Deadly Voyage (Logan Ryvenbark's Saga Book 1)

by Lavina Giamusso

  “When was the contact made?”

  “Only about fifty years ago. There is a continent below us called Asarus. The sea that separates Asarus from our land is only about a hundred miles wide. Several Aristolans crossed it a few centuries ago, but no one continued the explorations. As I said, we were content where we were. We had no reason to roam. But recently a few bands of explorers from my people did travel down to Asarus. They looked around, but the land was not populated. But about fifty years ago, Aristolans discovered Molochs on Asarus. How they got there I don’t know. With the Molochs there were no negotiations or talks or pleasant exchanges. They just began attacking. The Aristolans were fortunate to escape with their lives. But the Molochs followed them back to our land. I assumed they returned and told others of discovery. The Molochs then sent armies across the ocean for one purpose - to destroy my people.”

  “I’m curious, Jaclyn. Was there ever any communication between your people and the Molochs? Any negotiations or anything like that?”

  She shook her head. “From the tales I’ve heard, the initial contact was brief. Both groups backed away. I think the Aristolans instinctively knew that the beings they saw – I’m not sure I should call them human – were evil. They wanted nothing to do with the Molochs. They retreated, but the Molochs followed them. They must have tracked them to the sea and then saw the Aristolans sail toward home. It was not much later that we sent out scouts and discovered that more and more Molochs were coming into the southern continent. We always hoped the Molochs would stay there and not make war on us. But it was not to be.”

  “That’s incredibly odd. No communication, no talks, no attempts at any discussion. The Molochs simply declared all-out war on your people.”

  “Yes.” She reached over the table and squeezed my hand. “But now we have you and your men.”

  I found her story a tale difficult to believe. Not that Jaclyn would lie. I didn’t think she could. Or would. But she was also just repeating what she had been told. Maybe the truth became distorted in the telling.

  Not that I discounted the pure essence of evil. Every soldier has first-hand experience with evil in the world. It was thought at one time that military conflicts would decrease as civilization became more technologically advanced. Why this was believed is beyond me. I don’t see how even academics, which I don’t have a lot of respect for, would believe such foolishness. The 20th century was a time of great technological advancement, and then came World War II. If Stalin had obtained an atomic bomb first, I have no doubt he would have used it. In the 21st century ISIS appeared and brought a type of barbarity and savagery not seen since pagan days. Even Stalin probably would not have countenanced sexual slavery and crucifying children. Technology doesn’t remove evil from humans, but evil humans will use technology on behalf of their diabolic causes. I agree with Christians on one thing. Humans are a fallen race.

  “One more question, Jaclyn. There are rumors that there is another race on Vega. It’s said they don’t get around much, at least on the surface. They keep hidden, but they are the ones controlling the Molochs. You have any insight into that?”

  “Actually, although the Aristolans have no direct knowledge of such a race, we do have our suspicions. We existed a long time on Vega with no disturbance. After our first encounter with the Molochs, we noticed the tall ships that brought them to our part of the world, or at least to the continent south of us. We had never seen such ships before. We only have small vessels, like canoes, that might carry a half-dozen people. In contrast, the ships we saw carrying the Molochs were huge. We wondered where such ships came from. It’s doubtful the Molochs could have built them. For centuries they have shown no creativity. They have weapons, but they don’t seem capable of even building weapons. We have wondered if there is another race creating the weapons and building the ships for them. But if so, we have never seen them. We assume, if there is another race, they are across the ocean.”

  “If there is a second race helping out the Molochs, they are obviously more intelligent. So the question is, why would they hate you and want to wipe you out?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “But evil doesn’t necessarily need a reason, does it?”

  “No, it doesn’t.”

  Belen had been sending probes to the planet, but they focused on the Aristolans and beamed back military information. Perhaps I should ask her to divert a couple to the home continent of the Molochs. See if they could discover if there was an underground race living there.

  “Can you save us?” Jaclyn asked, disturbing my thoughts.

  “Military people will tell you there are no guarantees in war. But I think we have a good chance of winning. I think we can take your people to safety.”

  “Thank you.”

  She reached over and touched my forehead with her silky fingers. A gentle river of peace flowed from my mind through my body. The waves of serenity rippled through me, calming every nerve, erasing every problem. The tenseness I had felt about agreeing to the mission was washed away. I felt… as one with the universe, but a very individual part of the whole.

  “God bless you.” she said. “It is the peace of God that is in you. The peace that passes all understanding.”

  I barely nodded as she stood up and walked away. For the first time in my life I was in perfect harmony and in perfect peace. The planet could have exploded beneath my feet and it wouldn't have worried me.

  Two days later when I sat in Belen’s office I felt almost as peaceful. But I had a feeling the serenity wouldn’t last.

  It didn’t.

  I listened carefully as Belen detailed a possible galactic invasion. I wished Jaclyn were in the room so she could touch me again. Maybe she could touch the whole squad. I wondered just how much peaceful power she had in her fingertips.

  “If I told you that I have contacts in a variety of government agencies, and that the Federation has gone on red alert, would that alarm you?”

  “No. Because faced with our deadline, we can’t do much else. The Molochs are massing on the Aristolan perimeter. They may attack within a few days. That means we must set up our defensive perimeter as soon as we land on Vega. We can’t release the spray until the Molochs start marching. We may have a day to get set up, and then we engage. If we can wipe out the Moloch forces, we can dig the cities out without having to rush. Then get the weapons we need and get out.”

  “You’re not worried about a galactic invasion?”

  “We can hope to get in, defeat the Molochs, get to the cities, scoop up the weapons and exit before any possible invasion. The Federation will have to deal with any invasion. I have my own problems.”

  “Will you tell your men?”

  “Of course. And I will tell yours.”

  “What if they desert?”

  “I’ll shoot them. My men aren’t going anywhere. Your men seem to be pretty dedicated, too. They have Carmen’s endorsement, which says a lot. I’ve never known anyone or any group to get Carmen’s endorsement. Even me. We plan to leave tomorrow. We might want to push the departure up a bit, just to give us a little more time.”

  “I still hope to get in contact with Clay Starret and find out what he knew that set off all the ruckus.” Belen said.

  “But there have been rumors of such an invasion before and nothing happened. I have two real good friends in the Space Eagles, Commander Rembrante Cleed and Lt. Jade O’Malley”

  “The all-purpose force that gets all the dangerous missions?”

  “Yes, I was in the Eagles for a while. They have the highest security clearance. There have been rumors before, not that we wanted anyone to know. Thankfully, they turned out to be false. But the Federation is keeping a keen watch. A few of the very top officials have been uneasy for some time. I’m not being flippant and dismissing the threat. I hope it’s not true. But either way, our mission is set. We can’t delay it.”

  Belen lit a cigar and leaned back in her chair. “Does the Federation know what is
out there?”

  “No. They have bits and pieces of information. But the guys on the outer edge are very good men and women. They have collected enough info to give the top brass sleeping problems. They believe there is another race out there, venturing closer and closer to this galaxy. They've been nicknamed the Saturnians.”

  “Why would they want to invade?”

  I shrugged. “Why did Hitler and Stalin carve up Poland? Why did Stalin invade and take over the Baltic nations? It’s not a particularly complicated question, especially with Stalin. He ruled a huge nation, the largest on Earth. He seized three very little nations which couldn’t hurt the Soviet Union if they tried. He did it because he was evil and he served the evil god of communism. Maybe the Saturnians think the universe isn’t big enough for them and other races. It’s impossible to know what drives an alien mind.”

  “I agree with you. We can’t postpone our voyage. But let’s don’t waste one extra minute. Move up our departure time. Let’s get everybody aboard in two hours. Then we exit.”

  “All the supplies loaded?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’m sounding the alarm. Liftoff time is one hundred and twenty minutes. At T-minus 121 we’re heading for Vega.” She sighed. “If there is an invasion we could be wiped out.”

  “Let’s ask Jaclyn to start praying. I have a hunch she’s influential with the Almighty.”

  “Let’s hope so.” Belen said. “You have anything left to do?”

  “I’m going to have one more military conference.”

  “With who?”

  “With General Robert E. Lee.”

  She paused for a moment. “Yes, your ancestors came from the South, didn’t they?”

  “Yes, the Scots and Irish emigrated and embraced the South. A few moved down to Florida and a few mixed with the Seminoles. A number of my ancestors fought with Gen. Lee.”

  “And you think he might have good advice?”

  “He always has before.”

  “Your ancestors fought for the losing side, Logan. I hope you can turn that around.”

  Chapter 24

  The computer hummed and the simulation of Gen. Lee wore his full dress military uniform. He had worn it the day he surrendered to Gen. Grant at Appomattox. Grant, who had been busy directing his troops, wore his regular uniform, splattered by dirt and mud. Such behavior was typical for both men.

  Lee stood informally with his hand on the hilt of his saber. He nodded his head and smiled.

  “Major, how are you today?”

  “All things considered, I’m doing well. And you Gen. Lee?”

  “I’m fine. I have looked at your plans, Major.”

  “You see any problems? I will be fighting a defensive war, the kind that you are acquainted with.”

  “But I would not wish to be going up against your enemies. I fought a war against northern generals and a northern army but they were civilized. There are rules, even for war, and we tried to obey them. Your enemies in this campaign are utterly alien.”

  “How true. That’s why we must stop them on the Aristolan border. If we don’t, there will be a bloodbath.”

  “Yes, I agree with all your preparations. Seems you have thought of everything.”

  “I try. I go over battle plans again and again, and still I worry that I might have missed something. Or forgotten something. Or left something out.”

  Lee smiled as he walked back and forth. “I understand your concerns, Major. That’s the worry of every commander. But I don’t think you have missed anything. You have tested your lethal mist and it works. I would think, even with the sub-human army you are fighting, that once they know they will die entering the valleys, they will retreat.”

  “I hope.” I said.

  “Even an animal steers away from a place where he smells danger. Those creatures you are fighting should pull back when they realize they won’t survive an attack.”

  “I keep thinking of that old axiom ‘Don’t assume your enemy thinks the way you do.’ That’s even truer when dealing with aliens. It’s especially true when dealing with the Molochs.”

  “Besides your squad, are the other men with you well trained? Are they fit for battle?”

  “For the limited amount of experience they’ve had I’d say they are very good. I think they have courage and will stand their ground. A soldier in my squadron praised them, and Carmen doesn’t give out many compliments. Perhaps she’s mellowing, but even if she is, she still has a good military mind.”

  “Then I wish you the best, Major. I hope you come back with a victory. If you lose, your opponent will not be as gracious as General Grant.”

  Chapter 25

  For a ride that was thought impossible just a few centuries ago, the interstellar trip was very smooth. The distance was not only daunting to early space pioneers, but later doctors realized that time in space was devastating to the human body. Bone density would deteriorate and there were other medically deleterious effects, too. Space travel, as far as anyone could foresee or predict, was out of the question. It was too dangerous and too difficult. And, to be honest, impossible.

  But man has always had the knack of accomplishing the impossible. It took time, effort and many lives but he finally achieved the impossible. Not every race has. For that matter, some races have never risen above the level of primitives. They are still herding around campfires the same way they did a thousand years ago. Progress is not inevitable. It is rather unique. And to this day, no scientist is 100 percent sure what gives some races a leg up on the technological ladder. Some races discovered interstellar transport about the time humans did but a number of other races have never made it past first grade on the civilization scale.

  I sat in my office with Belen and Rab. We sipped drinks as we talked.

  “My suggestion is that as soon as we get to Vega we start loading the Aristolans in the shuttles. It will take at least ten days to two weeks to get them all up. We can construct our defensive perimeter while they are being loaded. If worst comes to worst and we are overrun, at least some, if not all, of the natives will already be on the ships. You can head for their new home.” I told them.

  “I agree.” Belen said.

  “The second thing we do is unload the Earthmovers and get them digging as soon as possible. How deep are the cities?”

  “Twelve miles below the surface. It shouldn’t take long for the Earthmovers to get us there. Another day or so to vacuum away the sand and we should be able to go down.”

  “Any indication of what types of weapons the cities hold?”

  “We ran scans, but there’s not enough information coming back to give us any details of the weapons. Since the cities were extraordinarily advanced, we have to assume the weapons are, too.”

  But that doesn’t mean we will know how to use them.” Rab said. “On Sollral the civilization died more than a thousand years ago. There are artifacts that we think are weapons but we still have no idea how to use them - even though we’ve been studying them for a hundred years.”

  “They were odd-looking creatures. No wonder they had odd-looking weapons.” I said. “But you'd think they would have been nice enough to leave behind some instruction manuals.”

  “Even if they had, we probably couldn’t read them.” Rab said.

  “No, but archeologists have decoded many odd languages on Earth. They might be able to decipher the Sollral alphabet.”

  Rab shook his head. “It’s not just the weapons. We can’t understand any of their technology.”

  “That’s a chance we have to take with the underground cities on Vega. If there are weapons there, the Deltans need them. Perhaps they will be so powerful the Critts will give up their war plans. The best way to win a war is to have weapons so powerful you can avoid a conflict.” I said.