B00ICVKWMK EBOK

by Unknown

  “I do not think so. For one thing, a lot of the tunneling residue is scattered along the base of this cavern. Did you notice the piles of various rocks and dirt? There were additional piles along the way here. None of that was present outside the caves. This machine tunneled from the inside out.”

  Rokka scratched his chin and looked around in the light of the machine’s floodlamps. “I believe you are right,” he said, looking at a large cable that seemed to stretch from the machine into the darkness. “I also think if we follow this cable we will come to the source of its power. Let’s get the others.”

  But the other men were long gone. The moment the machine had been turned on, they had fled for their lives back toward the mountain entrance. They were nowhere to be seen.

  Hadaie and Rokka turned and began following the large cable across the floor of the cavern dome. Not far along the way they came upon the mummified remains of people. Soldiers judging by the clothing that limply hung around their bodies. There seemed to be over a thousand there in various stages of decomposition. Hadaie examined one of the men and found a dart firmly implanted in its neck. These were the soldiers the natives had killed while taking back their lands. Dumped into this cool, dry cavern, they had slowly dried to the consistency of hard boot leather.

  “A handy burial ground,” Rokka said to no one in particular. He had understood the plight of the natives, but the look of death still bothered him. Hadaie took his arm and started him moving again. He had noticed a small light just barely visible in the darkness. Walking toward it, a shape began to form on what was the far wall of the giant cavern. Within minutes they were standing before the doors to the underworld.

  In his description, the chief was not far wrong. The huge doors were made of metal and measured around 40 meters wide and 80 meters tall. There was a vertical seam along the center and the metal door jams were almost a meter thick. They were covered in a brown dust that flaked easily off at the touch. The light was coming from a sort of control panel to one side. There were several switches and a monitor screen. The light indicated the power was on. Hadaie pressed the button marked, “open,” but the doors remained firmly closed. Instead, the monitor screen lit up and asked for an entrance code.

  Hadaie then pulled out his scanner and began scanning the monitor and its equipment. After a minute he turned to Rokka. “I believe this is a computer controlled system. There is a computer terminal here that I may be able to tap into. Would you hold the torch so I can see,” he asked. Rokka held the torch over his head while Hadaie placed his fingers beside the monitor. He then stiffened and turned his fingers slightly. “I have now accessed their computer system. I believe I can bypass the locking mechanism and let us gain access.”

  In just a moment, the monitor screen began changing as the access was overridden. There was a loud knocking and the sound of motors kicking in. Slowly, the giant doors inched open.

  The sight that met the men was unbelievable. Hadaie likened it to walking into a working simulator. Bright light radiated through the crack in the door and spread as they opened. As the men watched, an entire city appeared before their eyes, under blue skies and bright sunlight. Once the doors had opened enough for them to enter, they passed through and were greeted by fresh air and the sounds of animals. Birds filled the enclosure and were flying between the trees and buildings. It was as if they had stepped into a museum displaying with great accuracy what had been done centuries past, except that in this case both felt like someone was waiting just around the corner to greet them.

  Rokka and Hadaie stepped into the center of a wide street between futuristic looking homes. There was green grass on the lawns, sprinklers running, and what appeared to be small cars parked in the drives. Along the side of the road was a small glass enclosure with a seat inside. On the entrance to the enclosure was a red button. Like most men, Rokka pressed it to see what it would do. A small red light appeared over the enclosure. Within a minute, a large vehicle appeared farther up the road and made its way to them. It slowed as it drew near and stopped by the enclosure and opened a large front door. Hadaie looked at Rokka and then entered the vehicle. As he neared the top of the steps he saw several rows of seats and a voice spoke up in what Hadaie recognized as a warning to enter the vehicle and take a seat quickly. Then the voice asked for a destination.

  “It’s asking where we want to go,” Hadaie said to Rokka.

  “Beats the fire out of me where to go, I have never seen such things,” he said.

  Hadaie thought a moment then spoke in the same language as the bus, “Take us to the central control facility or computer facility for this city,” he said.

  The door closed and the bus began moving rapidly down the street. Both men looked in wonder at all the homes and facilities that they passed. Even more amazing was that all this was several hundred feet under the ground. The expressions on Rokka’s face told Hadaie that explanations were needed.

  “This corresponds to similar underground communities that have been found recently on this planet,” he said. “It appears that a major civilization of Therans once lived here and was suddenly forced or was persuaded to leave. How or why it happened, we don’t know, but this city may give us some clues,” Hadaie told Rokka.

  “You said something like 5,000 years?

  “According to what has been found. I admit this does not look to be 5,000 years old, however, under the circumstances it may well be,” Hadaie said confirming the number.

  The men lurched as the bus rounded a corner and began to slow in front of a wide glass and stone building with steps leading to the main doors. The voice named the place as the central station for the city and asked them to mind their steps leaving the bus. Hadaie and Rokka got up and walked back out of the bus and waited for it to continue on its way. Then they crossed the street and entered the Central Station.

  Upon opening the doors they saw a reception area and a doorway leading inside. Looking up on the wall, Hadaie translated the directions to each department until he came to the one marked computer processing. Noting it was on the third floor, Hadaie began looking around for stairs. Rokka stopped him and motioned for him to follow.

  “Even a relative illiterate knows an elevator when he sees one,” he said pressing a button on the wall. With an audible tone, a set of doors opened and Rokka led Hadaie in, pressing the button for the third floor. The doors closed and music began playing as they felt the enclosure begin to rise.

  On the third tone, they felt the elevator stop and the doors opened into a vast complex of electronics. Circling the entire floor were large boxes containing the equipment. They were formed in concentric circles surrounding a central glassed in core housing a console. As Hadaie approached the glassed area, a sensor noticed the movement and a section of the glass wall opened to allow access. Hadaie seated himself at the console.

  Rokka could only stand in awe staring at the equipment. But Hadaie immediately recognized each function and each control point. The console was pressure sensitive, similar to the computers on the Lexington. With a few short taps, the computer displayed its current operations.

  “Interesting,” Hadaie said pointing to some of the functions. “The computer is monitoring all of the equipment and exterior facilities within the city and in some cases beyond. Here is a maintenance function to make repairs, the environmental controls, transportation, communications, power generation, and a number of other functions,” he said.

  Tapping in more commands, the computer displayed other images denoting additional functions. “Here is the database showing all of the knowledge of the people who lived here, their history of living here and what has been happening since. I believe this computer can tell us what happened to make all the people leave this planet,” Hadaie said. “I will need to uplink the data to the Lexington for analysis.” He then switched to the communications console. Studying them for a moment, he said, “I believe we can contact the Lexington from here.”

  Once again his fingers
deftly engaged the communications systems and studied their output. There was a look of surprise on his face. “It appears they have similar communications capabilities as the Alliance.” He pressed a button. “Hadaie to Lexington.”

  Immediately Thompson’s voice came across through hidden speakers. “Lexington here Hadaie, what are you doing on this frequency?”

  “I am presently speaking to you from a vast underground city very near Brana’s base. The dwellings are very similar to the ones found in Nacerium. The city appears intact and I was able to gain access the computer files on this civilization. I recommend we uplink the files to the Lexington for analysis.”

  “Hadaie, are you using your communicator for this?” Thompson asked.

  “Negative, I was able to use the communications sets installed at the computer console.”

  “Hadaie, is the information compatible,” this time from Dickson.

  “My initial analysis confirms it is compatible with our systems,” Hadaie said.

  “Very well, you may begin uploading the data,” Dickson said. “Let us know when the upload is complete,” he said.

  “Acknowledged,” Hadaie replied as he entered encryption codes and link data into the processor. Once initialized, the computer began sending data at a phenomenal rate up the link to the Lexington’s computers. Once done, Hadaie began studying the only other communications link open and began to determine where it was leading. He also decided to check on the last commands given to the computer before it was left to operate on its own.

  Mike’s party arrived back at the camp only a few minutes before the Colonel and his men. They were washing off the grime of the day when Mike noticed that Hadaie wasn’t there. He began looking around the compound and noticed that Rokka was missing as well. It was then that he noticed Chief Mogar and his men were being strangely silent. They had been avoiding contact and were now huddled around the fire.

  “What happened to Hadaie and Rokka?” Mike asked.

  Chief Mogar looked at him sheepishly. “We took him to the doors of the underworld,” he said. “The beast that guards the doors ate them,” he said.

  Jim Ramey walked over and looked at him in disbelief. “A beast?”

  Mogar nodded. “I saw its eyes light up and begin to growl. My men and I were lucky to escape with our lives,” he said with some firmness. The other men were nodding in agreement.

  Mike was incredulous. Something had happened, but these men were so terrified of the legend of the beast, they had run at the slightest provocation. But most importantly, they had left Hadaie and Rokka to fend for themselves. He turned quickly towards the Colonel standing next to the plane. “Colonel!” he shouted. “Get your weapons!”

  The Colonel shouted a reply and called to the major to join him. Within two minutes, both were armed to the teeth and standing beside Mike who was talking to the Chief.

  “You and your men are going to lead us back to the cave where you go to get to the doors,” he demanded. “You don’t have to go in with us, but you will take us there!” He turned to the Colonel and Major. “You guys ready? We’re going in there and get those men out if there’s trouble,” he said to them.

  The Colonel nodded. He knew an order when he heard one and this man was now leading. It was something he completely understood. Mike then turned to Panor and Josen. “You two watch these guys and if something happens and we don’t get back, take the plane and go home. You can’t do this alone,” he said.

  “But what about…” Panor began to ask.

  “No butts,” Mike shot back. “We’ll get those guys back here if we can. But you guys need to stay with the plane and make sure no one else gets their hands on it,” he said.

  Both Panor and Josen looked downhearted at the prospect of not going to help rescue their father. Mike smiled and placed his hands on their shoulders. “Don’t sweat it guys,” he said warmly. “They’re probably sitting in that cave with no place to go. We’ll get them back.”

  Panor nodded. “Don’t make us have to come get you,” he said with a voice that was friendly, but with no heart behind it.

  Mike gave another squeeze on their shoulders and nodded to the colonel. “Let’s go,” he said. The men quickly followed the natives into the undergrowth in the direction of the cave.

  “This is inconceivable,” Dickson said. He had just spent the past hour listening to his staff explain what had happened on Thera so long ago. “A classic example of the haves against the have nots,” he said in some disgust.

  Thompson nodded. It was a story of such utter futility and disappointment that he couldn’t believe it himself. “The people in power told everyone that the governments were building ships to get everyone to safety. Then they build only enough to get themselves and their staffs and a few others and they just took off, leaving the rest to fend for themselves.”

  “The people left behind were told that the ships would get there to pick them up, and that the shielding systems and other arrangements were just a stop gap measure,” Tosh added. “Then they just left the common people on the planet to die in the aftermath. They even kept a dialogue of communication with the main centers. According to the computer records the last communication was about 50 years later.”

  Pike spoke up. “More importantly, there was a data link between the computers here and the ones on the ship they used. According to the records, the ship reached a destination about the same time the communications were ended. The position of the ship is right here,” he said pressing a key and showing the position on a star chart.

  “That is about 47 light years away,” Dickson said looking at the chart. “Do we have any information on this sector?”

  “Not much. Our last exploration was more on the other side of this sector and we scanned this area with long range scans only. Even then, we picked up no traces of a civilization or even colonization,” Thompson said.

  “The computer records indicate the ship and their colony used the same type of masking and shield system found with the underground cities and communities we have mapped,” Pike said. “If so, they probably absorbed our sensor probes.”

  “There is one other important piece of information,” Hadaie’s voice came over the speaker system. “I recovered the final instructions to the computer systems from the ship. It appears that the final instructions were for all the gates and doors to the facilities to close and lock to the outside. The combinations for access were changed so that no one could get back in. Just before that, instructions were sent to indicate a large fire in all the energy generation units and a general evacuation alarm throughout all the facilities on the planet.”

  “A general evacuation?” Dickson said with a start. “For what reason?”

  “I asked the same question,” Thompson said. “We looked at every angle, but came up with the same answer…”

  “They wanted everyone out,” Dickson interrupted as the realization hit him. “They were covering their tracks and forced everyone out of their habitats to fend for themselves.” The thought was like a slap in the face. To cover up the leaders’ crime, they had forced all the victims into a harsh and recovering world with the idea that all the witnesses would be eliminated.

  “That’s the only thing that fits,” Pike said sadly. They all sat in silence for a moment.

  “And that was the last communication.” Dickson said.

  “Not exactly sir,” came Hadaie’s voice. “The last attempt at communications was made just 57 years ago.”

  “57 years? Do you have a record of what was said?” Dickson asked.

  “The languages have changed over this period, however from the translation; there was an attempt to see if there was anyone alive here. The final message was that a faction of the colony was trying to make their way back here,” Hadaie said.

  The crew sat straight up in their seats. The questions were flying in their minds. They looked at each other around the room.

  “Make their way back?” Thompson questioned. “Af
ter all that happened, why come back after 5,000 years?”

  “It could be that they are cleaning up what may have been left,” Pike offered.

  “Or they have received an indication that their crime has been discovered. If so, we could be in for some trouble,” Dickson said.

  “I do not believe that is the case,” Hadaie said via the com link. “The computer continued to record events on the colony after it arrived at its destination. According to what I have reviewed, the political leadership set itself up in what would appear to be luxurious accommodations while subjugating the few workers and staff members they took along. The situation soon became a master/slave environment with a few people doing all the actual work while the rest maintained their leadership and lifestyle. Discipline was enforced through the allocation of benefits and privileges. Unfortunately, I have been unable to review all of the data,” Hadaie said.

  “So they set themselves up as gods in their own land,” Dickson said sitting back in his chair.

  “It makes sense,” Tosh said nodding. “In many civilizations the political leadership is very unwilling to relinquish power. In this case, they saved themselves from a catastrophe and then used the situation so that they and their families would always have the power. A very neat plan,” she said.

  “Indeed,” Dickson said. “Which makes me wonder still at why someone tried to contact these people? If doesn’t make sense that they might want to re-establish contact, since if the Therans discovered the computer records they would know about what happened. On the other hand, if they are trying to, as we said, clean up a bad situation, why contact the Therans at all? They could simply ignore them. After 5,000 years their civilization would be so far ahead even the Alliance would be of little help. And we certainly could not hold then accountable for what happened hundreds of generations ago.”