by Don Viecelli
“I am waiting for more news from Colonel Jackson. I hope there is no more trouble found on the starship so we can start formal discussions soon with the aliens that are waking up. I have more questions concerning the Yoyka and what if anything we need to do to prevent them from doing to us what they did to the Qumru.
“I await your response to this communication, Madam President.”
President Anderson pushed the mute button and looked at Allison and Rodney, before responding. “What do you two think of this situation?”
“I don’t like the sound of these hostile aliens called Yoyka. How do we know they are not already on that starship? They could have caused the explosion and damage for all we know,” Rodney said first.
“I agree with Rodney, Madam President. We need to be careful how we deal with the aliens aboard that spaceship. On the other hand, think what we could learn from them while they are here to make repairs. The scientific breakthroughs alone could change our entire future,” Allison said.
Mary was more direct. “Our lives have already been changed just knowing once and for all that there are other intelligent beings in our universe. I agree with both of you. The aliens called Yoyka are a threat we may have to deal with in our future. The Qumru are much more advanced than us and we need to learn as much as we can from them while they are here.”
President Anderson unmuted the videophone and began speaking. “Thank you for your update on the situation with the aliens, Deputy Secretary. We will study the recordings in more detail as soon as we receive them. Please continue to investigate the aliens and the cause for the explosion aboard their starship. I don’t have to remind you to be careful and make sure the UN team already on board that ship takes every precaution to protect themselves.
“We are interested to learn more about the Yoyka and if they are a threat to us in the future and what can be done about it. Also, we would like to learn as much as possible from the aliens regarding their science and level of technology, especially in the areas of space travel. Perhaps a meeting could be arranged on their spaceship or on Mars in the near future with some of our UN Member Government officials and scientific representatives from Mars and Earth.
“I will conclude this call after this transmission. Please keep us all informed of your investigation and dealings with the aliens. The situation on Earth is anxious. People want more information about these aliens and many people feel threatened by them. We need to know if we must increase our defenses. Good luck to everyone on Mars. Goodbye for now.”
President Anderson ended the conference call and turned to the two people in her office. “Rodney, I want you to set up a National Security Conference meeting this afternoon to discuss this situation with our military people and relevant Cabinet Members. I will call UN Secretary-General Gomulka to discuss the call with Haruto Nakamura and see what Gomulka plans to do. I think we need to send a UN delegation and perhaps more Military people to Mars as soon as possible.
“Allison, we need to prepare a press release to inform the people what is happening on Mars with the aliens. I don’t want people rioting in our cities because they think we are about to be invaded by aliens. We need to calm their fears until we learn more about these aliens.”
The President adjourned the meeting in the Oval Office and went back to work.
Chapter 10
Intruder
Colonel Hayward Jackson led his three Marines, one corporal and two privates, down to Level 28 of the starship. Shonya was issuing directions and commands through his comlink. He stepped off the elevator and entered a large room that was dimly lit. He was holding his Beretta M9 pistol in his right hand. He ordered the three Marines to move behind him and spread out. The room was so large Jackson could not see the end of it.
“We’re on Level 28, Shonya. Now what?”
“Proceed down the hallway in front of you to the center of the ship, Colonel Jackson, and check to see if the FTL drive engine has been tampered with. There will be red lights on the control panel if someone tampered with the drive.”
Colonel Jackson looked around as he walked slowly with his team. The ceiling was three meters high and the room was divided into sections with walls and hallways leading in all directions. It took fifteen minutes to reach the center of the spaceship which opened up to show what looked like a cylinder shaped metal tower twenty meters in diameter. It stood in the center of the room with handrails and steps that extended all around the structure from top to bottom down through two more levels of the starship. He heard a slight humming noise that grew louder as he got closer to the FTL drive tower.
“Keep your eyes open soldiers and your rifles ready, but don’t shoot at anything unless I order it. I don’t want to cause any damage down here if we can prevent it,” Colonel Jackson said over his mic.
He led the way the final ten meters to the protective railing that went around the FTL hyperdrive system and looked at a panel with controls on it. He reported, “There are no red lights on the panel, Shonya. Everything looks okay here. I’m going to walk around this machine and check out the rest of this room.”
Colonel Jackson heard a sliding noise behind him and turned to see what caused it. He thought he saw something move across the hallway a few meters away from him. He was confused for a second because it looked like the hallway moved for a second before stopping. It was an optical illusion and he knew only one thing that could cause it; invisible body armor. Before he could confirm his suspicions with his team and point his hand toward what he’d seen, a beam of energy hit him and the other three soldiers all at once knocking them unconscious to the ground.
Up in the command center there was no indication anything was amiss until the comlink with Colonel Jackson and the Marines with him went silent.
Shonya was the first to notice. “I have lost communication with Colonel Jackson and his people on Level Twenty-eight.”
Captain Tills with her team who had returned to the Bridge from the cryosleep chambers on Level 15 was now in charge. “I’m receiving biometric readings from their suits. They’re all still alive, but unconscious according to my readings. Something knocked them all out. I need to go down there to check on them now.”
She turned to Lieutenant Sanchez and said, “I’ll take four people with me. You’re in charge while I’m gone. If I lose contact with you or do not return within twenty minutes, you’re to return to the shuttle and leave for Mars at once. Is that understood, Lieutenant?”
“Yes, sir! Understood Captain,” Sanchez saluted sharply.
“I’m going with you, Captain,” Doug said without looking at Janice.
Captain Tills knew he was a former Space Marine himself and could handle himself in a fight. Besides, he also was armed with a standard M9 Beretta pistol just like Marine officers. “Fine, but follow my orders.”
“Yes, Captain,” Doug said nodding his head in agreement.
Janice pulled Doug’s arm in concern. “Be careful.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back soon or I’ll see you on the shuttle.” Doug smiled. He was worried about the developing situation, but did not want Jan to see it on his face.
Captain Tills picked four Marines, two men and two women, to follow her to the elevator and went inside.
When the elevator doors opened on Level 28, everyone had their weapons unlocked and pointed forward. Captain Tills led the way down the hallway. She was holding her tablet showing four green icons blinking on the display. She stopped near the location where Colonel Jackson and his Marines were laying on the floor. She could see them now and ordered two Marines to move forward while the rest of them provided cover.
“There’s nothing unidentified showing up on my scanner people, but keep a sharp eye out anyway. Something must have taken the Colonel by surprise,” Tills said over the comlink.
The next two Marines moved further towards the four bodies on the floor in front of the FTL drive tower. Captain Tills followed behind until one Marine approached the colonel w
ho was beginning to show signs of movement. The Marine signaled the all clear sign.
Once the area was secured, Captain Tills went to Colonel Jackson who was now sitting up on his own. “What happened, Colonel?” Tills asked over the comlink.
“We got hit with some sort of energy weapon. It knocked us all out. The thing was invisible until it got close. I don’t know what it was.” He shook his head to try and clear it.
“Whatever it was, it’s gone now, Colonel. There are no other readings of anyone or anything on my tablet.”
“Nothing showed on my tablet either, Captain,” Jackson said slowly, still groggy from the energy weapon.
“I think we have a problem here,” Doug said standing in front of the FTL drive panel.
Captain Tills helped Colonel Jackson to his feet. They both walked over to the panel. It was completely destroyed and blackened on top. It looked like all the controls had been melted into one unusable piece of metal.
Doug said, “I think we know what it was doing here, Colonel. Whoever it was, it wanted to make sure this starship didn’t leave here anytime soon.”
Chapter 11
Return To Mars
By the time Colonel Jackson, Captain Tills and the rest of the group returned to the Command Center Bridge, there were five Qumru aliens waiting for them all dressed in two-piece light blue colored uniforms. Some of the aliens had pistol-like weapons at their sides.
Lieutenant Sanchez spoke first. “Colonel Jackson, this is First Leader Utor. He is the commanding officer of this starship now.”
The alien was five feet ten inches tall, narrow build with large head, dark brown eyes and a thin lipped mouth. He spoke with a clear sounding voice that was translated from his native language to English by a small silver disk he was wearing around his neck. “You may remove your headgear if you wish humans. The air is suitable for breathing in this room.”
Everyone opened their faceplates, but left their helmets on. Colonel Jackson said, “It’s good to meet you, First Leader Utor. I am Colonel Hayward Jackson and I am in charge of this team sent to investigate. There seems to be serious problems on board your starship.”
“I am glad to meet you, Colonel Hayward Jackson. I am in command now. We have been updated on the current situation aboard Solruku. I am taking steps to correct it now. It would be better and safer if you and your people would leave our starship and return to your planet until I can resolve the situation on board.”
“I understand, First Leader Utor. We will leave immediately. I wish to convey our government’s interest in further discussions with you or your people as soon as you feel it is safe to do so. I also wish to offer our help in any way you feel is needed.”
“Thank you for the offer. I will be in touch soon, Colonel Jackson. We will need your help in repairing our vessel so we can resume our journey as soon as possible. Give me some time to resolve things here first.”
“Certainly. We will go back to our shuttle and return to Mars. I will tell my government leader what happened here and wait for you to contact us for a meeting. It is very important we talk more soon. Your visit is the first of its kind with our people. We are interested in who you are, where you come from and what you need in repairing your starship. Let’s go people.”
Colonel Jackson handed Utor a Mars comphone programmed with UN contact names, channel frequencies and numbers, turned around and headed for the elevator. All fifteen people fit inside and they headed back down to Level 15 where they originally entered the starship. Once outside the elevator walking back to the shuttle, Doug spoke up, “Something is not right here, Colonel. He was in an awful hurry to get us to leave this starship.”
“I agree, but I understand his situation. He is in charge now and has some serious problems to fix without us interfering. Whatever is happening on this starship, he knows better than us how to take care of it. Let’s wait to find out what’s going on when Utor contacts us for a meeting. The government leaders can handle relations with these aliens better than we can.”
Doug looked back at Janice and James. They seemed as concerned about what just happened as he did.
“Lower your facemasks, people, before we enter the hangar. I don’t know what the air is like in there.” Colonel Jackson then alerted the two Marines guarding the shuttle that they were on their way.
The hangar bay was the same way they left it a few hours earlier. The two Marine guards were standing at attention when the colonel and the other team members walked up to the shuttle. “Any problems while we were gone, Corporal?” Colonel Jackson asked as he approached.
“No, sir. All quiet here, sir,” the corporal said promptly over the comlink.
“We’re leaving this ship. Everyone get on board.”
It took a few minutes before everyone was in their seats. Doug was in the pilot seat and went through a quick checklist before starting the engines. When he was ready to leave the hangar he turned on the radio and transmitted. “We’re ready to leave the hangar, Shonya. Can you open the doors, please?” He waited for a response.
“The doors are opening now. Have a safe journey,” Shonya responded over Doug’s earpiece. He felt the shuttle rise off the floor as everything inside the shuttle became weightless once again. The technology behind this must be fantastic, Doug thought to himself.
“Thank you, Shonya. It was nice to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”
Doug turned the shuttlecraft around the hangar floor using his directional thrusters and headed for the open doors. He could see stars shining brightly outside. He fired his main engines as soon as he was far enough away from the starship and headed back to Mars.
*****
The invisible Intruder aboard the starship watched silently from the corner of the hangar as the human shuttle left and fired its thrusters to return to the planet below. Then the hangar doors closed leaving him alone. He was still wearing his protective suit and could not be detected either by the cameras or other devices used by the crew to find him.
For a brief moment, he considered trying to board the human shuttle and leave the starship, but other concerns held him back. His job was not done. He had damaged the starship enough to keep it here in orbit for a limited period of time. He hoped it was enough time for his contacts to find him and take control of the starship. This had to be accomplished. Otherwise, he would have no other choice but to cause further damage to prevent its escape.
The humans were another problem. He had not expected this outcome when the starship was forced out of hyperspace. He contemplated capturing these humans when they entered the hangar, but decided against it. There was still time to take care of the humans on the planet called Mars if he needed to. For now, he would concentrate his efforts on the crew who just awoke from cryosleep. He knew he had to prevent them from leaving this solar system at all costs. There was no other option available other than completely destroying the starship and everyone on board.
Chapter 12
Meeting With Nakamura
As soon as the shuttlecraft landed back on Mars at the Haffen City Spaceport, Colonel Jackson dismissed his Marines and requested an immediate meeting with Haruto Nakamura, UN Deputy Secretary of Mars. Doug, Janice and James followed Jackson to the meeting. They all removed their spacesuits and left them on the shuttle.
Haruto Nakamura was waiting impatiently for the group to arrive at his office in the UN office building. He had a lot of questions that need answers before he called his boss, Aleksy Gomulka back on Earth.
Colonel Jackson knocked on the door and walked right into Haruto’s office. “I’m here, Mister Secretary. I brought Doug, Janice and James with me as you requested.”
Haruto stood up and walked around his desk. He greeted each person with a handshake and a bow. “I’m glad you all made it back safely. Please have a seat and tell me what happened up there.”
Colonel Jackson took his time filling Haruto in on the details of their trip to the starship, including the episode of looking
for an Intruder aboard the ship, being attacked and the damage done to the alien’s FTL hyperdrive.
“Then the alien commander, First Leader Utor, requested you all to leave the starship; am I correct?” Haruto asked Jackson.
“Yes, he did. They want to find the Intruder and take care of the problem themselves. I think they also wanted to prevent us from exploring any more of their starship.”
“I suppose I would be hesitant to allow strangers roaming around on a starship with a dangerous person loose too. Do you think there is more to their story? Should I be more concerned about their motives for being here?”
Janice spoke up. “I think the alien crew that woke up to replace the previous crew was more worried than they admitted to us, sir. Some of them were carrying hand weapons and they seemed very anxious for us to leave.”
“We need to find out who the Intruder is that is causing all the damage to their spaceship, Mister Secretary. If it is one of these Yoyka aliens, then, yes, we should be more concerned,” Doug stressed seriously.
“The technology I saw aboard the alien starship is very advanced compared to ours, Mister Secretary. We really need to ask them to share some of their technology with us in exchange for helping them,” James said without hesitation.
“I agree, Doctor Colbert. I intend to do just that.” Haruto paused.
“Colonel Jackson, you said Utor would be getting back in touch with us. Did he say when?”
“No, sir. He did not say when; just that he would as soon as he could resolve things on his starship. I gave him a comphone with our contacts and channel frequencies.”
“All right then. I will advise the UN Secretary-General. I sent him a copy of all your voice and video recordings while you were on board the starship. I must tell you, things with the media here on Mars and back on Earth are very intense. Everybody wants to know what’s happening with the aliens and why they’re here. I must request you keep everything you saw and know about these aliens confidential for the time being. I fully expect Earth to send more people to Mars on the next transport shuttle. In the meantime, you should all take some time off to rest and report back here in the morning.”