Henry Gallant Saga 2: Lieutenant Henry Gallant

by H. Peter Alesso

  They desperately needed to monitor the departing Titans as well as investigate the planet below, but that merely added to the endless series of needs to fill. Gallant said, “We’re going to need Deuterium and Tritium for our fusion reactors. We need to extract heavy water from the only source within eleven light-years—those oceans below. We’ll also need to construct an accelerator to generate antimatter and dark matter. That’s only the basics. We’ll need to build a major mining and manufacturing facility on the planet.”

  Howard shook his head, bewildered.

  “We’ll need heavy transuranic metals as well.”

  “Transuranic?”

  “We’re going to build anti-ship missiles with nuclear tipped warheads,” said Gallant. “Once we get our fusion reactors and antimatter production, we can generate dark matter to power our FTL, but we’re going to need the local population to help.

  CHAPTER 10

  IS ANYONE THERE?

  “Spaceship, identify yourself. Spaceship, identify yourself.”

  The Intrepid was forced to ignore the repetitious broadcast while it maintained orbit over the earthlike plane. The endless repairs which included the communication equipment encompassed their full attention. The crew worked feverishly to care for their wounded comrades and battered ship. With so many men undergoing surgery and rejuvenation therapy, they were shorthanded carrying out the extensive repair regimen.

  The signal emanated from the large island chain consisting of six large mountainous islands crossing from the planet’s temperate into its tropical zone. Active volcanoes spilled lava into the nearby ocean, which quickly cooled and pulverized the rock into black-sand beaches. However, this was no black, crater-pitted wasteland, such as appeared on the moons of Jupiter where the Intrepid was first launched. Instead, oceans, rivers, and mountainous archipelagoes ranged across this planet. Most of the large islands had wild tropical landscapes with a number of pristine white-sand beaches.

  From the initial reconnaissance, the crew had learned the planet’s inhabitants occupied a single community with mainly residential structures in a cluster along the southern shoreline on the largest island—the only visible settlement on the main tropical island chain. A few industrial buildings and factories were on the settlement’s outer perimeter. The rest of the planet’s land masses appeared barren of people, but they were teeming with other forms of life. The inhabitants seemed to embrace the splendors of island sun-soaked beaches as a true tropical oasis. Along the volcanic areas were vast jungles and tropical vegetation. Towering palm trees overlooked sparkling bays and a warm tropical wonderland filled with stunning waterfalls.

  The broadcast went unanswered as it repeated relentlessly, hour after hour, for days. The crew toiled over its urgent priorities until finally the communication equipment was once again functioning.

  “Pin-point the communication source,” ordered Neumann.

  “Here, sir,” reported the radio operator. A moment later, he pointed to a spot on his virtual screen. The screen was a bright image floating above the burnt and disfigured electrical equipment generating it. Around the screen were fragments of mechanical parts strewn together Rube Goldberg fashion. Nevertheless, the array was operating.

  “How long have they been broadcasting?”

  “Continuously for 120 hours, sir, ever since the battle. Imaging capability from orbit has been able to resolve individual people, and, by using thermal-imaging on individual houses, it can see how many people are inside each room.”

  “What’s the total population?”

  “We were able to count about twenty-four thousand individuals within the community. There may be others farther inland, however.”

  “How many structures are there?”

  “There are about seven thousand inhabited dwellings along with numerous buildings, probably for commerce and industry. Also there are several thousand vehicles of all kinds from single-riders to mass-transport vehicles.”

  “Our battle must have created quite a stir on Tau-Beta. The population of the colony must have had enough capability to observe a great deal of the battle through telescopes, but the nuclear explosions would have been visible to the naked eye.”

  A few minutes later the radioman frowned, made an adjustment and then spoke. “Sir, we’re being radar scanned again. And the general radio transmission is being rebroadcast. We’ve been monitoring the planet’s communications and they continue to speak only standard United Planets’ dialect.”

  “It is all native UP language?”

  “Yes, sir. There is considerable local communication and it’s all in native UP language.”

  “Humans using standard UP, what do you make of it, Gallant?” asked Neumann.

  “The planet’s surface revealed the individuals of this civilization are human. We have to consider the possibility these humans are from own solar system, captured by the Titans and transported here sometime in the last two centuries,” speculated Gallant.

  “Humph,” was all Neumann responded.

  “We’ve got communications operating at minimal capability now, sir. I suggest we contact them and see if they can be of any help with our repairs,” suggested Gallant.

  “If they’re cooperative,” said Neumann.

  “Maybe we can arrange to trade with them.”

  “We don’t know what kind of relationship they had with the Titans,” said Neumann.

  Gallant addressed the radioman, “Still nothing?” And watched as the radioman and shook his head negatively.

  He said, “Nothing sir. I thought there was another radar scan a moment ago, but it appears to have gotten lost in the static.”

  Unperturbed, Gallant said, “Keep looking for the source of the scanning.”

  The broadcast message continued to blare. “Spaceship, identify yourself. Spaceship, identify yourself.”

  “Can you raise them on a direct communication channel to someone in authority?” asked Neumann.

  “I’m sure I can. One minute, sir,”

  A minute later, communication was established. The radio operator indicated Neumann was connected and could speak.

  “This is the United Planets’ ship, Intrepid, Lieutenant Commander Neumann commanding.”

  “This is Cyrus Wolfe, President of the Planetary Council of Elysium.”

  “Intrepid is on an expedition from the star Sol, eleven light-years distance. We have come to test a faster-than-light drive. Can you explain your origin?”

  “We are an independent self-governing planet.”

  Independent? If they’re human, they should be under United Planets’ authority regardless of how they arrived here, thought Gallant.

  Neumann said, “We’ve been in battle against an enemy Titan destroyer which we incapacitated. It is currently moving away.”

  Wolfe said, “I suggest you leave before they recover and return.”

  Not the welcoming I’d hoped for, thought Gallant.

  “Our ship is too badly damaged. We must conduct repairs. Aren’t you concerned about the Titans? Do you need our assistance?”

  “We have nothing to fear from the Titans. They can’t harm us. We have a protective force field we can raise over our entire planet whenever we’re threatened.”

  “That’s impressive. How did you design and build such a powerful device?” asked Neumann.

  “We’re not prepared to discuss those issues over the radio.”

  “We’re in need of significant repairs. We would like to establish a base on your planet to mine needed materials and forge new equipment.”

  “Commander,” said Wolfe. “Landing any of your crew on this planet would not be recommended until we’ve establish an understanding.”

  “We’re surprised to find you here and we would like to establish contact to learn more about you.”

  “We don’t want a large group of your people on our planet.”

  “That’s a discussion best handled face to face. Perhaps we can send a single representati
ve to your community to discuss how we can cooperate and reach the understanding you desire.”

  “Then, of course, we must provide you with assistance. If you send a single representative, we will discuss how we reach a mutually satisfying agreement. We will keep our force field lowered so your small craft can land,” said Wolfe.

  “Thank you. We’ll make preparations,” said Neumann. Then to the radioman, he added, “End transmission.”

  “They’re not rolling out the red carpet for us, sir,” said Gallant.

  Neumann said, “Come to my cabin.”

  ***

  Standing at attention next to the open hatch of the captain’s cabin, Gallant realized he was going to have a difficult time dealing with his new commanding officer.

  Clean-shaven with trim black hair, Neumann was physically impressive. While he could be brilliant and thoroughly professional, he lacked Dan Cooper’s charisma.

  Waiting for his presence to be acknowledged, Gallant observed Neumann’s striking profile fixed on a virtual screen as he reviewed the ship-wide repair schedule.

  “Come in, Mr. Gallant,” said Neumann, finally turning around. “From your engineering report, it’s going to take a great deal of resources and manpower over a period of months before the Intrepid will be fully operational.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “As one of only five officers remaining, I intend to remain aboard ship. I’ll use Chief Howard to supervise engineering repairs and I’m going to place you in charge of all planet-side activities. I’ll operate the ship with the doctor and two junior officers.”

  Gallant let his gaze wander to the photograph on the desk. It was Dan Cooper’s wife.

  “You’ll be responsible for negotiating with Elysium’s leader for access to resources and manpower. You know our requirements including heavy metal mining, heavy water collection, plus the construction of an accelerator and manufacturing facilities.” Neumann paused, and then said, “I want you to listen carefully. Circumstance and distance will dictate you exercise a degree of discretion, but I want to be kept fully informed. I will not accept any freelance activity. You will be held strictly accountable. Am I clear?” Neumann scrutinized Gallant as if daring him to contradict.

  Gallant bit his tongue and swallowed hard before saying between his teeth, “Yes, sir.”

  “I want a weekly report, in person. You’re going to spend a great deal of time in this cabin debriefing me and listening to my instructions.”

  “Aye, aye, sir.”

  “I want you to make a long term arrangement with Elysium’s leadership to keep the force shield down. See if we can get equipment and men to support our mining and manufacturing efforts. We can provide synthetic foods, or offer to build a nuclear power plant for them, as barter and incentive. Offer to take a representative back to Earth with us. I’m sure that will be of interest. Tell them we can provide defensive support against the Titans, in the future, after we’ve returned from Earth.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “We have only one Hummingbird, so we’ll have to rig up a tractor beam for the Hummingbird to pull a container trailer to ferry supplies and people back and forth from the planet.”

  “I’ll get Chief Howard started on that before I leave.”

  “Good. I expect you to supervise all planet operations and maintain a rigorous schedule. I want maximum cooperation from the planet’s leadership. We must be ready when the destroyer comes back,” added Neumann with a frown.

  “Aye, aye, sir.”

  “Gallant, your success on Elysium is critical to the survival of Intrepid. I expect you to represent the Untied Planets in a manner to bring credit on the Intrepid. Given your lack of genetic engineering, I’ve concerns. Your performance will reflect on me when we report back to Earth and I’ll be completing your fitness reports from now on,” said Neumann.

  Gallant looked at Neumann’s rigid face and set eyes. He was all too aware of Neumann’s views.

  Neumann continued, “I won’t allow your failures to reflect poorly on this ship, or on me.”

  “I am prepared to accept responsibility for my actions, sir,” said Gallant, saluting as he left the cabin.

  CHAPTER 11

  ELYSIUM

  Fire retros, thought Gallant, prompting the Hummingbird to fall from its vertiginous orbit.

  The tiny ship’s battle scars reminded him of what he was leaving behind, but he quickly dispelled his momentary sense of isolation. Instead, he focused on his mission to a new world. He let Elysium fill the viewport as well as his imagination. The fulsome imagery blended with his neural interface receptors, producing a heightened awareness. Optimistically, he resolved to enjoy the eight minute ride to the landing strip at the outer edge of the town.

  He had grown up on terra-formed Mars and never visited Earth. Now as he plunged downward toward the aquamarine water, he could appreciate its novelty. The craft penetrated the atmosphere and passed through the dotted white clouds with the sun reflecting off its polished surface.

  When the Hummingbird pierced the stratosphere, the hull creaked from strain, alerting him to the many and varied external noises—a startling change from the formal silence of deep space. Buffeted by solar winds and the air pressure of the ionosphere, the ship’s metal fabric added vibrating noises.

  He listened to a cacophony of thunderous rocket engines bellowing as fuel gurgled into the nozzles and then exploded; fierce winds howled as they chafed against the heat shield, and a rhythmic plink of particles struck the hull.

  Performing a wingover helped to stabilize the fuel mixture and to distribute the heat more evenly. The maneuver caused the planet to swirl around in his viewport, adding a visual spectacle to trump the auditory repast. The sunlight accentuated the blue skies, the vibrant blue-green oceans, and the orange-red horizons. These soon gave way to the planetary features of numerous islands with rugged brown-gray mountains and burgeoning green forests. The islands dotted the expansive ocean teeming with life from multicolored birds to herds of mammals roaming free.

  The largest island in the main chain was the eastern most, which sported a gigantic volcano on its northern peninsula. Gallant had seen volcanoes on the various moons of Jupiter. They featured spiraling conical peaks and deep sprawling ravines, but the one below him dwarfed them all. His home planet, Mars, featured the largest volcano in the solar system, but before his eyes was one even larger.

  A final crescendo was reached when the Hummingbird thudded to a jarring stop on the landing pad.

  While he unstrapped, the AI reported, “The atmosphere is breathable with twenty per cent oxygen content. Indications are the plant life has many similarities to Earth and the ocean is rich in photosensitive plankton. Testing of voluminous bacteria and virus strains is underway and a list of dangerous pathogens will be updated continuously as you travel through the environment.”

  “AI, can I use my Comm pin to relay through the Hummingbird to the Intrepid?” asked Gallant.

  “The planetary force shield has been reestablished. Communication to the Intrepid is no longer possible.” Gallant didn’t like that, but there was nothing he could do until he negotiated a pact with Wolfe.

  Satisfied the planet’s health risks were acceptable, he opened his hatch and felt the welcoming rush of clean fresh air on his face. A deep breath of fresh floral air energized and assured him. The fragrance of sweet canary yellow flowers and lush lime green vegetation contributed to the sensory delights. The breathtaking views of natural beauty struck him immediately. There was no place on Mars like this island, none like this planet. The warm tranquil azure-blue waters were welcoming. Gallant hoped for an opportunity to explore those places on this visit.

  Walking on grass with bright saffron sunlight shining down on him, he realized Elysium was the sensual bombardment he had imagined Earth to be. This planet was also near Earth-gravity which was far more than Gallant was used to. He wore a tight form-fitting navy-blue jumpsuit uniform with two gold bars on each lapel
and campaign ribbons arrayed over his left breast pocket. A laser handgun was strapped in the holster on his right hip.

  He stood in a large clearing surrounded by several small buildings with roads radiating outward like spokes of a wheel. The community stood like a mass of block-shaped marbles carelessly arranged across the hillside and shore.

  In startling contrast to the welcoming natural environment, the grim and sour faces of the four men approaching Gallant caused him to hesitate before greeting them. Stopping several meters away, they waited for Gallant to speak.

  From their demeanor and dress—a formal style of clothing, uniforms without weapons—the men gave an impression of authority, but with an air of an uncertainty, rather than diplomatic welcoming. Such was Gallant’s observations, as he maintained a neutral expression. He waited patiently to be received, but when no one made an effort to greet him, he said, “I’m Lieutenant Henry Gallant of the United Planets’ Intrepid.”

  “Lieutenant Henry Gallant, I’m Cyrus Wolfe, Chief of the Safety and Security Police,” said the youngest and most interesting looking of the group. He had a large trimmed mustache, sunken eyes, and a drawn face. His skinny body and sprawling hands showed a lack of physical conditioning; nevertheless he reeked of self-importance.

  Gallant concentrated his attention on the one who appeared to be the leader and didn’t pay attention to the others. He had expected someone astute in politics, powerful looking, perhaps flamboyant, but certainly older. This man met none of those expectations. It crossed Gallant’s mind that behind this man’s calm exterior, yet hesitant demeanor, was a seething anger and natural distrust.

  “Wolfe? Are you—?”

  “No. My father is Cyrus Wolfe, Sr., President of the Elysium Council. You’ll meet him in due course.”