The Xandra (Book 1): Daughter of the Dark

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The Xandra (Book 1): Daughter of the Dark Page 2

by Herbert Grosshans


  Unfortunately, the station cannot be moved, but we have one small exploration ship, a number of shuttles, and one small, but powerful battle cruiser. We have begun exploring the rest of the planets in this system.

  There are seventeen of them. The one closest to the primary is too hot for anything living to exist. The side that faces the Primary gets surface temperatures in excess of 500 degrees Celsius. The second one is not much better, too hot on the sunlit side, too cold on the dark side.

  The third planet is a giant, with a diameter of 51,000 km. There is some sort of life on it, but no human being could live there. Too hot and too humid. The oxygen content in the air is too low, and we’ve detected high concentrations of methane gas and traces of other poisonous substances.

  Luckily, the fourth planet was more than we could have hoped for. This is the best planet the human race has discovered so far. With a diameter of 13,200 km, and gravity slightly higher than 1 G, it is so close to Earth standard, it is almost eerie.

  There are three moons circling it, two large ones and one small one. How they affect the tides of the oceans that separate the three huge continents is still unknown. The sites of the two settlements are in the middle of the largest continent; we will worry about the tides when we have to.

  The first survey of the fifth planet (we haven’t given it an official name, yet) didn’t create too much excitement. It is similar in size to Nu-Eden, a little larger, but not large enough to increase the gravity. About three-quarters of the planet’s surface is land. There is only one ocean, and it is rough. A huge ridge of high mountains runs from north to south, effectively dividing the landmass into two separate continents.

  High, rugged mountains cover much of the land surface, but there are also large flat, tundra-like areas with tall grasses and wild forests. Myriads of long and wide rivers snake through the flat lands and mountains, emptying themselves into huge and deep inland lakes.

  It is a rough and savage world, with great temperature fluctuations between the seasons, plagued in the summer by vicious thunderstorms, hurricanes and torrential rains, and by snowstorms in the winter. The mountains and the poles are forever covered under a deep blanket of snow or thick ice; still, humans could live on this planet. The air is pure and clean. We found traces of, as yet, undefined elements in the air, but they seem harmless. Of course, these are only preliminary findings.

  About two months ago, we set up a research station in the Western Hemisphere, which seems to have a bit more temperate climate. We have a team of five men and five women scientists doing closer studies, they will stay down there a year, longer, if they want to.

  Maybe some day, even if things do work out on Nu-Eden, we will begin to colonize the fifth planet.

  So far, we haven’t found any intelligent life or any evidence that these planets have been host to visitors from other star systems. There are no ruins, no signs that anybody ever landed on the surface, which is quite puzzling because of the abandoned space station.

  The space station is huge and old, maybe a thousand years or so. Who built it? We don’t know. It certainly is not of human design, even though we are quite certain that a humanoid race built it.

  Professor Romanof believes that it wasn’t built in this system, but was transported by a method we have not been able to establish. Whoever built it possessed a technology superior to ours.

  There is a space anomaly about three light years away, which gives cause to all kinds of speculations.

  As I’ve said, the space station is huge; it could easily support 5,000 people. Of simple design, it is a giant sphere about 1.5 km in diameter, studded with twelve spikes 150 meters high and 60 meters wide. Each spike, or tower, as we call it, is divided into 25 floors that are connected through an elevator. At the end of the tower is an observation deck, with transparent walls and ceiling.

  The station was not completely dead when we found it. Even though nothing was working, there seems to be some kind of power source in the sphere’s center, because there is still gravity.

  Each tower is completely sealed off from the main body, accessible only through a pressurized chamber. It is one of these towers that we have adapted to acceptable living conditions.

  There was a team of excellent engineers on the Mother-ship, and they installed an independent power plant on one of the floors. The elevators are working and we have lights, heat and air.

  We even have a hydroponics garden where we grow vegetables, enough to supply us with fresh greens at least three times a week.

  Water we brought up from the planet below. We store it in huge tanks located on the first floor. From there it is pumped into pipes that run up to the top of the tower. Almost every third floor has a toilet and a washbasin. The main facilities are on the ninth floor, where we have showers and tubs for those who like to soak for a while. My old bones need that sometimes. The sleeping quarters are on the eighth, tenth and eleventh floor.

  Most of the upper floors are used for storage, research labs, hospital rooms, and entertainment. The cryogenic chambers are on the 21st and 22nd floor. Both floors had higher ceilings, and only a few partitions. It was not difficult to convert them to our purpose. Computers monitor each chamber around the clock. Only technical personnel are allowed on those floors.

  Did I mention that 217 men and women make up the crew? Actually, there are 137 men and 80 women living in the tower. Some of them may eventually decide to stay and join the colonists on Nu-Eden, but most of them will go back home with the relief ship.

  The military personnel have taken over the fourth and fifth floor. There are only 27 Marines, but all of them are well trained, and they do provide us with a certain sense of security. Besides, their commander, Les Beringer, has become a good friend of mine, and he assures me that we are ‘in good hands’. He keeps his men at constant alert, putting them through a rigorous training regiment every day.

  They are training on the fourth floor, and it is a good thing that the floors are sound proof. My quarters are on the seventh floor.

  A large porthole in what serves as my living room gives me a good view of the planet below us, and sometimes I sit for hours just staring at that huge globe. When the surface is not obscured by clouds I can see the continents and the oceans and I wonder what it would be like to brave the giant waves in an old-fashioned steam powered ship. What an adventure that would be!

  Would I have the guts? I don’t know. I envy the future younger generations who may do exactly that. There are many questions I ask myself. What if something happens to this station? What if the Mother-ship gets lost in the vastness of space and never comes back? This planet may be cut off for centuries, maybe millennia, from the rest of humanity.

  Ah, but I’m transgressing, daydreaming, like some old fool. At 90, I’m still young enough to maybe set foot on Nu-Eden someday and sail those oceans. Mind you, not in a steam-driven boat. I’m not that crazy.

  * * * *

  August 18, 2985

  It is autumn in the Northern Hemisphere of Nu-Eden. We’ll have to adapt the calendar to the local conditions and seasons. However, there is still time for that and it is only of concern to the people living on the planet. There are no seasons on the station.

  So far, the reports we’ve been getting are excellent. Alpha Colony, which is in the southern part of the northern continent, is probably the better location. The weather is a little warmer, and there are many fruit bearing trees and shrubs. Most of the fruit and berries are edible and can be eaten by humans.

  Beta Colony is about 1500 km further to the north. The region is quite mountainous, and the trees don’t grow as tall. Yet, it is still a very hospitable place to live in. All the settlers are healthy and seem to be quite happy.

  Here on the station not much has happened. I’ve sent a team deeper into the bowels of the sphere. We’ve discovered a staircase that leads from one level to the next. There are many levels. Of course, there is no air, but we are proceeding with caution. We don’t want
to cause any damage to vital components.

  Actually, we were quite fortunate to gain access to the sphere without great difficulties. Maybe the access doors were purposely left open. They are large enough to let our ships get inside. It was obviously a docking port, because we did find a number of small shuttles parked in what looked like parking spots, (at least we assume they are shuttles).

  The outermost level has a ceiling one hundred meters high. Huge elevators go up to each tower. Unfortunately, we could not get them to work. We needed to build our own.

  I have great respect for the builders of this station. They did have marvelous engineering skills.

  * * * *

  My contract is for five years. I’ll be 95 then, and I hope they’ll let me retire. Of course, I am assuming that Earth sends a relief team. I have no ties with Earth or any other planet. My wife and three children, two girls and one boy, were killed in the revolution on Eldorado. That was forty years ago. I joined the Space Exploration Corps after that.

  In those days, I used to be a hotshot pilot with the Terran Customs and Revenue Corporation. Nothing could touch me. I was a big hero. I’ve always blamed myself for my family’s death. I should have been there, with them, but I wasn’t! I was somewhere in the Alpha Centauri System, chasing after smugglers. I loved the thrill of the hunt, it was more important to me than my family. Oh well, that is all in the past. Now I’m just an old man waiting to be put out to pasture.

  I know 90 isn’t so old. Barring any accidents I could live to be 150 and beyond, but I’m just so tired of spending my time in the vastness of space. Maybe it’s true what the opponents of space travel say: Man’s destiny lies on Earth, not in Outer Space. A man needs solid ground under his feet.

  Maybe I’ll get married again, settle on Nu-Eden.

  Who knows.

  Chapter Three

  Space Station

  Captain Cunningham looked up from his desk when Lieutenant Striker walked into his office.

  “You asked for me, Captain?”

  Striker appeared young, with his square chin and steely gray eyes he would look good on a recruiting poster. “I understand you’ll be leading Exploration Team Delta down to the fifth planet?”

  “Yes, sir, that is correct.” Striker gave him a salute. A little sloppy, but the Captain let it go. He saw a lot of himself in the young lieutenant, which was not necessarily a compliment. Suppressing a smile, he said, “You do understand the risk, Lieutenant?”

  “Yes, sir, I do. Commander Beringer explained it to me, sir.”

  “At ease, Striker.” He said it, but it wasn’t really necessary. Discipline was not this man’s strongest trait. “Have a seat.” He waited until Striker was seated. “And stop calling me ‘sir’. This is an informal meeting.”

  “Yes, sir. I mean, yes, I know.” The lieutenant smiled tightly. “May I speak freely?”

  Cunningham nodded. “Go ahead.”

  “I’ve studied the list of people who are on this mission. I’m not comfortable having Jeffro Remmington on the team. He’s just a security guard, not military, won’t follow orders. There is no reason for him to be on the team. He’s a troublemaker.”

  “You know him?”

  “Not well, but we’ve exchanged words.”

  “I see.” The Captain looked thoughtful. “Unfortunately, Commander Beringer won’t give me any more of his marines, except for you and Raymond Chu, the pilot. Chu is needed to fly the shuttle back to the station. Which leaves only you with the team. I’d like to have at least one more man, who is not a scientist, someone who can handle a weapon without endangering himself and others. Remington is the only one available, I mean, willing to go. Besides, we have more than enough guards. There is not much for them to do here on the station. I’m afraid you’re stuck with him.”

  The lieutenant sighed, smiled. “By the way, are you expecting us to come across any inhabitants?”

  The Captain leaned forward. “We haven’t found evidence of any civilization. That doesn’t rule out dangerous primitive indigenous life forms. Have you studied the maps of the planet?”

  “I have.” Striker shrugged. “They are very sketchy. Not much detail.”

  “Best we can do.” Cunningham drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “We’re only just beginning our surveys. If it were up to me, I’d wait a bit before we send people down. However, Professor Tennenboum is insistent. He can be quite persuasive. He says he needs more people. Actually, everyone on your team is quite eager to go. Some wouldn’t mind staying the whole year.”

  “Not me.” Striker grinned. “A couple of months, maybe. I don’t think the Commander would be too happy to have me gone longer than that.”

  “Probably not. I’m surprised you don’t want to stay longer. Don’t you get bored here on the station?”

  Striker shrugged. “Space is where I belong. Even though I grew up on Earth, I’ve spent too much time inside the confines of a ship. I don’t feel comfortable on the surface of a planet with nothing above me but empty sky.”

  “I know the feeling.” Captain Cunningham nodded. “I’m curious, why did you volunteer for this mission?”

  “I didn’t.” Striker smiled. “Commander Beringer can also be quite persuasive.”

  Cunningham rose, held out a hand. “Good Luck, Lieutenant. If you run into trouble, you’re on your own. I don’t have another shuttle that is equipped for search-and-rescue missions, nor do I have a trained team ready. There are a lot of good men and women on this team. Take care of them. I want to see everyone back on the station, including you.”

  Striker shook the Captain’s hand, stepped back, saluted and walked out of the door. Cunningham watched him go, sighed and murmured, “Good luck and be careful.” In a way, he felt a little envious. There is nothing more exiting than taking that first step on a strange planet, inhaling that first breath of natural air, feeling the warmth of an alien sun. He’d never be able to experience that. As the Captain, he was stuck here on the station.

  He got up and walked over to the porthole, stared at the large globe of Nu-Eden hanging in space like a huge balloon. Most of the land surface was obscured by clouds, only the ocean was visible. He had never been on Nu-Eden, and there was a good chance he may never touch its soil, or sail that large ocean. He turned when he heard the footsteps of someone approaching.

  “Dreaming again, Jeremy?”

  Cunningham smiled at the big man in uniform. “Les, what brings you here?”

  Commander Beringer chuckled. “I hope you didn’t put too many ideas into Lieutenant Striker’s head. He is an idealist, like you. A bit of a hothead, too. Doesn’t always follow rules. But he is a competent leader. That’s why I chose him, and I want him back.”

  “He’ll be back, don’t worry.” Cunningham walked over to a cabinet, pulled out a couple of glasses and a bottle. “Care for a drink?”

  Beringer grinned, flopped into a chair. “How can I say ‘no’ to 50 year old scotch?”

  “49, actually.” Cunningham smiled, filled the glasses, handed one to the Commander. “Cheers, my friend.”

  “Cheers.” Beringer held the liquid in his mouth before he swallowed it. “If you keep sharing your stock with me, it won’t last,” he said. “We’re a long way from home.”

  A quick smile flickered across the Captain’s lips. “I’m hoping the people on Nu-Eden will come up with some brew of their own. There are enough chemists among the settlers. Of course, we can always drink the synthetic concoction our chemists on the station are producing. By the way, have you received any reports from Sergeant Vicks? The only stuff I get coming across my desk are the usual reports, most of it is boring.”

  Beringer cleared his throat. “Actually, I did get a report from the Sergeant. It is confidential, but as the captain of this station, and as my friend, I think you should know about it. Apparently, some of the colonists are behaving strangely.”

  “Strangely? How?”

  “They are having, as Vicks called it, �
��bizarre sexual encounters’.” Beringer grinned when the Captain’s eyebrows went up. “I guess we should be so lucky.”

  Cunningham didn’t smile. “At any other time I would dismiss it, but I’ve had a similar report from Beta Colony. Father Champaine left a message on the monitor this morning. It sounded somewhat garbled, there is a lot of electromagnetic interference in the planet’s atmosphere. It seems that the colonists are practicing some kind of demon-worship. They meet at night and have sex-orgies. At least that’s what we are getting out of the message. The Father was rambling on, talked about visions of a beautiful demon-goddess who wants to have sex with him and steal his soul.”

  “I’ve never had much use for these religious fanatics, and Father Francoise Champaine certainly fits that category. I guess that’s why he was encouraged to go to the colonies.” Cunnningham allowed himself the shadow of a grin. “Just kidding, of course.”

  “Demon-goddess?” Beringer commented. “Have they discovered intelligent life?”

  Cunningham shrugged. “Nothing in the reports, so far, unless you want to call those tree-elves intelligent.”

  “They’re some kind of monkey, aren’t they?”

  “No contact was ever made with them, but they live in trees, don’t wear any clothing. I’d say they’re about as smart as monkeys, and as ugly.”

  “You wouldn’t say that if you were a monkey,” Beringer joked.

  “I guess not.” The Captain chuckled, filled the two glasses to the halfway mark.

  It was Beringer’s turn to raise an eyebrow, but he accepted the glass. “Good stuff,” he said after draining it. “I shall miss it.” He looked at the Captain. “I know we are keeping contact with the settlers to a bare minimum. After all, we’re here only to observe. But don’t you think you should have these reports investigated?”

  Cunningham nodded. “Maybe I’ll send a couple of our Psych-teams down. Then again, what does it really matter if they go wild sexually? Aren’t they supposed to populate this planet? Earth laws don’t really apply here. A new planet, new morals.”

 

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