Mission Aurora

Operation Stargate #5

by Herbert Grosshans

Aurora, an unimportant planet far away from the regular trade routes. The human colonists had turned their back on technology and chosen to live the way people lived in the Dark Ages of Earth. Major Jeremy Falcon and his Accilla partner, Alita, were sent to Aurora to investigate the rumors that giant Ants were abducting people and were possibly getting ready to invade the planet. Traveling on horseback from town to town, they faced prejudice and religious zealots. They began to wonder if the rumors about giant ants had been exaggerated. What they found was much more sinister and shocking. They raced against time trying to avert an incident that could spark a war between the Osirian Empire and the Solar Union. The discovery they made suddenly drew the interest of all the major races that lived on this side of the galactic wheel.

Excerpt

Chapter One

The shuttle landed in silence inside a small grove. According to the map, it shouldn’t be more than twenty miles or so to the Scouts Outpost. When the exit door slid open, Major Jeremy Falcon looked back at the pilot, tipped his hat in a sloppy salute, and began climbing down the short ladder.

It didn’t matter how many times one set foot on an alien planet, the feeling of elation never really went away.

The ground felt a bit spongy but no different from any other forest floor he’d stepped on. He turned to watch the other member of his team coming down the ladder.

She gave him a little smile as she also stepped onto the alien ground.

The ladder disappeared back into the belly of the shuttle and the exit door slid shut, taking away the light that had illuminated the ladder and a tiny circle on the forest floor.

Neither of them spoke a word when the shuttle rose back into the sky and disappeared in the darkness of the night.

“Well, Captain Alita,” Falcon addressed his companion. “Here we are.”

Her chuckle sounded amused. “That’s right. Here we are. You seem surprised.”

“Not necessarily.” He switched on his headlamp. “Just a little apprehensive. I’m not sure if it was necessary to land like a couple of thieves in the middle of the night this far away from the outpost. I hope the map they gave us is accurate. I don’t feel like stumbling in the dark for the next couple of days to find the place.”

“We could always wait until daylight before we get underway,” Alita suggested. “We each have a sleeping bag in our backpack to keep us warm. Fortunately, we are in a temperate zone, and it is nearly summer on this planet. The night isn’t really cold.”

“You are right about the temperature, but I think we should get moving,” he suggested. “We don’t know if there are any predators in this area. I’d like to get out of this forest as quickly as possible.”

“I suppose you are not wrong about that. As far as predators go, what I remember from my briefing there are no ferocious big cats in this part of the land, but apparently, they have giant squirrels in these forests. They are not considered dangerous to the colonists, more like an inconvenient nuisance, but there have been documented cases where humans have been attacked by one of these giant rodents.”

“Well, even if one would attack us, I’m not worried. We do have weapons.” He adjusted his backpack, picked up the huge leather bag that held the special gear, and looked into the dark sky. It was peppered with myriads of tiny specks of light.

“The night sky looks different from the sky on Goldstrike,” Alita observed. “Because of its proximity to the rim, there are fewer stars. At home, I could have told you which direction we should walk just by looking into the sky. Here?” She shrugged. “This sky is alien to me. None of the constellations are familiar.”

He slowed down to let her catch up. “Goldstrike? Is that where you were born?”

“Yes, I was.”

“I’ve never been there, but I am not unfamiliar with that planet. I know it is near the Accilla occupied territory. Humans and Accilla live there side by side in peace.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Am I correct?”

“You are.”

“Is that one of the reasons you took on human form?” He lifted one hand. “Sorry. I am not trying to interrogate you or pry. Just curious.”

“No need to apologize. I don’t mind. We should get to know each other better, anyway. Goldstrike is in a way a unique planet. My people started colonizing it about a thousand standard years ago, but we were never numerous. The first human settlers came a couple of hundred years later. I don’t know how much knowledge you have about my race. We are quite familiar with humans. Because of our ability to mimic other life forms, people of my race have lived undetected on many planets for centuries, Earth being one of them. It wasn’t always a peaceful life. You may know that we need to occasionally drink blood from a living donor. Because of that, we’ve been hunted and killed. Humans called us vampires, witches, monsters and many other names.” She sighed. “We are not evil. Our desire has never changed. Ever since our ancestors landed on a planet alien to them, they tried to blend in with the local inhabitants to live peacefully among them. We did that on Goldstrike.”

“Sounds like an ideal planet.” He chuckled. “Are you going to drink my blood when I sleep?”

She didn’t laugh when she answered. “You don’t have to fear that. I drink blood mainly from animals. From a human only when permission is given. By the way, I don’t need fresh blood often. For nourishment, I eat and drink the same food humans do.”

“That is good to know.” He let out his breath with exaggerated loudness and laughed. “Just so you know, I am quite aware of your species’ peculiar habit. I was briefed. I have no problem with that.”

“You’ve worked with people of my species before?”

“I’ve never had an Accilla partner if that’s what you’re asking, but I have had dealings with your kind on a couple of missions.” He stopped and switched off his headlamp.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.” He stared into the forest. “I thought I saw light flickering ahead.”

“I don’t see anything.” She followed his gaze. “Of course, that doesn’t mean much. Your enhanced vision is superior to mine.”

“There.” He pointed. “I can’t make it out clearly, but I think that’s a campfire.”

“A campfire means people. Should we skirt it or check it out?” she wondered.

“I think we should check it out. The only problem is getting there. The trail we are following is not exactly without hidden traps. Roots trailing across it, rocks sticking out of the ground, broken branches, or even trees blocking it, can cause a person to stumble and take a nasty fall. It’d be more difficult to walk it without any light. I’m thinking of you because I can see quite well in the dark.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll just wear my infrared goggles and I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.”

The trail wound itself through the trees and the thick shrubbery. Even though it didn’t run in a straight line, it did lead west, the direction they needed to travel. It had been made by some large animal and was probably still used by the same species and possibly others. Hopefully, the creators of the trail were peaceful should they run across one of them.

The forest was not silent. The denizens of the forest filled the night with their barking, howling, and shrill cries. The occasional roar of a large predator caused some of the sounds to become silent for a short moment, and then start up anew.

“We must be near a swamp,” Alita commented. “I can smell it.”

“So can I. In addition to the decaying vegetation of the forest. I’m almost tempted to wear a filter.” Falcon stopped again and stared into the darkness ahead of them. “The trail must have taken a turn. I can’t see anything in the direction we are traveling.” He pulled out a direction finder and clicked it on.

“What does it say?”

“I was correct. We are traveling south instead of west. I don’t want to get off too far. I’ll have to keep a close watch on it. We may have to leave this trail and fight our way through the shrubbery.”

“Hopefully, the trail will change direction again soon. Perhaps it is just going around the swamp,” Alita speculated.

Falcon didn’t answer, but he agreed with her assumption. She was correct. They had barely traveled another fifteen minutes when the trail took a sharp turn, leading them west again. When he saw the flickering flames of a small campfire among the trees, he slowed down and lifted a hand. “We are close. We must be careful. This doesn’t mean we’ll meet humans. It could be some indigenous hunter or hunters. We don’t know if they are friendly or hostile.”

Walking on slowly, his keen hearing picked up the cracking of a dry twig and the soft scraping sound of fabric brushing against small shrubbery. He stopped and lifted both arms above his head. “We are peaceful, meaning no harm,” he spoke loudly, hoping to be understood.

“What are you doing sneaking up on our camp in the middle of the night?” a sharp male voice demanded. A sudden bright light erupted behind them.

“We are on our way to the Scouts Outpost in Riwarda,” he answered, hoping whoever had asked the question knew what he was talking about. He also hoped he was talking to a human. “Who are you?”

“I’m a Ranger and I’ll ask the questions. Where are you coming from?”

Falcon allowed himself a small chuckle. “From far away and we’ve been walking for a long time,” he lied. “We are tired and could do with some rest. When we saw your campfire, we hoped to be welcome. Can I put down my arms and turn around?”

“Go ahead but keep them where I can see them. That goes for both of you.”

Falcon lowered his arms and turned. Squinting into the bright light, he asked, “Are you human?”

“I am. Are you?”

“I can assure you that I am. Mind taking that light out of my eyes? It`s blinding me.”

The Ranger lowered the light but kept it shining on Falcon. “Walk ahead of me toward the fire but keep your hands in sight.”

Falcon and Alita walked slowly, senses alert. The Ranger most likely thought he was in control of the situation. What he didn’t know was the fact that his prisoners were not normal humans. Even though he walked in front of the Ranger, Falcon, with his augmented abilities, could disarm the man in a matter of seconds.

So could Alita. She was a soldier trained in combat, aside from not being human.

However, neither of them saw any need in doing anything else but following the Ranger’s order.

As they got closer to the campfire, Falcon saw two men sitting on logs. Both men were dressed in dark green uniforms, and they wore wide-brimmed hats similar to Scouts hats. Except they were green, like their uniforms. He also saw their rifles lying beside them on the ground.

The Rangers watched them closely but made no move to touch their rifles. Falcon took it as a good omen. These men were not hostile.

“What have you got there, Frankin?” one of them asked.

“A couple of intruders trying to sneak up on us.”

“Looks like you got things under control,” the other Ranger remarked.

“You can’t be too careful,” Frankin answered. “We should pat them down for weapons.”

“You mean you haven’t done that?” the first Ranger chuckled. “Frankin, Frankin. If you want to make it as a Ranger, you have to be aware of every little thing that could go wrong.” He looked at Falcon. “Are you armed?”

Falcon allowed himself a little smile. “Of course I am. You don’t really think I’d be walking through a forest at night without being able to defend myself should I be attacked by an animal or a human?”

The Ranger shook his head. “I suppose not. Who are you anyway?”

Not detecting any danger from these men, he decided to be honest. “I am Major Jeremy Falcon, and my companion is Captain Alita.”

The Ranger nodded. “Off-worlders. I suspected as much.”

“What gave me away?”

“Your accent, for one thing. Your clothing is another dead giveaway.”

“What’s wrong with the way we dress?”

“Your coats are too long, your pant legs too wide, and nobody wears those rimless, round hats anymore. If you want to blend in, you change your coats and wear hats like ours, flatter and with a bit of a rim. In addition to making you look like everyone else, the rim protects your face and neck from the sun and rain.”

“That’s good to know. It seems the ones that did the research on Aurora studied the wrong century.”

The Ranger smiled. “Also, the fact that you’re following an animal trail in the middle of the night, taking a chance of getting lost in the swamps or thick shrubbery, when you could have walked in comfort on the road that runs through the forest from Riwarda all the way to Rontini, the next town.” He made a motion with his hand. “Why don’t you sit down and tell us more about the mission you’re on.”

Falcon shrugged out of his backpack and squatted down across from the two men. “What makes you think we’re on a mission?”

Both men laughed. “We get very few visitors from outside, hardly any, come to think of it. The few that come arrive in the freighters that land in Rima. They have a spaceport, you know. Only the military is dumb enough to drop agents in the middle of the forest during the night.”

“It seems we’ve been unmasked,” Falcon said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Don’t worry about that. Your secret is safe with us. By the way, I am Sergeant Markus. This guy beside me goes by the name Mel Sarkoni, and the eager fellow that managed to make prisoners out of you is Rookie Samuel Frankin. You must forgive him; he is taking his job very seriously. He may just make a real Ranger someday.” His gaze wandered to Alita. She had taken a seat on a log beside Falcon. “You haven’t said anything, but it is clear you are a woman. And a Captain to boot.”

“Yes, to both observations. Is that so unusual?”

“Obviously not where you come from. Here in these parts, it is. We have no women in the Ranger Service. Neither are there any women in other law enforcement agencies.”

“That’s your loss,” Alita said.

Markus shrugged. “Perhaps it is. I can’t judge. That’s just the way it is around here. And we’re not even religious. Be careful when dealing with the religious fanatics. You may want to hide your identity.” He looked back at Falcon. “Where you’re headed?”

“Like I told your man already, our destination is the Scouts Outpost in Riwarda.”

“Why that one? What I mean, it’s nothing but a small office in a run-down old building that should be torn down.”

“You’re familiar with that outpost?”

“Not really. We have nothing to do with the scouts of which there aren’t many in the first place. I believe there’s another post in Ontura. Rima to be exact. I’ve never been there. Like I said, scouts on Aurora are as rare as a raindrop in the deserts of Mangali.”

Falcon bent forward. “I’m not surprised to hear that. Scouts are the first ones on a newly discovered planet to map it and to ensure it is fit for human colonists. Once that’s done, they don’t really have a job on that planet and are sent where they are needed. That’s when the military moves in.”

“We don’t have an army, which means no military men or bases. The majority of human inhabitants on Aurora belong to different religious groups. There is a little friction between them. Whatever problems they have with each other, they solve them. An army is not needed to keep the peace.” Markus sounded almost conceited. “I don’t like to brag, but we have little crime and violence on our world.”

“You must have some means to keep the peace and uphold the law. Do you have a large police force?”

“We do, but then again, what is considered a large police force? Some states may have more police than they need. I have to admit that.”

“If there is little crime and violence, a police force wouldn’t even be necessary.” Falcon couldn’t help but do a little bit of needling. “Tell me something else. What is the job of the Rangers?”

“We enforce the law. We do not serve only one state and are not bound by borders. The law of the Rangers supersedes any provincial law. Local police cannot challenge it.”

“I see. Another question. What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?”

Markus shifted his position on the log. “I don’t know if I should trust you with that information. After all, I don’t really know anything about you. You haven’t told me the reason for your presence here.”

Falcon tilted his head and stared at the Ranger, wondering what he should tell him. Markus gave the impression of being a person he could trust. “Tell you what, Sergeant. I will confide in you if you answer my question. After all, to me, you’re also a stranger. You may be involved in illegal activities.”

“Hold it there, Major.” Markus lifted both hands. “Everything I told you is on the up and up. If you must know, we are on the trail of a couple of dangerous criminals. You are fortunate we know what they look like, otherwise we may have mistaken you for our quarry and things may have ended not as peaceful.”

“How lucky for both of us.” Falcon didn’t hide his sarcasm. He turned his head and gave the young rooky a closer look. “Hey, Frankin. How would you have handled this had we been a pair of vicious murderers?”

“I had the drop on you and I’m pretty good with my rifle.” The young man’s words sounded brave, but Falcon detected a hint of fear. And rightfully so. He would have stood no chance against him and Alita, but he didn’t have to know that. Neither did the other two Rangers. His gaze moved back to Markus. “Alright. I will confide in you. But first I have to consult with my teammate.” He looked at Alita. “Is my trust in Ranger Markus justified?”

She gave him an affirmative nod. “It is, Major.”

“Good.” Falcon knew he could trust her words. All Accilla were telepaths. However, they did not use their ability to constantly read everyone’s mind. They did so only when it was justified.

“We are here to stop the invasion of the Osirians.”

“Osirians?” Markus scowled.

“That’s what they call their race. Those giant bugs that are trying to colonize one of the islands and are expanding. According to our information, they have set up a garrison in one of the states north of here. Ontura, I believe it is called. Apparently, many soldiers are stationed there. We received reports of small groups of Osirians raiding human ranches and stealing cattle. Don’t tell me you are not aware of this?”

The Ranger sat silent for a moment, staring into the flickering flames. When he looked up, his expression was solemn. “I don’t know where your information comes from. Yes, there are rumors, but they have not been confirmed. If they are true, we hope they are only isolated incidents. Hopefully, they will stay on that island, if in fact they are there. What harm could that do? There are other aliens living on Aurora, including the indigenous population. We get along fine with them.”

“This is different. All reports we have been able to gather indicate the Osirians are not a peaceful race. From the reports we’ve received, this group seems to be from one faction and doesn’t represent the Osirian Empire. Obviously, the Solar Union wants to prevent a full-scale war with the Osirians, which means we can’t come here with a battleship, guns blazing. It has to be done on a small scale, but we must and will stop this group before they get too powerful.”

Even in the flickering light from the fire, Falcon could see the expression of doubt on the Ranger’s face. Markus made a motion with his hand. “You two? You will stop these giant bugs? Is this a joke? I haven’t had any encounters with them and don’t know anyone who has. I know nothing about them. What I know is from reports only. They are taller than a human. They are fast and strong and possess advanced weaponry. With our primitive rifles that shoot projectiles, we don’t stand a chance in any confrontation with them. Not against weapons that fire bolts of lightning.”

Falcon smiled grimly. “We won’t be using primitive rifles, either. Neither will it be only the two of us taking them on. Captain Alita and I are here on a fact-finding mission. Our goal is to mark their positions on Aurora, find out how many of them are here, weaknesses in their defense system, and anything else we are up against.”

Markus shook his head from one side to the other. “Typical military talk. Once you find out all these things, what then?”

“Well, the first thing Alita and I will probably be doing is destroy the garrison they are setting up in the north.” He looked at Alita. “What is that state called again?”

“Ontura.”

“Right. Ontura. It shouldn’t be too difficult. Of course, we’ll have to check it out first.” He gave Markus a sharp look when the Ranger laughed. “What strikes you as funny in that? I don’t see any humor in it.”

“Everything you are telling me is beginning to sound funny, starting with that notion of wanting to destroy a garrison that may or may not be there. If it exists, do you really have any idea how many of those bugs could be in that place and what you may be up against? The two of you? I’m starting to wonder about you, questioning your sanity. What military branch did you say you are with?”

“I didn’t.”

“Well?”

“The ISS.”

“Which means?”

“Interstellar Secret Service.”

“Sounds very impressive, but it doesn’t tell me anything.” The Ranger yawned. “I’m getting tired. I think I’ll crawl into my blanket and go to sleep. I suggest you do the same thing. I suppose you have blankets in those backpacks you’re carrying?”

“Sleeping bags. We expected to spend time in the open.”

“We have some of the nicest landscape around here with beautiful meadows and clear lakes. Great for picnics.” Markus yawned again.

“We are not interested in a picnic, Sergeant Markus.” Falcon spoke with a cool voice. “You may not take us seriously, but mark my words, the days the Osirians will still be here on Aurora are numbered.”

“As long as you believe that, and it makes you happy.” Markus threw a few more logs onto the fire and got up. “I’m getting my blanket.”

Falcon nodded to Alita. “I guess we’ll do the same. We’ll move on tomorrow morning.” He lowered his voice. “I don’t trust these men. We’d better sleep lightly.”

Available
July 23, 2024

PRINT
Amazon

Genres

Sci-Fi

Erotica