist answered.

  Everyone got inside the truck and moved toward the next town. On the way they passed a hospital.

  “Stop the truck. We need to search the hospital.” Sandy said to the driver.

  The driver stopped the truck and put it in reverse until they see the entrance of the hospital. Driver switched off the engine. Everyone got outside the truck and moved toward the hospital. The board in front of the hospital read Victoria Hospital.

  First soldiers entered the hospital with gun at ready. Researchers followed the soldiers. Justin and one other soldier stood at the entrance watching for any movement. Rest of them moved deeper in to the hospital. Still no sign of human presence. They passed a drug store on the way. One of the scientist got inside the drug store. Drugs are littered on the floor indicating some struggle. He checked some of the drugs. Those drugs were similar to an earthen drug.

  “So doctor you see anything useful.” Sandy asked to Graham who was silent whole this time.

  “I have seen nothing unusual.” Said Graham.

  Suddenly the hospital is filled with Justin’s scream and a gun fire.

  Chapter 12

  Locovilla Hospital, Green Planet

  Justin’s high pitch scream filled the air. Sandy and team quickly paced to the entrance of the hospital pointing their assault rifles. Gunfire became silent. Sandy rushed. When they reached there all they could see was blood accumulated on the ground like a small pond. Researchers covered their mouth with their hands in shock and panic. Justin’s sound no longer can be heard. Other soldier is also missing. Their guns lay near the blood spots.

  Sandy and rest of the soldiers searched the surrounding environment of hospital but they didn’t found anything good.

  Sandy switched on his radio. “Captain Do you copy?” Sandy asked through the radio.

  “Yes. This is the Captain speaking.” Captain said.

  “This is Sandy speaking and I need location of Justin and Smith immediately.” Sandy said.

  After a long pause “Their trackers indicate that they are on your left side. They are moving around a structure. Is everything alright?” Captain said.

  “We heard their scream and a gunfire. But when we get to the spot all we saw is blood.” Sandy said through the radio. “Send me their location on my tab.”

  “We will send you their location.” Captain said.

  Sandy switch on his tab which was strapped to his wrist. It took minute to connect. Then it start to show the location of two of his soldiers as green dots. Sandy and team followed the trail. Researchers got inside the truck and shut its door.

  Soldiers moved through the back of the hospital. A wall was separating the back of the hospital with rest of the buildings. Soldiers carefully climbed the wall. Tracker indicate that Justin and Smith are inside a building which is located near the wall. Soldiers rounded a corner and entered in to the building. Coagulated blood can be seen on the floor. Something is dragged through here. Blood is everywhere. Soldiers trained their guns at a collapsed door. One soldier went in front and made sure it is secure. Then others followed him. Trackers indicate that they are close.

  A distant growl sound can be heard. Sandy and team quietly moved toward the source of the sound. They reached a room with glass window on the wall. They looked through the window. The image in front of them horrified them. Two large wolf-dog hybrid they saw on the video back on earth is eating two mutilated corpses, possibly Justin and Smith. Their uniform verified that.

  Sandy motioned his hand indicating his mates to takeout the creatures. Sam came forward with his plasma gun. He pointed and shoot one of the creature. With a loud thud the creature dropped. Other creature growled and rushed toward Sam. Sam lost his grip on the gun with fear. His fellow mates start to fire their assault rifles. All the bullets hit the creature on the chest but that only slowed the creature. Soldiers continue to fire until they run out of their mag on the gun. But the creature still stands but it is almost dead. Then Sam adjusted his plasma gun and fired. The creature dropped with a wide hole in its chest.

  Sandy and team approached the mutilated corpses and Sandy collected the tags of Justin and Smith. They cannot carry their body to ship. Not like this. Corpses are missing limbs and the chewed piece of a hand lay near the corpses.

  Soldiers covered their mouth with their hand in horror.

  “They didn’t deserve to die like this…” One of the soldier said.

  “Nobody deserve to die like this…” Sandy said.

  Suddenly a movement caught Sandy’s eyes. More creature are coming at them presumably attracted by the gunfire.

  “More creatures inbound. Everyone retreat back to the truck.” Sandy yelled.

  Everyone changed their mag and ran out of the building. Creatures are behind them. They have not yet seen them. Creatures possibly is running towards the origin of sound. Soldiers quickly climbed the wall and ran to the front of the hospital where the truck is parked. Creatures jumped through the wall and are almost at them.

  “Open the truck door.” Sandy yelled at the driver.

  Driver hit the button which opens the truck’s back door. The backdoor opened with a loud thud. Soldiers got inside the truck. When the driver made sure everyone was inside he pressed the button to close the back door. The door closed just in time. Creatures collided with the back door with heavy thud. Creatures then began to thrash at the doors. Door almost bent inward. Researchers start to scream.

  “Take us back to the ship. Our guns won’t work against them, we need plasma guns to cut them down.” Sandy yelled at the driver.

  Driver masterly turned the vehicle toward where they came and accelerated. The truck rolled out at full
speed.

  “This is Sandy speaking, anyone copy.” Sandy said through the radio.

  “This is Samson, I copy you. What’s the situation?” Samson asked through the speaker.

  “Some creatures are on us. Wolf-dog hybrid ones. Our assault rifles aren’t working at them. Justin and Smith are dead. We are going back to the ship to collect more weapons. How copy?” Sandy said.

  “Loud and clear. Please proceed.” Samson said and the radio went silent.

  One of the soldier opened the roof of the truck and watched for the creatures. Creature can be seen far beyond. They are still running toward them. There are about ten of them. Sandy switched the channel on his radio.