about 100 kilometers out from the center.
The dark gray surface of the structures was much like that of the alien fighters. At that moment I couldn't help but stop the ship with a short burst from the BHD. I got no argument from Command as they too were deeply interested in our discoveries.
Were these alien bases? With no land in sight were the alien’s water creatures? Was their only purpose of visiting our planet to rape it of its Sodium as they had apparently done to their own? Were they desperate as a civilization because their fuel source was running out and their planet potentially ruined?
The questions came quickly and David Brenner and the other scientists at home pored over the data in search of answers. The two structures were radiating a low level signal similar to the signals the aliens had used for communications, signals that we were still unable to decipher.
I did a deep scan of the surrounding waters and noticed the salinity inside the ringed areas contained levels of Sodium about half that of Earth. The remaining oceans were fresh water. Was this the last of their Sodium? Was it the reason they seemed so desperate? And, what of their civilization? Where were their people?
Again the questions came fast and furious. With another micro-burst from a BHD I turned the ship on its tail and started us slowly into the atmosphere. Shepard was getting nervous and asked what I was planning. I told her we were going right down to the surface unless Command gave orders to stop. The orders never came.
We reached a kilometer above the surface and the northernmost structure. Our sensors picked up a large number of animals within the alien barriers. They appeared to be squid-like creatures. We then moved out about 200 kilometers north of the northernmost underwater structure. I checked the atmosphere and the holo-screen told me it was stable and breathable with an oxygen level of 23%.
The CO2 was almost double that on Earth, but was still at a level that was safe. Alvin would likely be a habitable planet. I did a quick check of surface temperatures finding 31 degrees Celsius on the side facing the sun and 27 degrees Celsius in the darkness. I wondered what it might be like to go for a daytime swim in Alvin's warm waters.
I next launched a Driller with direction to go deep into the ocean waters. Everyone at home watched intently as the Driller slowly descended into the deep blue. As the Driller reached the surface we got our first close look at alien life forms. They were similar to our jellyfish and floated gently in schools near the surface.
I paused the Driller and manipulated the sensor to scan in a full circle. The translucent jellyfish schools continued outwards in every direction and their numbers were in the millions if not billions in our immediate area. At 100 meters down we got our first glimpse of vertebrate life. It was an immense lumbering manta ray like creature, with a 50 meter wingspan. The manta had no interest in our Driller as it moved slowly along sucking in jellyfish.
I continued on to 400 meters depth where the waters began to darken. I was startled when a large shadow quickly brushed by the Driller. Suddenly, up from the depths, came another. For only an instant I got a look at its wide mouth and dark teeth as it attempted to attack the Driller. Before the alien creature had a chance to turn it into a meal the BHD of the Driller cut it in half.
Any number of the dark creatures quickly filled the waters around the Driller and attacked their fallen mate. Then another attacked the Driller followed by another and each attacker met with the same fate. The water was soon thick with chum making any further reconnaissance useless.
An alert then popped up on my holo-screen. Some type of craft had launched from the structure and was on a heading that would take it near our Ghost. Apprehension grew as the craft approached. Had we been detected? Did the active skin not conceal us as well as we thought? I
The dark gray surface of the structures was much like that of the alien fighters. At that moment I couldn't help but stop the ship with a short burst from the BHD. I got no argument from Command as they too were deeply interested in our discoveries.
Were these alien bases? With no land in sight were the alien’s water creatures? Was their only purpose of visiting our planet to rape it of its Sodium as they had apparently done to their own? Were they desperate as a civilization because their fuel source was running out and their planet potentially ruined?
The questions came quickly and David Brenner and the other scientists at home pored over the data in search of answers. The two structures were radiating a low level signal similar to the signals the aliens had used for communications, signals that we were still unable to decipher.
I did a deep scan of the surrounding waters and noticed the salinity inside the ringed areas contained levels of Sodium about half that of Earth. The remaining oceans were fresh water. Was this the last of their Sodium? Was it the reason they seemed so desperate? And, what of their civilization? Where were their people?
Again the questions came fast and furious. With another micro-burst from a BHD I turned the ship on its tail and started us slowly into the atmosphere. Shepard was getting nervous and asked what I was planning. I told her we were going right down to the surface unless Command gave orders to stop. The orders never came.
We reached a kilometer above the surface and the northernmost structure. Our sensors picked up a large number of animals within the alien barriers. They appeared to be squid-like creatures. We then moved out about 200 kilometers north of the northernmost underwater structure. I checked the atmosphere and the holo-screen told me it was stable and breathable with an oxygen level of 23%.
The CO2 was almost double that on Earth, but was still at a level that was safe. Alvin would likely be a habitable planet. I did a quick check of surface temperatures finding 31 degrees Celsius on the side facing the sun and 27 degrees Celsius in the darkness. I wondered what it might be like to go for a daytime swim in Alvin's warm waters.
I next launched a Driller with direction to go deep into the ocean waters. Everyone at home watched intently as the Driller slowly descended into the deep blue. As the Driller reached the surface we got our first close look at alien life forms. They were similar to our jellyfish and floated gently in schools near the surface.
I paused the Driller and manipulated the sensor to scan in a full circle. The translucent jellyfish schools continued outwards in every direction and their numbers were in the millions if not billions in our immediate area. At 100 meters down we got our first glimpse of vertebrate life. It was an immense lumbering manta ray like creature, with a 50 meter wingspan. The manta had no interest in our Driller as it moved slowly along sucking in jellyfish.
I continued on to 400 meters depth where the waters began to darken. I was startled when a large shadow quickly brushed by the Driller. Suddenly, up from the depths, came another. For only an instant I got a look at its wide mouth and dark teeth as it attempted to attack the Driller. Before the alien creature had a chance to turn it into a meal the BHD of the Driller cut it in half.
Any number of the dark creatures quickly filled the waters around the Driller and attacked their fallen mate. Then another attacked the Driller followed by another and each attacker met with the same fate. The water was soon thick with chum making any further reconnaissance useless.
An alert then popped up on my holo-screen. Some type of craft had launched from the structure and was on a heading that would take it near our Ghost. Apprehension grew as the craft approached. Had we been detected? Did the active skin not conceal us as well as we thought? I
Similar Books
Murder on the Blackboard
Stuart Palmer
Sudden--At Bay (A Sudden Western #2)
Frederick H. Christian
Battlefield Earth
Hubbard, L. Ron
Love Discovered in New York (The Washington Triplets)
Danielle Allen
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Girl Who Ran Off With Daddy
David Handler
The Turning Tides (Marina's Tales)
Derrolyn Anderson
Body Of Truth
Deirdre Savoy
Crown of Dragonfire
Daniel Arenson
Rivals and Retribution
Shannon Delany