by Craig Allen
“Unknown,” Jericho said. “I read about the atrocities the toads visited upon other native species, not to mention on humans. They were certainly cruel, but I would not have had them annihilated.”
Cody agreed, but he was more worried about another species vanishing. “Admiral, what about the fliers? How many did we retrieve?”
“Only about two thousand. From what we understand, that’s all that’s left of them.”
“My understanding is there were millions long ago,” Cody said. “Still, I’m not surprised. The toads had been killing them off for years.”
“And now the reeds want them to live,” Jericho said. “The fliers were clustered in the pockets of atmosphere where the poison atmosphere had yet to fill in. When we rescued the last of the fliers, the poison filled those pockets. One of our destroyers got caught in that toxic cloud as it dusted off. That haze melted part of the hull. Techs say it was caused by some sort of bacteria. We initiated quarantine procedures, but it appears whatever bacteria caused the damage is dead, probably from exposure to space.” He chuckled. “If we tried to nuke the planet, the missiles would corrode before they reached optimal detonation altitude.”
“But it also means technology can’t exist on the surface.” Cody frowned. “The reeds regard the fliers as important, yet they didn’t care about the toads. Then they poisoned the atmosphere, preventing the fliers from returning to the planet. I can’t fathom its motivations, but a creature that vast would think on a scale we can’t imagine.”
“I doubt they care if we understand them or not.” Jericho pursed his lips for a moment. “Your report said the reeds knew nothing about the ships near the Antediluvian mine, the ones that attacked you and Banshee Four Niner.”
“That’s what they said.” Cody scratched at his jaw. “Admiral, I know how this sounds, but I believe the reeds were telling the truth. They seemed genuinely confused when I told them about the ships.”
Jericho inhaled deeply. “Those ships may not have belonged to the reeds, but I’ll bet a month’s pay they know who they are.”
“Whoever they are, they let us live,” Cody said. “But they didn’t help us when the Kali ships attacked the fleet at the mine. Think they’re still there?”
“Possibly. The cluster’s size makes hiding easy, but we have something new that might help us.” Jericho retrieved a small tube from his inside coat pocket and unfolded it into a viewer. “The Spicans found a way to use the massive amounts of exotic matter we collected to make long-range scans. They managed to make deep-surface scans of the planet.”
“How deep?”
“From one side of the planet to the other.” Jericho activated the viewer’s holodisplay, which showed planet Kali. “I don’t understand how they did it, exactly. Something about projecting an altered version of the Alcubierre field to a great distance but not in a traditional manner done by a space vessel. Like sonar comprised of negative energy.”
“And it passed through the whole planet?” Cody whistled. “That means they could build a map of the whole…” Cody did a double take of the image. “That’s what this is?”
“Indeed. Look here.”
He zoomed in on a section of the planet showing a massive cave about twice as large as the cave he, Sonja, and Bodin had destroyed. The image showed no colors, only shapes, as if someone had traced a three-dimensional image with chalk. Cody could make out large, bulbous shapes clinging to the cave walls, with large tentacles stretching outward in all directions. Many branched off into smaller and smaller tentacles, until they were as thin as grass.
Jericho zoomed out. “We’ve analyzed the entire structure. These reeds are connected throughout the entire planet, like millions of creatures all connected as one.”
“The fliers told us that from the beginning,” Cody said. “There’s only one reed.”
“And it’s the god of this world.” Jericho rubbed his brow. “At any rate, the Spicans haven’t found any obvious technology, but the technique is still crude.”
“But how’d they get the exotic matter to try it?” Cody snapped his fingers. “From the destroyed ships.”
“Exactly.” Jericho folded up the viewer and pocketed it as they continued down the passage. “Which brings up a problem. We collected only about two thirds the number of ex-mat pods compared to the number of ships they fielded.”
“You believe this reed entity is holding back?” Cody hoped that wasn’t the case.
“Possibly, and if so, we can’t find it. We’ll keep refining these new sensors. Hopefully, we’ll find the missing matter, even if it’s sunk to the core of the planet.”
Jericho stopped in an observation area, which featured a wall-sized view of the planet and its new smoky red atmosphere. The view was so perfect Cody wasn’t sure if it was a large, flat viewer or a window. Given they were on a warship, it was probably the former. The planet had appeared sickly before, but after the change, it looked downright evil. Cody couldn’t imagine anything living on the red land or in the black ocean.
“Odd,” Jericho said after a moment. “Some of those pods had seven kilograms of exotic matter.”
“Amazing.” Cody frowned. “You’d think the reeds would want to hold on to all of it.”
“It does them little good without the technology to go with it.”
“Then why hold on to any at all?”
“That’s the problem,” Jericho said. “We don’t know.”
Cody watched a hopper pass by on the wall viewer then vanish as it banked around the ship. “If the reed entity is that vast, if they could alter the entire environment so quickly and efficiently, and if they could alter the biology of every creature on the planet, then maybe they have everything they need.”
“I’m not following, Doctor.”
“I mean perhaps they don’t need factories any longer to produce their own technology.”
Jericho’s mouth fell partway open. “That’s a frightening thought, Dr. Brenner. Are you aware of the implications of what you suggested?”
“It means we can’t just leave. We have to stay and watch this planet. The question is for how long.”
“Indefinitely, Dr. Brenner.” Jericho stared at planet Kali on the wall viewer. “We will be here indefinitely.”
~~~
Cody linked to an external view of the hopper as it docked with the Olympus Mons. The fleet was in various stages of repair, many of which would need to return to dry dock to finish said repairs… and to find replacement crews. Cody closed his eyes. So much life had been lost, all because one ship crashed on the planet ten years before. As a result, no one dared leave the planet unsupervised.
Even the Spicans had decided to stay. They, too, underwent repairs and aided the humans in their efforts. They wouldn’t leave until the situation was resolved, which Cody was afraid would only happen catastrophically.
He shut off the link. He’d seen enough of space. He wished he could live on a planet once more, even if it wasn’t Earth. He wished he could be a teacher again. But that day was a ways off. He had responsibilities to the fliers. Even though he wasn’t sure what he could do for them, he couldn’t just leave them. He felt responsible for what had happened to them whether that was true or not.
After a few moments, the hopper shuddered gently, and the pilot, Ensign Johnson from the Olympus Mons, called out from the cockpit, “We’re in the docking tube.”
“Thank you, sir.” Sonja leaned back in her seat, letting her breath out slowly.
Cody was happy to spend time with her, but he wished they were alone. At least Admiral Jericho had let him ride along so he could say goodbye.
“How’s the arm?”
“A little stiff.” She curled it a few times. “Doc says that’ll disappear in a couple of days.”
That meant she’d make it to OSC in time. Cody’s heart sank. He’d gotten used to her being around all the time, and he couldn’t imagine her not being there, but he couldn’t stand in her way, either.
“Of course I will, Sonja. Terribly.”
“Are you sure?”
Cody almost laughed. He half wanted to ask her to stay, but that would’ve been selfish. He also wanted to go with her, but he couldn’t do that either. All he could do was wait for her to return.
“Of course I’m sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“And you’ll be here. Being an ambassador to the fliers, still.”
“More than that,” Cody said. “Jericho has a new assignment for me.”
“We’re in the hangar bay. Opening rear hatch.” Johnson frowned. “Uh, we got a bunch of guests that we never had a chance to drop off.”
“Guests?”
Sonja had her answer as soon as the hatch opened. Wall to wall in the tiny docking bay, fliers skipped about, fluttering their wings as if to take off, but in the cramped docking bay, they’d be lucky to fly a few meters. When they saw Cody, every one of them fluttered their wings. Cody waved back.
“Your fans are waiting.” Sonja kissed him before exiting the hopper.
Cody wanted to put an arm around her waist, but Johnson had already exited the cockpit and entered the hopper bay.
“I assume the commander is on the bridge?” Cody asked.
“No, he’s not on the damn bridge!”
At Commander Gaston’s shout, the fliers parted to let him pass.
“These birds are everywhere,” Gaston continued. “I had one staring at me while I drank coffee in the mess.”
“They can understand everything you say, Commander,” Cody said.
Gaston glared at the nearest flier, who shivered under his gaze. “Now you tell me. If I’d known that, I would’ve put them to work.”
“Sir?” Sonja stepped off the ramp. “What are we going to do with them?”
“We’re taking them to the Berlin, where the rest of them are,” Gaston said. “The new station UEAF was planning on bringing will be positioned in that globular cluster instead of in system. They’re building extra space for our friends here—enough for these devils to fly in.”
The station would have to be massive for two thousand fliers. He couldn’t imagine the UEAF building a station like that, unless they strung a number of stations together. Still, if they could fly every now and then, perhaps they’d survive long enough for humans to figure out what to do with them. And God only knew how long that would be.
“That’s good to hear, sir.” Sonja smiled at one of the fliers who had gotten a little too close. “I think you guys will like it.”
The flier just stared at her, and Sonja’s smile vanished.
Stripe emerged out of one of the side passages, flanked by two others that appeared to be females. Cody had trouble telling the difference between the fliers’ genders.
“Stripe,” Cody called out.
Stripe bounded over and showed him a viewer.
Leader of all creatures destroy our home before you can.
“I’m sorry that happened.” Cody said. “But we have a solution. The leader of this fleet has assigned me to head up a team to find your people a new home world.”
Stripe faced the two fliers with him. Cody wasn’t wearing his envirosuit and could only assume they were communicating magnetically. Finally, Stripe tapped out a message.
A new home for us to fly?
“Yes. And you will be the dominant creatures of this world. The other species will not be intelligent like you.”
How long?
Cody didn’t know for certain. They’d have to find a world with a stable ecosystem then alter the physiology of each and every flier to survive in that world—or terraform one if they couldn’t. They’d also have to keep an eye on the planet in case the ecosystem destabilized from the introduction of a new species. A great many variables existed, and the more Cody thought about them, the less hopeful he was, but he would do his best to help the fliers. He owed them that much.
“We’re moving as fast as we can,” Cody said. “I’ll let you know as soon as we find a place.”
We are still at your mercy and hope it is worth it.
“Poor bastards.” Johnson folded his arms. “Nothing lower than a grounded pilot, but in this cramped place, I bet these birds are lower.”
“That’s the understatement of the day, Ensign.” Gaston nodded behind him. “See if you can clear the bridge of our guests. Some of them have been trying to sit in the seats.”
“Right, sir.” Johnson left. “Hope they don’t try and launch tacs.”
“Christ, that’s all I need.” Gaston glared at one of the fliers, who backed off at once.
“They’re very curious, Commander,” Cody said, “but they do mean well.”
Stripe appeared between the fliers. Cody smiled and waved at him, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he held up a viewer.
There are homes other than these.
“Yes, and we’ll find you one.” In addition to being their ambassador, Cody was also in charge of finding a suitable home world for the fliers, which he’d agreed to in spite of the Herculean task. “It just… may take time.”
Stripe hesitated then bowed his head. When he did, all the other fliers did the same. He tapped out another message and left the viewer with Cody.
We stay for there is no choice.
Stripe vanished among the other fliers.
Cody was at a loss for words. The fliers had something else in common with humans—resignation.
“Let’s talk on the bridge.” Gaston walked out of the docking bay, the fliers parting to make way.
Cody and Sonja both followed Gaston from the docking bay, down the main passageway of the ship, and onto the bridge—just as Johnson ushered two of the fliers back into the hangar bay.
Johnson gave an apologetic smile. “Should be authorized personnel only on the bridge now, Commander.” He pointed at the fliers. “Got that? You need to ask first.”
The two fliers bobbed their heads excitedly. Cody smiled. If they could hold on to their childlike curiosity, maybe they’d make it through.
“Very good, Mr. Johnson. Carry on.” Gaston strode onto the bridge and collapsed in his command chair. “Ah, much better. The smell’s already going away.”
The crew on the bridge laughed amongst each other.
“I hope we find them a good home,” Cody said. “What they need is another planet to live on.”
“I’m aware of that, Doctor,” Gaston said. “As I’m sure you are aware how hard it is to find habitable worlds. We have to terraform the world as much as possible, and even then, we have to alter the biology of the humans living there so they can live comfortably. We’d likely have to do the same thing with the fliers when we find them a new home. Until then, they’re stuck with us.”
“They’re refugees,” Sonja said.
Gaston nodded solemnly. “That they are. There are some in the UET Council who think we should just leave the fliers on Kali and be on our way. If it weren’t for human involvement, they would’ve died anyway.”
“Those are excuses, Commander.” Cody ran his fingers through his hair. “They are intelligent beings, and we rescued them from genocide. We don’t have a right to decide who lives or dies any more than the reed entity does. Saving the fliers was the right call.”
“No argument here.” Gaston tapped his comm. “Are my engines fixed yet?”
“Aye, sir,” someone said.
“Oh, good.” Gaston regarded Cody and Sonja. “Lieutenant, report to the Berlin that we are still undergoing repairs and will be… two hours?”
Sonja grinned.
The lieutenant grinned. “Aye, Commander. Two hours.”
On the main viewing globe, the stars shifted as the Olympus Mons got underway.
“Well, what are you two standing there for?” Gaston jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. “The hopper is yours for the next two hours. Make the best of it.”
Cody decided Gaston was his favorite officer in the UEA
F, but he didn’t get the chance to say so.
“Thank you, sir.” Sonja half dragged Cody by the collar back into the docking bay.
Cody barely had time to see Gaston snickering to himself.
~~~
Cody couldn’t believe an hour and a half had already gone by. He was dreading the docking with the Berlin. He felt as if he was waiting for the executioner’s axe.
“What are you thinking?” Sonja jabbed him gently in the ribs. “It better be about me.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
She sighed. “You’re thinking about what happened down there. There’s nothing we could’ve done, you know.”
“I know.” Cody put his hands behind his head as he lay on a blanket in the center of the hopper bay. “After what the reeds did, we might as well have nuked the planet ourselves. Everything changed, but for the worse.”
“None of this is your fault. I don’t know why you beat yourself over the head about it.”
“I just don’t want anything to happen to the fliers.”
“Well, if they’re in your hands, I’m not worried.” She pulled him closer. “Now, come here. I don’t want to waste a single minute.”
“As you wish. Perhaps I should give you something to remember me by when you’re learning how to be an officer.”
“Again?” She giggled. “Oh hell. It’s going to be a while before we see each other, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Plus, Cody would be busy for much of that time, remaining the main contact between humans and fliers, not to mention finding them a home world. At that moment, though, none of that really mattered. “And I’ll be here when you get back. I promise.”
“Good.” She kissed him. “And when I get back, I’ll fly us away.”
“I can’t wait.”
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