Antekirk nodded. “Black comet” was the nickname given to comets that telescopes had difficulty picking up. Some scientists theorized that they came from beyond the galaxy and picked up some substance, unknown by scientists, that obscured them to monitoring devices. Antekick didn’t know if that was true, but it was as good an explanation as any. Because of this, ‘black comets’ could sneak up on you. One night you couldn’t see it and the next night it appeared – at least in telescopic views – like a bomber diving toward its target. This comet was large enough to destroy a planet. Thankfully, it wasn’t heading for Tertullan.
“How long before it hits?” he asked.
“It’s difficult to tell with any degree of accuracy. Not only are black comets difficult to pick up, it’s also very difficult to determine their speed. From the little we know about them, their speed seems to fluctuate, increasing at times and decreasing at other times, which has mystified scientists. There is currently no explanation for the phenomenon.”
“Then give me your best prediction.”
“It could strike Vega, or at least pass very close by, in about 31 days.”
“I see.”
“But that prediction only has a 67 percent chance of being accurate. There are too many variables in this case.”
“Estimate of the damage?”
“The planet has a massive north pole, twice the size of the pole on this planet. It is estimated that the comet will hit close by in the ocean, possibly melting the ice cap and flooding the planet. Even if it missed the planet, it would pass so close there would be cataclysmic repercussions.”
Chapter 27
Our robotic workmen made good time in constructing a temporary headquarters on Vega. My office was almost as good as the one back on the ship. But this one had a better view. The Aristolan camp, at least one of them, was right next to a lake, with mountains in the distance. It was mid-morning before the robots got started, but the pink color beyond the mountains made me think of a sunset. The pink rays reflected off the white tips of snow on the peaks. Various trails winded through the green forests. The lake was choppy today, with the waves breaking against the rocks on the shore. There was no sand on the banks, just rocks.
I had all of my squad and half of Belen’s men down on the surface when she asked me to meet with the chief of the Aristolans. I told her I didn’t mean to be impolite, but I first wanted to do some aerial reconnaissance and see firsthand what we were up against. Told her I’d be back in about an hour.
Carmen secured the pilot seat in the copter and I squeezed in beside her. The copter zoomed noiselessly as it left the ground. The only sound was the wind bristling by us as we climbed. The border of the Aristolan's land stretched about fifty miles to the south, but it didn’t take us long go get there. Copters are quick.
“You named the mountains A, B, and C, Major, and we’re heading to B, the one in the middle.” she said.
“Fine. I imagine they all look about the same.”
“I think A is a bit higher and C is larger, but not noticeably so.” She turned to me. “You plan on us landing?”
“No. All I want to do is aerial reconnaissance. I’ve seen computer simulations of them, but I want to look at the real thing.”
“Say no more.”
She increased speed and the ground became a blur beneath us. Flat barren land stretched for twenty miles. It reminded me of Wyoming back on Earth. The state has long stretches of ugly, harsh real estate, with mountains in the background and howling winds on breezy days. Miles of gray barrenness, just like this section of Vega.
The mountains, though, were lush, as were the valleys between them. Some sprouts of green showed through the gray ground about ten miles in front of the mountains. The land gradually become greener and greener. The valleys stretched twenty miles across, which was plenty of room for an army. Instead of the flat land behind, the valley rolled like a series of waves on the ocean. That would make it more difficult terrain for an army. Few trees in the valley. It was nice to know the area would still be green after we used the mist. Of course, all the dead bodies of the Molochs would mar the scenery…
“Seen enough, sir?”
“Let’s go around one more time. Do we know how far away the Molochs are?”
Carmen checked a few gauges. “Fifteen miles to the south we have a whole lot of people. I’m guessing it’s the Molochs. Not moving though. Right now looks like they’re standing still.”
“That’s good news. Let’s swing by and take a look at them. Let’s go high. I’ll use the binoculars.”
“OK, hang on.”
Carmen swerved and the copter zoomed south. I eased back in my seat until the army came into fuzzy view. I raised the binoculars to my eyes and was shocked. Everything said about the Molochs – and none of it was complimentary – appeared to be true.
I focused on a half-dozen around a campfire. It was a chilly day and the wind had kicked up after we left the mountains behind. The Molochs had no winter clothing. Just a rough shirt of fur covering their chests and loins. Wide, rough eyes, large noses and nostrils, teeth that looked like they could chomp through a small animal. Several had sharp lower incisors that stuck out of their mouths. Black hair waving in the wind. Contorted features that made them look incredibly savage. I saw no discernible intelligence. Although they walked on two legs, I couldn’t see them as men, but as animals. Well, not even animals.
“Not the snappiest dressers we’ve ever seen.” Carmen said.
“Do they freeze in winter?”
“Doubtful, that skin looks tough.”
I looked through the binoculars again. So it did. Tough as leather. Dark brown. Ugly. I hoped ugly would not be a defense against our mist - which was being loaded as we were in the air.
I looked south and the valley was covered with humanity. The Moloch army stretched for miles, farther than I could see. One brown blur of ugliness and savagery. I shook my head.
“Where are their leaders? They don’t seemed to be organized in any way.”
“Good question, Major. But I don’t have an answer. I’m only the driver.” Carmen said.
“Who directs them? And why are they trying to exterminate the Aristolans? An army assumes some intelligence, but I see no intelligence here. No coordination. No… no nothing.”
“I agree, sir.”
Even at rest, an army looks like an army. Even when it’s camping for a few days before another march or advance. There is an organization to it. It is not a headless animal twisting in the wind. But this mass of Molochs were. It didn’t make any sense. They had weapons, but very primitive ones. Most carried spears. Several of them had knives tied to a leather belt. But that was all. Knives and spears. An army on foot. No transportation. Either there were no equivalent of horses on this plant, or the Molochs were lousy riders. Which was fine with me. I would hate killing all those horses with the mist. I liked horses. Hadn't had a chance to ride for years, but I enjoyed galloping on my stallion Thunder when time permitted.
“We have our scanners on them. I want those videos sent directly to my command office 24 hours a day.”
“May not be too entertaining, sir. Doesn’t look like they’re doing much.”
“If it stays that way, fine. Let them continue to do nothing. Let’s head back, Carmen.”
“Yes, sir. They haven’t even noticed us.”
What she said was true. No Moloch even looked up. They kept that singularly dumb gaze like a herd of tranquilized bulls.
After Carmen landed I walked to the military center. Captain Anders sat behind four large screens. He glanced at one and then the other and made low, satisfied sounds. He was a pale guy who would burn if he spent more than twenty minutes in the sun. He sucked on a red strawberry licorice stick. He was addicted to them like I was to cigars. The candy moved up and down in his mouth as he chewed.
“Captain, I don’t mean to tell you your business…” I began.
“Of course you do, Major. That’s what officers are f
or.” he said.
“Yes, you’re right. You did a physiological scan of our enemies, didn’t you?”
He nodded and flicked a button. On one of the screens I saw the Molochs shaded in blue. Around was a red outline. A pale beating red heart pumped inside each of the blue figures.
“Getting heat off them?” I asked.
“Yes. Just as we would with any sentient species. They may not look like much, but they do appear to be human - or were human once. Maybe they degenerated. Races can do that. Civilizations can too. A great civilization can decay and expire in fifty years. Decline always seems to go faster than advances. In our galaxy there are more failed decayed civilizations than there are prospering ones.”
I glanced at the screens again. “If our blue friends ever had a civilization they certainly went downhill.”
“How true.”
“Can you tell me anything about them? What they eat? How they should act? I’ve never seen anything like these things before.”
“The galaxy is full of surprises, Major, some of them not pleasant. In fact, most of them are not pleasant.” He shook his head. “I can’t give you any details about them. That’s not what this equipment is for.”
I tapped the screen and frowned.
“You don’t look happy, Major. You look downright irritated.”
“I get irritated when I can’t explain things and I don’t have all the answers. I only have very few of the answers and I don’t like it. If you only have a little information, then unexpected and nasty surprises can happen. I don’t like surprises.”
“I understand, Major. But if you don't like surprises you shouldn’t have chosen the military as a profession.”
I tapped him on the shoulder. “Very true, Captain. Very true. But it’s too late to change.”
Belen brought Dalvros, the leader of the Aristolans, into my command post fifteen minutes after I returned to base. He looked young, despite a white beard, and almost beamed when he smiled. For some reason, the white beard didn’t age him. I kept thinking it was the beard of a 22-year old. He flashed brilliant black eyes. He wore a semi-toga with sandals on his feet. The handshake was strong, reminding me of a 22-year-old again. He and Belen sat down. I sensed something of the power that Jaclyn displayed in him, too. But he didn’t look intimidating.
“Major, I want to thank you for coming to help. As you know, our race has not developed space technology or space flight. To leave this planet we will need ships.”
“Belen has those. We will be transporting your people immediately.”
“Again, my appreciation. You are risking your life for us, and we honor that sacrifice.”
“Well, it’s my job. And I do it well.”
“I’m sure you do, Major.”
I leaned back in my chair. Whoever had constructed the office had left me a cushioned, black office chair. Very comfortable. I reached to the desk and picked my pack of cigars.”
“Don’t mind if I smoke, do you?”
“Of course not.”
I lit one and stuck it in my mouth. I took a deep puff, then blew out the smoke.
“Dalvros, you have an amazing race here. I’ve never seen anything like them. You will be a great revelation to the rest of the cosmos.”
Dalvros nodded.
“I’m very glad I signed on for this voyage, although this is getting stranger and stranger. I see a lot of currents I don’t understand yet, a lot of things swirling around.”
He nodded again.
I put my elbows on the desk and leaned over slightly. “I’m glad we’re here to help, but, Mr. Dalvros, the more I think about it, the more I feel you didn’t really need any help, at least not against the Molochs. You may need help getting off the planet but not against your enemy. Not that we aren’t glad to contribute.”
“Logan, what makes you say that?” Belen asked.
Dalvros just sat smiling. He had ancient eyes. Ancient eyes that appeared to know everything that was going on.
“I have several Christians in my squadron.” I said. “I’ve seen amazing things happen to them. They have their holy book called the Bible. It is wrong to say that Jesus, who they believe is the son of God, preached non-violence. He was not a pacifist although he did say that if someone smites you on the cheek, turn to him the other cheek. There is also in the scriptures Psalm 91, called the Psalm of protection. I imagine you have something like it here on Vega.”
“We do, major. We have our own scriptures, possibly very much like the Bible you speak of. There are protection verses in there, too.”
“Psalm 91 says 'a thousand will fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes to see the punishment of the wicked.'”
“Sounds similar to a verse we have.”
“Jesus didn’t turn the other cheek except when he was arrested and tried. Then, as the good book says, he was as a lamb to a slaughter.”
Belen looked mildly surprised. “For a man who’s not a Christian, you know a lot of scripture, Logan.” she said.
“I’ve read most of the great books, and I’ve tried to understand them. Also talked with the Christians in my squadron. But before he was arrested Jesus simply walked away or through the crowds. They wanted to kill him but… was he quoting Psalm 91? He just walked through them, and they couldn’t touch him. In fact, he could have walked away the night he was arrested. When he was asked which man was Jesus, he said, “I am he” and the power of his words knocked all the soldiers to the ground. He could have gone his way, but it was time for his mission to be fulfilled. Since your race has never fallen, Dalvros, I assume you have the same power available to you as Jesus did. What would command of the Molochs? 'Get out!' And they would all fall away?”
“If it came to that, Major. But our race has never faced as great a challenge as we see now. I am concerned that if the battled waged, some of our members would faint, get into fear and…”
“Get into sin and cease to be unfallen?”
“Such a thought has passed through my mind.”
“Two million savage mutants heading your way might cause a few people to stumble in their faith.”
“I’m not sure we have the faith to take them all, Major. Which is why I’m very glad you’re here, and your ships, of course.”
“They’re not mine. You can thank Belen for that.”
Belen smiled. “We’re glad to help. We will begin transporting your people up tomorrow.”
I looked at Dalvros again. “In your holy book, is there any history of the planet? Is there anything written about the Molochs, or about a possible other race on the planet?”
“No, Major. Our book is only about spiritual guidance. However, there are tales, myths, and legends about the origin of the races. But not enough to put together a narrative. Just bits and pieces of long ago stories lost in time.”
“I would like to hear them anyway.” I said. I stuck my cigar back in my mouth and chewed on it while Dalvros talked.
“Since these tales are not in our holy book, I cannot vouch for them. I have no confirmation of their authenticity. It has been repeated down through the years that when men and women on Vega were created there were actually two races created. The same basic races but with minor differences. Our race was one of them. The other race was across the sea on another continent. We followed the rules laid down for us by our Creator. The second race did not. They rebelled and brought death and violence upon this planet. Their science became perverted. They used all their skills and technology for evil. They were given the choice between darkness and light, between good and evil, between life and death. They choose darkness and evil. All of them. By that time they were so corrupted none of them chose life or goodness. That was a time when the Creator was still very much involved in his creation.
Deadly Voyage (Logan Ryvenbark's Saga Book 1) Page 18