Task Force Orion - Chapters 1 to 3

SERENDIPITY QUADRILOGY

 VOLUME TWO

 

Task Force Orion

 

Copyright Registration Number:

TXu 2-020-141

Dated:  09/27/16

 

 

SERENDIPITY QUADRILOGY

 VOLUME TWO

 

Task force Orion

 

Introduction

 

 

In the fifteen years since Orlando De La Viega and his expedition team were last on Planet Q, many things have transpired for the Littles, the Solans and Orlando himself.

 

The war against the Arizians, invaders from another part of the Milky Way Galaxy, had taken ten long years and though the members of the Galactic Web Council were victorious in their absolute and utter annihilation of the Arizians, the toll they had taken was enormous. 

 

Planet Earth, first devastated by the initial thermo-nuclear attacks, was then poisoned by the toxic radioactive fallout and has since been destroyed by the Arizian Accretion Weapon, a process that was put into place some one hundred and fifty years earlier.

 

The Solans, Humans from Planet Earth, and the strongest power in their quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy, had no defense against the Arizian Accretion Weapon, but they did have enough time to make a Species saving decision during the unstoppable attack which lasted eight long years. 

 

The decision was simple……relocate the Human Race to another Star System to avoid its extinction.   They chose a Planet previously colonized with no higher life forms to interfere with.  This Planet would be the Solans new home, a home they would call Planet Terra.

 

Immediately upon arrival for their military service, Orlando and Vai requested transfer to the Recon Team F.R.I.N.G.E. Division of the UPEC Defense Forces.  Their requests were granted and both Orlando and Vai were put into the “buddy system” where a couple could sign up for the same occupation and the same duty stations, following each other as they embark on military missions and move up in the ranks.

 

After enduring the grueling and lengthy Recon Team F.R.I.N.G.E. training program, both Orlando and Vai had been selected to be members. 

 

Orlando would be known as code name FRINGE November, while Vai would be known as code name FRINGE Juliette.

 

During the ten years of the Inter-Galactic War against the Arizians, FRINGE November embarked on many a dangerous mission.   He repeatedly and consistently displayed acts of courage and valor with no consideration to his own person, yet something set FRINGE November apart from his fellow soldiers, apart to a place devoid of external thought.   This capability gave him a distinct advantage over all other FRINGE team members to perform above and beyond the call of duty.

 

Because of this, FRINGE November was quickly promoted to the rank of Captain and was given Command of the Starship Forward, assigned to Task Force Hurricane. 

 

FRINGE November would lead the Forward into five battles against the Arizians.  Hard fought and victorious each time, FRINGE November made it through the gauntlet that was the Inter-Galactic War to return to his new home Planet of Terra, yet through it all, there was Vai, who helped Orlando keep his humanity amidst the many horrors of war.

 

Five years after the Inter-Galactic War had ended and the relocation to Planet Terra was complete, the UPEC approved Orlando De La Viega’s request to continue his mission to Planet Q, but with a heightened sense of urgency. 

 

The UPEC had decided that the sooner the Littles can become Star Travelers, the sooner they can be an ally in their distant quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy and hopefully prevent an attack from yet another foreign invader, and at that time, what came to the UPEC’s mind were the still as of yet unknown strangers in the caskets found on Orlando’s previous mission to Planet Q.

 

Orlando and his team will be part of Task Force Orion to fulfill both his original mission to assist the Littles in their evolution and to construct the Planetary Transportation Grid he had envisioned so many years ago, while a Pyrthonian Starship will relocate the Pyrthonian contingent on Planet Q to the Eta Carinae Nebula.

 

But upon his return to Planet Q, Orlando soon realizes that not is all as it was or as he had hoped. 

 

While most of the Littles have embraced the more sedentary lifestyle, which was the basis of Orlando’s original mission, there were a few Littles who took it upon themselves to acquire by force, what the others had built over time, yet another example of the aggressive side effect of higher intelligence attained by Project Serendipity.  

 

As negative as this aggressive side effect was, its nature would be instrumental to the formation of the C.I.C., a homegrown and clandestine organization of secret soldiers dedicated to the eradication of a scourge that has descended upon Planet Q from within………..a scourge that threatens its very existence. 

 

And lastly, Commodore Guy Strom will lead a research expedition of five Starships out past Planet Q and into an as of yet uncharted quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy where they will encounter the dangerous Monarchs of the Galactic Web.

 

All of this while two alien species have their eyes on the far away Planet Q, located at the lone end of a String of the Galactic Web.

 

The Star Jump Chronicles presentation of the Serendipity Quadrilogy Volume 2, Task Force Orion will tell the continuing story of Orlando De La Viega’s interaction with the Littles of Planet Q. 

 

 

 

My Best,

 

Alejandro Del Rey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

LOCATION:  THE CONTINUATION SPACE DOCKING STATION IN ORBIT ABOVE MIRA,

ONE OF THE THREE HABITABLE MOONS OF THE SOLANS NEW HOME OF PLANET TERRA

 

 

After fifteen long years since he was last on Planet Q, Orlando De La Viega is set to return, but this time he is accompanied by Task Force Orion.

 

Task Force Orion is a daunting armada of Starships assembled for one of the most ambitious rescue, construction and research expeditions that has ever been undertaken in this far off corner of the Milky Way Galaxy.  

 

Task Force Orion was formed to escort Orlando De La Viega to Planet Q to continue his mission to assist the Littles in their evolution, which was abandoned fifteen years ago due to the Inter-Galactic War against the Arizians and to also construct a Planetary Wide Power Grid to connect the Littles of Q to each other in an attempt to form a Planet wide unity while also relocating the Pyrthonian contingent to the Eta Carinae Nebula.

 

Additionally, after securing Orlando and his teams on Planet Q, the frontline Starships of Task Force Orion, The Heavens, Cobalt, Sioux, Mezucan and Noble will venture farther out and into what is currently an uncharted quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy searching for any possible allies…….or potential foes.

 

In a technological improvement, all UPEC Starships are now completely “green”.  In addition to the Ambient Plasma Scoop, they no longer carrying a finite number of nuclear weapons with pre-defined megatons to provide the boost the Starships need to enter and exit a Star Jump. 

 

Rather, these Starships are now equipped with the On Demand Boost Charge system or ODBC which can automatically detect the amount of nuclear boost necessary for a target Star Jump and issue yield quantities directly into the Boost Weapon Matrix and produce the exact number of mega-tons necessary for each nuclear boost.

 

While, in practice, this new system has worked flawlessly and in most cases has revealed better yield quantities for nuclear boosts where the calculations are already known, it will now be field tested as Commodore Strom will lead Task Force Orion into Star Jumps never before undertaken.

 

Additional advancements in technology have increased these Starships ability to be able to make two Star Jumps per day thereby reducing the length of the trip to Planet Q by half, though with Star 151211 having gone Supernova since the Solans last visit, an alternate route is now necessary making the journey from Terra to Planet Q a six week Solan endeavor.

 

Task Force Orion will also be joined by the fast and specialized Pyrthonian Starship, The Star Traveler, which was built with the capability of making four Star Jumps per day. 

 

Indeed, the Pyrthonians have decided to allow their Species to become Star Travelers, and after the Inter-Galactic war against the Arizians, they now realize that their powers are a necessary weapon in keeping the peace in their quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy and possibly beyond.

 

While assisting the Pyrthonians with their integration into the Star Traveling community, the Solans have found their greatest ally.  The sharing of their technologies and powers has led to a major advancement in the Solan excursion suits, just one item amongst many others which have impacted Solan life.

 

The Star Traveler will take the Pyrthonians from Planet Q to the seven habitable Planets of the Eta Carinae Nebula to join what is left of the rest of their Species after their home Planet of Niktos was also destroyed by an Arizian Accretion Weapon.

 

The Pyrthonians on Planet Q or, the New Baradans as they like to be called, will be ceded two Star Systems in the Eta Carinae Nebula to live their lives as they wish.

 

Also part of Task Force Orion are the five deep space mining and heavy equipment carrying Planet Lander Starships, Wanaku, Wakkan, Memphis, Uralite, Xian and the Indus along with their compliment of five support ships each, all carrying the machinery and material necessary for the mission at hand, while the terrain clearing air-breathing craft, the Grazer, will assist in setting the foundation for the Base Camp, Site 1 and for all other Sites as necessary.

 

These Planet Lander Starships are some of the oldest in service, but after the devastation of the Inter-Galactic War against the Arizians, these Starships are all the UPEC had available for this mission.  They require a massive re-supply of fuel and repair materials before returning to Space travel after fulfilling the landing and support missions on Planet Q.

 

In addition, since the end of the war, the UPEC has decreed that any UPEC Starships leaving the Terran Star System will be accompanied by a Star Jump Command Starship.  This new doctrine would take away from the available lot of many Starships which would normally be used for travel or research into combat ships.

 

The Star Jump Command, or TSJC as some have come to refer to it, is a conglomeration of Species dedicated to the safe travel amongst the Stars of the sentient beings that inhabit them.   They share all technological advances in Star Jump technology as well as any substantial findings of the many journeys they undertake.

The Heavens, the Starship that originally brought Orlando to Planet Q so many years ago is still commanded by Guy Strom though he has since been promoted to Commodore and is now in Command of Task Force Orion with Major Jana Kovina as Task Force Orion’s second in command, staying behind to oversee Orlando’s mission. 

 

The Heavens has been completely redesigned in both form and function and is now designated as The Heavens-N, a nod to the new electro-magnetic shielding system, the NO-RESS, as have all military Starships of the newly formed Star Jump Command.

 

The Continuation Space Docking Station is abuzz with shuttles and space craft of all kind, bustling about, in and around the station, as the final preparations are being made to launch Task Force Orion.

 

Joining Orlando on The Heavens is his wife and fellow Cultural Advisor Vai De La Viega, while Leo Taylor, Orlando’s anthropologist from his previous expedition to Planet Q is on this mission to accompany the Pyrthonians to the Eta Carinae Nebula. 

 

Orlando has also assembled a six Site Cultural Advisory Team for the Sites as listed on the mission manifest:

 

Site 1:  Base Camp

Site 2:  Main Power Plant

Site3:   Relay Site East

Site 4:  Relay Site West

Site 5:  Energy Compilation and Transfer Station One

Site 6:  Energy Compilation and Transfer Station Two

 

Supporting this compliment of Cultural Advisors on their mission to Q will be an array of Architects, Engineers, Physicists, Medical Officers and their respective teams.

 

The mission will also be supported by the Medical Starship Arcadia, commanded by Captain Monica Halston who just so happens to be the Arcadia’s Chief Medical Officer and also known as Dr. Monica. 

 

At Orlando’s request, the orbital space platform BX-101, or The BOX with CLAIRE and her KIDS will accompany the mission to Planet Q and with the Carnitan Star System just two Star Jumps away, additional support is just around the corner…..

 

 

In his State Room aboard the Continuation Space Docking Station, Mr. Qin-Shi Huang Cultural Advisor of Site 2 Main Power Plant hears a knock at his door.  Answering it he is greeted by Yeoman Grant.

 

Yeoman Grant:  Mr. Huang, I have a personal and confidential communications crystal for you.

 

Yeoman Grant holds out her hand and presents the crystal to Mr. Huang.

 

Qin-Shi:  Why thank you, Yeoman, that will be all.

 

Yeoman Grant:  Yes, sir.

 

Qin-Shi closes the door then walks over to his computer station, takes a seat and inserts the communications crystal.  The monitor turns on and appearing on center screen is his clandestine contact, Miss Xi Long with her straight long black hair, parted perfectly down the middle.  She is seated on a couch wearing a snug dark blue dress which cups her neck and with short sleeves, it fits to just below her knees.

 

Xi Long:  Mr. Huang, They have advised me to inform you that the funds have been transferred into your account.  The advance team has been sprinkling the Planet with Mutagen G for the past two thousand years Planet time.  The inhabitants should be primed and ready for your arrival.  They also wanted me to inform you that if your mission is not successful, there will be serious and deadly repercussions.  Make it happen or else, They said……..Xi Long out.

 

The monitor then turns black with silence.  Qin-Shi stares blankly at the monitor and realizes gravity of his situation while also pondering his pending retirement with the riches he is about to earn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION:  THE CHALAMARI DESERT ON PLANET SO-NEE IN THE TUEL STAR SYSTEM, FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND LIGHT YEARS FROM PLANET Q

 

The Chalamari Desert is but just one of five desert continents of Planet So-Nee and lies amongst twenty-three other continents which by contrast, are lush and fertile, but it is also a place that is so uninhabitable that anyone who comes out here has a lot to lose………or a lot to gain.

 

Ar:  COME ON!!..COME ON!!

 

As Ar stands at the Ready Door of his landing craft, the Arachnid, his thumb is eagerly resting on the open button.  He is anxiously waiting to give the order to pick up Akun and via com-link he is furiously yelling at him to ride as fast as he can. 

 

As Akun rides his quadruped pack animal, with its long neck and opposed eyes, appearing much like a cross between a horse and a camel in the direction of the pick-up point, he is also being chased by Sheriff Skylar and his Posse from the Town of Tosheeb.

 

Ar:  FASTER!!!!...FASTER!!!!...THEIR GAINING ON YOU!!!

 

Akun:  I’M PUSHING THIS THING AS FAST AS I CAN!!!  WHY CAN’T YOU JUST SURFACE NOW?,……..AHHHH!!!!

 

Ar:  WE CANT’T GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO STOP AND SET UP THEIR LAAMB UNTIL THERE IS ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND THEM….......NOW COME ON!!!.....AKUFU, GET READY TO SURFACE!

 

Akufu:  Ready…..he’s passing over us just now…. a few more seconds…..

 

As Akun passes the point of STS or, Safe To Surface, Akufu activates the Arachnid’s Surface Drive.

 

The Arachnid begins its trek to the surface of the Chalamari Desert as its eight legs beneath the landing craft begin a spinning and climbing maneuver under the desert floor and driving the Arachnid to the surface. 

 

Like a whale rising out of the ocean, The Arachnid shoots up from below the desert, in

between Akun and Sheriff Skylar’s Posse, blowing out rock, sand and dust in all directions. 

 

As it surfaces and the dust clears all that can be seen is a round and silvery spinning

dome, when suddenly, the dome rises up even further to reveal that it sits at the center of a silvery circular platform which angles downward and outward, and which is spinning at a high rate of speed, so fast that it is also causing further rock, sand, dust and debris to be shot out in all directions around the Arachnid’s surface zone.

 

As the silvery dome and disc come to an abrupt stop, a section of the dome then slides open

from right to left and a doorway is revealed.  It appears to be similar to a slice of pie standing

its wide end at the bottom and its pointy part at the top……and standing in the doorway is Ar.

 

Sheriff Skylar’s posse’s advance is suddenly halted by the surfacing of the Arachnid. 

 

They slow down and come to an abrupt stop as they are surrounded by the swirling dust and dirt kicked up from the sands beneath them.  Hurriedly, they dismount and rush to set up their LAAMB to take out the Arachnid. 

 

Ar:  Well….don’t just stand there, get a move on!

 

Akun runs the short distance to the Arachnid and jumps into the silvery dome just as Ar hits the switch to close the doors.

 

The Arachnid then shoots up and out of the desert floor to a height of fifty feet revealing a second section to the landing craft which is connected to the silvery disc and is oblong in shape. 

 

The Arachnid then returns to the ground as it bounces up and down in three successive sessions on its eight long and spindly legs which are universally jointed at three separate points down their length, giving the Arachnid the ultimate land mobility as it slowly comes to a rest looking like a Daddy Long Legs spider.

 

The bottom of the Arachnid shows itself to be a flat surface, its silhouette broken only by the downward facing large exhaust port at its center as the eight legs are evenly spaced around the circular disc and oblong shaped cargo section of the ship. 

 

Once ship stability has been established, Akufu then activates the Arachnids Land Mobility Drive and all of the eight legs of the Arachnid begin working in unison to move it away from the surface point as a spider would crawl about the desert.

 

Sheriff Skylar’s LAAMB Team sets up their weapon and just as they activate the Nuclear Fusion Generator and calibration is complete and they are ready to fire, the Arachnid activates its Blast Engines and suddenly rockets up an away at a forty-five-degree angle causing the LAAMB to miss by…….“just that much”.  Evasive maneuvers keep the Arachnid safe from the shots of Sheriff Skylar’s LAAMB.

 

After clearing atmosphere and in the safety of Space the Arachnid docks with the Starship Blue Moon.  

 

The main body of the Blue Moon is reminiscent of a crescent moon lying on its side with the thickest part of the Starship at the rear, while it gradually decreases in girth as it semi-circles towards the front of the craft.

 

Not built for safety, the Blue Moon has no Quarter-Deck to separate the main body of the Starship to the Engine Deck, as it sits directly behind the crescent shaped Main Deck.

 

The Engine Deck is of standard Star Jump engine design with four nuclear fusion engines located at each of the four corners of the square shaped deck and one large exhaust port in the center for the nuclear boost exhaust.

 

Ar, Akufu and Akun, brothers of the Aten Clan from Planet Amun in the Anubis Star System, make their way to the cramped, small Bridge of the Blue Moon and settle into their seats.  Akufu pilots the ship while Ar turns his head backwards to face Akun………….

 

Ar:  Akun, we can’t keep doing these types of missions!

 

Akun:  What are you talking about, that was fun!

 

Ar:  Fun???  You call trying to steal twenty tons of Sulfultanium and almost getting our butts shot off fun?

 

Akun:  Yeah, but the Mayor’s daughter was a hottie!

 

Ar:  No!...No!  No daughter’s, no women, just work, okay?  Akufu, you’re his buddy…….tell him, this is work. 

 

Akufu:  Gentlemen…..it has come to my attention that there is an obscure Planet with a single connection to the Galactic Web which is ripe for the taking.  Maybe that should be our next mission?

 

Ar then takes a comfortable position in is bridge seat and snaps back.

 

Ar:  What are you talking about?

 

Akun:   Yeah, what do you mean “ripe for the taking”?

 

Akufu:  I meant just what I said.  This Planet is inhabited by a diminutive round head species. 

 

Rumor has it that they are some kind of genetic copy of the Solans, but on a decidedly smaller scale and still at the Copper Age of their evolution.

 

Akun:  Diminutive round heads, huh?...Copper Age?  And by diminutive, how diminutive would you say they are?

 

Akufu:  Oh, I’d say the tallest of their species would on come up to our chest level while most would be slightly smaller.

 

Akun:   And the women?  What are they like?

 

Akufu:  I understand they are similar to our women, very beautiful and yes, if you’re asking if mating is possible with their kind, yes, it is, though I wouldn’t plan on starting a tribe of Akuns anytime soon.  No one can say what the mixing of our genes will produce, so bring your rain coat.

               

Akun:  YOU GOT IT, I’M IN!

 

Akufu:  Yeah, so okay…..anyway these Solans supposedly taught them a sedentary lifestyle including farming. 

 

Ar:  And this is important, why?

 

Akufu:  Well, since the Solans have not been there in nine thousand years, Planet time, and after the Inter-Galactic War and all, I’m sure they have forgotten all about them. 

 

I say we go there, set ourselves up as Gods, do a little hocus-pocus magic show and get them to farm that Planet while we reap the rewards of selling the harvest to the highest bidder.  There are a lot of hungry Planets out there that have ruined their own eco-systems, but refuse to leave and thus rely only on Inter-Galactic commerce to survive.  Annnnd we can live in the lap of luxury…..all of our needs met.

 

Akun:  Diminutive round heads……don’t you just love ‘em?

 

As Akun makes that statement, he slowly takes off his excursion helmet to reveal an elongated head reaching backwards and away from his face. 

 

While large at the front and approximately one-foot-long, it slowly decreases in size as it finally tapers off at the end and to a blunt point.  He shakes his head up and down and round and about then takes a deep breath and using a towel, wipes off the sweaty confines of the excursion helmet.

 

Akun:  Whew!

 

As Akun removes the rest of his excursion suit, his body is revealed to be tall and lanky.  Dark skinned, his face is pointy at the tip of his nose yet it gradually sloops backwards and outwards pulling his features up and back revealing black eyes with an elongated almond shape. 

 

His fingers are long and thin, yet similarly anthropomorphic to the Littles and could pass as one of them though slightly larger, thinner and just a little bit different.

 

Ar:  We have another job already planned, or have you two both forgotten?  We are expected on Planet Tsunam in the Kit-Ti Star System to round up, train and sell a herd of Kotsoos to the highest bidders.  Beaucoup credits are waiting for us on that job, and with the bath we just took on So-Nee back there we will re-coop our losses many times over.

 

Akun:  Great, hanging out on Tsunam training a bunch of Kotsoos to ride and fight.

 

Ar:  Akufu, we will re-visit this obscure Planet of yours when this next mission is over.  Make way to the Kit-Ti Star System.

 

Akufu:  On our way………

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION:  PLANET MEATON, IN THE CARNITAN STAR SYSTEM

 

Orlando meets with Carnitan Ambassador Yawmchum as Task Force Orion stops by on its journey to Planet Q and beyond.

 

Yawmchum:  This is excellent meat you bring, Orlando!  What do you call this meat?  Mmmm, arrsch, grobble, mmmm arrrm.   Yes, excellent meat indeed.

 

Orlando:  We call it, uh, oh Kobe Beef your Excellency and we just love it, too!

 

Later that evening, on the Bridge of The Heavens, Science Officer Oktomi Wakawenbe shows Commodore Strom the latest Star Reports on the last two Star Jumps of the journey.

 

Commodore Strom:  Are you sure about this Red Giant connecting Q to the Galactic Web?  The last time we were here it was eight hundred light years distant and now you’re telling me its seven hundred forty-two lights away?

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe:  Yes sir.  I double and triple checked my findings.  There is no doubt. 

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe points his finger to the report pad following a projected trajectory of the Red Giant.

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe:  It will continue along this path here reaching a minimum distance of six hundred and forty-one light years to Q before veering off in this direction and then…….yeah.

 

Commodore Strom:  And these Star events…..This one happening here at this point and the second one here fourteen thousand years later Planet time?

 

Science Office Wakawenbe:  Yes, the first one will be bothersome for the inhabitants of Q, though definitely survivable if they are prepared, but this second event?  Let’s just hope that by then they will have attained Star Jump capability or can otherwise understand the concept.

 

Commodore Strom:  I will inform Mr. De La Viega as his mission will still be underway during this first event and they will just have to deal with the second event when the time comes.  I don’t know what the UPEC has planned regarding a long term presence on Q, but we should inform them of both events.

 

Science Office Wakawenbe:  Yessir.

 

Commodore Strom:  And what about this Gamma Ray spike in Sector 74?

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe:  I’m afraid, it’s Them, Sir.

 

Commodore Strom:  Hmmm, it would appear so.   Pull up the charts from The Heavens last mission to Q and check the location of the last Gamma Ray spike.

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe:  Aye, Sir………………………..Coming up now………got it, the charts show that the Gamma Ray spike was in Sector 75.

 

Commodore Strom:  Just as I remember.  Projected trajectory of current spike?

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe:  Difficult to say at this time, Sir.  Skirting on the edge of Sectors 74 and 73, I’d say.

 

Commodore Strom:  Looks like they’re getting closer.  Include this in your report to the UPEC with a recommendation that they should keep an eye on this situation.

 

Science Officer Wakawenbe:  Aye, Sir!

 

Task Force Orion then takes a two-day journey to Planet Q and settles into a distinct and organized orbit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION:  IN THE STAGING BAY OF THE BOX IN ORBIT ABOVE PLANET Q

 

With the twenty-five strong Command Crew of Task Force Orion assembled and seated, they are adorned in their E.M.A.G.S while Orlando and the Advance Team are wearing their next generation excursion suits minus their helmet and gloves.  Sleek and form fitting when fully activated, they appear loose and baggy.

 

Orlando then stands and walks up to the podium and speaks………

 

Orlando:  First off, I’d like to thank you all for your participation in this mission.  Task Force Orion will undertake three truly noble tasks. 

 

The first is to relocate the Pyrthonian contingent on Q to the Eta Carinae Nebula. 

 

The second is to continue the mission which had to be abandoned fifteen years ago to assist in the Littles in their evolution and to construct a Planet Wide Electro-Magnetic Power Grid which will allow them to travel to other parts of Q so that they can see that they are not alone on this Planet.

 

Our hope is that this awareness would convince them to give up their aggressive nature towards each other while also putting them on a path to becoming Star Travelers and possibly as an ally in this distant quarter of the Galaxy.

 

And the third is that Commodore Guy Strom will lead a research expedition of four Starships out past Q and into the as of yet uncharted reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy.

 

In regards to the mission on Q, I posited to the UPEC that maybe a multi-cultural approach to this project would be in the best interest to us and the Littles this time around, they agreed and here we are. 

 

Each of you Cultural Advisors and your teams were selected by the UPEC to represent the best of who we Solans, the Human Race are to the Littles on Q as this contact will have a permanent effect on your host populations by bringing your cultures to theirs and theirs to ours.

 

The Advance Team here beside me consisting of Vai De La Viega, Leo Taylor, Dr. Monica Halston, Mrs. Shree Prashkati, Cultural Advisor of Site 4 and her team are set to depart within the hour to make contact with the Pyrthonians as Q’s Star is just setting over the horizon now at that location.  While we are on Planet, I want the rest of you to survey your respective Sites during the daylight hours.   Mr. Steed Veracocha, you are to begin the construction of Base Camp, Site 1 at once.

 

Mr. Steed Veracocha:  Yes Sir, Captain De La Viega my team is ready and assembled.

 

A flat surface map of Planet Q suddenly appears behind Orlando on a virtual projection screen.

 

Orlando:  Now to the PPG or Planetary Power Grid.  Behind me you will see a map of Q.  The bulk of the land masses are in the southern hemisphere.  This is the half of Q where the Planetary Power Grid will be built. 

 

Using the power plant and relay Sites, the energy generated will directed to a specific point at the south magnetic pole which will then trickle back down and over the entire southern hemisphere flowing along Planet Q’s natural Telluric Lines.

 

Suddenly a voice shouts out from the audience, “Excuse me, but Telluric Lines?”.

 

Orlando:  Uhh, yes, the Telluric Lines.  These are lines that permeate a Planet’s surface and contain naturally concentrated electro-magnetic energy. 

 

In this instance they emanate deep from within the surface of the Planet Q, from its liquid iron core and are like wavy grid lines that run up through the mantle, through the crust, to the surface and out into space, for over 40,000 miles. 

 

The Planetary Power Grid will direct the electricity created, first up into the Ionosphere, then shoot it back down to Q, to the point where we have determined is the place on Q where the Telluric Lines energy emanates.

 

This additional influx of electricity will increase the electrical energy around the Telluric Lines of Q and spread it about the entire southern hemisphere providing the electro-magnetic energy necessary for the Planetary Power Grid.

 

Conversely, in the northern hemisphere, you will notice that there are three continents that extend up and outward from the equator to the north pole of Q.  This is where Base Camp, Site 1 will be set up, far away from the rest of the population of Q.

 

Being that the Base Camp, Site 1 needs to be situated as far away from the Planetary Power Grid as possible, we have chosen this continent on the left here for that Site.  As you can see it is thick at its center but tapers off at its end as it reaches toward the north pole land mass continent which is perpetually covered in ice and snow.

 

It was chosen not only for its location over the other two northern hemisphere continents, but also for its abundance of minerals which will be mined for support missions on Q, repairs and fuel to return the Planet Lander Starships to Space travel.

 

Site 3 will be well below Base Camp and just inside the northern hemisphere while the rest of the Sites are deep into the southern hemispheres and as you can see they are all situated along Planet Q’s Telluric Lines. 

 

If there are no other questions, we’ll meet up here again in twenty-four hours to report back initial findings on your Site surveys.

 

As the briefing ends, CLAIRE announces an incoming communication from Commodore Guy Strom.

 

CLAIRE:  Meijo, Commodore Strom is hailing us.

 

Orlando:  On visual, please.

 

CLAIRE:  Why certainly, Meijo, on visual now.

 

The virtual projection screen lights up again and reveals a split screen of four images, two by two and on top of each other. 

 

At the center of each of the screens are the Captains of the Starships they command.   From left to right and top to bottom is Commodore Guy Strom commanding The Heavens, Captain Evgeny Ivanoff of the Cobalt, Captain Ephraim Zapata of the Mezucan, Captain Marla MacReady of the Sioux and Captain Bulford T. Dogman of the Noble.

 

Orlando:  This is Orlando De La Viega, yes Commodore?

 

Commodore Strom:  Mr. De La Viega, now that your team has been secured on Q, The Heavens and the rest of Task Force Orion is set to depart.  Is there anything you need from us before we leave?

 

Orlando:  No Sir Commodore Strom.  Your Starships have been exemplary on our travels to Q.  I thank you for your escort and I wish you safe Star Jumps.

 

Commodore Strom:  Thank you and good luck with your mission on Q and I leave you in the capable hands of Major Jana Kovina, Commodore Strom out.

 

Major Kovina turns and walks over to the Advance Team and as she approaches in a military yet sexy way she addresses Orlando.

 

Major Kovina:  Mr. De La Viega, we’ll see you back here in twenty-four hours, yes?

 

Orlando:  Twenty-four hours, yes.

 

Major Kovina:  Great, I’ll see you then.

 

The Advance Team then exits the Staging Bay and into the Planetary Transfer Bay to board LC-1A bound for Pyrthonian encampment on Q.

 

As door to the Fourier opens Orlando and his Advance Team, ten in all, enter as Vai whispers into Orlando’s ear.

 

Vai:  What was that ‘We’ll see you back here’ all about?

 

Orlando:  She was our trainer in Flight School, don’t you remember?

 

Vai:  Oh, yes, I remember….she just seemed a little friendly.

 

Orlando:  Well, I guess she’s a friendly woman.

 

Orlando is then suddenly rushed by the KIDS in their eagerness to greet him. 

 

The Fourier is abuzz with the echo of gears whizzing, hydraulic pumps expanding and contracting and the pitter-patter of mechanical feet pounding the floor of the Planetary Transfer Bay as the KIDS approach Orlando, and as they reach up to greet him, they take his hands and usher his body over and away from the others…….

 

Shelly:  Hi….y’all looking mighty fine.

 

Sammy:  I say, good to see you old chap!

 

Suzie:  I knew you’d come back so see me Big Boy, Ooooh!

 

Louie:  Missster De La Viegaaa….You’re Back!

 

Johnny:  Dude, like totally awesome!

 

Debbie:  Oh yeah, you betcha, oh yeah!

 

Katie:  Nice to see you again, my pretty….and you’re little dog, too!

 

Chica:  Hola, Meeesta Orlando!

 

Billy:  Requested us, did ya?  You feeling lucky?

 

Rusty:  Now what we’ve got here is a successful reunion.

 

Sandy:  Oh, my, tomorrow IS another day!

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Dave, but it’s great to see you.

 

CLAIRE:  My sentiments exactly, Meijo, welcome back to The Box.

 

Orlando:  Hey, KIDS….CLAIRE.  Yes, it has been a long time and yes, I specifically requested your support on this mission and I’m sure you won’t let me or my teams down and now might I introduce my Advance Team?

 

KIDS, you know Vai and Leo and this is Dr. Monica Halston and this is Cultural Advisor Mrs. Shree Prashkati and her team.

 

CLAIRE:  Now KIDS say hello to our guests.

 

In unison and in loud screaming voices, the KIDS respond…….

 

KIDS:  HELLO TO OUR GUESTS!!!!

 

The KIDS then break out in a joint laughter while they snicker and snort, fist bump and slap high fives amongst each other while bouncing up and down to the sounds of whizzing gears and hydraulic pumps.

 

Dr. Monica Halston:  My but they are an animated bunch aren’t they?

 

Vai:  You haven’t seen the half of it.

 

Orlando:  CLAIRE is LC-1A prepped and ready for flight?

 

CLAIRE:  Why, yes, Meijo, you just need to select two pilots for your mission.

 

Orlando:  Oh, no, not that again.

 

Suddenly the KIDS begin jumping up and down, raising their arms and hands to garner Orlando’s attention, ‘Me, me, take me’..’No me”…’Not her, me’….’I’m the bestest pilot, pick me’ when suddenly Orlando cuts them off while raising and lowering his arms……

 

Orlando:  Wait, wait, wait now….quiet down.

 

The KIDS then stop their antics and listen attentively as Orlando speaks.

 

Orlando:  Well, since we last met, I have been promoted to the rank of Captain and have become quite a proficient pilot myself.

 

Shelly:  Hee Haw, a Captain huh?  Well I’ll be hog tied!

 

Johnny:  Dude……..shiver my timbers!  Huh, huh, huh.

 

Sammy:  I say, moving up in the world Guvnah!

 

Suzie:  Hey Big Boy, you’re the Captain of my heart!

 

Vai:  Now, Suzie?

 

Katie:  Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum….and you’re little dog, too!

 

Louie:  Skipperrrrrrr!

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, but that’s great news, Dave.

 

Chica:  Si, mi El Capppy……Tahn!

 

Debbie:  One if by land, two if by sea, oh yeah, you betcha, oh yeah!

 

Sandy:  You’ll never go hungry again!

 

Billy:  I guess you feel lucky, don’t you?

 

Rusty:  Now what we’ve got here is…..

 

KIDS:  AWWWE, SHUT UP BOBBIE!

 

Johnny:  Like, Dude, you’re gonna need a co-pilot aren’t you?

 

Suddenly Vai intervenes……..

 

Vai:  Well KIDS…..Sorry, but I’ve actually become a pretty good pilot myself and I will be Orlando’s co-pilot on this mission.

 

Johnny:  Dudette, like what a total gyp!

 

Sammy:  I say….a gyp?  What a rip!

 

Katie:  Phooey…..and that goes for your little dog, too!

 

Suzie:  Fiddlesticks, Big Boy!

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, Dave, but that just sucks lake water.

 

Shelly:  Nu-uhhhh!

 

Chica:  This is so estupido!

 

Louie:  Not fair, Missster De La Viegaaa.

 

Sandy:  Oh well, tomorrow’s another day.

 

Debbie:  Awwwe Mannnn!....Oh yeah, you betcha, oh yeah.

 

Rusty:  Now what we’ve got here is a conspiracy to defraud.

 

Billy:  Guess you’re feeling lucky aren’t you?

 

Orlando:  Now KIDS, there are six Site teams which will need two pilots each for their respective landing crafts so you will all be paired up in teams of two for this mission.  You’ll get to fly, but just not with us. 

 

Make me proud!  Fulfill your mission!  Be the best you can be!  KIDS ROCK! 

 

Let me hear you say it……KIDS ROCK!

 

In unison and at the top of their collective speakers the KIDS reply……

 

KIDS:  KIDS ROCK!!!!

 

Orlando:  Okay then, let’s get on it!

 

Orlando then ushers the KIDS back to the group.

 

Orlando:  KIDS, you know Vai and Leo and this is Dr. Monica Halston, Captain of the Medical Starship Arcadia, but you can just call her Dr. Monica and this is Mrs. Shree Prashkati and her team.

 

Sammy:  I say, a doctor?  Like Dr. Who?

 

Chica:  Who?

 

Sammy:  Who!  Dr. Who!

 

Chica:  Who?

 

Billy:  Dr. Monica, I have this pain in my side, just about here, a shot from that punk!  Do ya feel lucky?  Well do ya?

 

Dr. Monica:  Well, I uh…..I’m not uhhhh….

 

Johnny:  A doctor, huh, huh, huh….I wanted to be a doctor, but I didn’t have the patience, huh, huh, huh….Like totally tubular, Dudette!

 

Dr. Monica:  Well, that’s uhhhh, understandable enough.

 

Katie:  Well my pretty doctor, I hope you brought your little dog too!

 

Dr.  Monica:  My little dog?

 

Sandy:  Well bless my little heart a doctor to take care of all of us on Tara.  Tomorrow IS another day!

 

Orlando:  Okay, KIDS, we have a mission to attend to, so now, if you all will please step back, the Advance Team and I are preparing to board LC-1A.

 

As the KIDS step backwards, the Advance Team then seal up their excursion suits which are streamlined as opposed to the bulky and uncomfortable suits they wore on their last mission to Q.

 

Beige in color, these new suits are an easy to slip into and flexible Uni which zips up from the crotch in the front all the way up to the helmet brace around the neck and just below the chin. 

 

The legs of the suit then attach to the boots in a snap while the helmet, also flexible in design, falls flatly over its occupant’s head then twists on as do the gloves. 

 

In a rectangular box on the left chest of each excursion suit is embroidered, all in caps and black in color, is the last name and first initial of each crew member while on the left shoulder is the Star Jump Command Logo, a picture depicting a Star with the path of a Starship entering the Galactic Web along with the announcement of that entrance by the flash of light!

 

With their helmets firmly sealed the Advance Team’s heads-up controls lights to life right in front of their eyes.

 

The occupants can then simply look at the Pressurize Command on the inside of the face mask, blink their eyes once and the suit pressurizes around their bodies in a thin, yet strong layer of horizontally ribbed carbon-fiber mesh which instantly reveals their individual athletic physics like a second skin but just a little poufy. 

 

As all Solan Space travelers are required to maintain their bodies in prime condition, the difference in the sexes is abundantly clear. 

 

The entire head is visible through the clear face mask which is vertically oval in shape from an inch above crown of the head to just below the chin and just a little beyond ear to ear.

 

Powered by a lightweight and compact Nuclear Fusion Engine encased in Sulfultanium on its small backpack, the new suit can provide its occupant with an endless supply of atmosphere for an indefinite period of time on Q, as the sharing of technologies with the Pyrthonians has allowed the designers of this new excursion suit to develop a way to extract gasses from the ambient atmosphere, filtering out the ones it doesn’t want and keeping only the ones it needs to provide the occupant with a sustainable supply of breathable air just as the Pyrthonians do naturally.

 

And like all new excursion suits, they are also Auto-E.M.A.G.S. enabled which can automatically identify its occupant’s height and weight measurements and adjust the electro-magnetic field surrounding the suit, holding them to the ground at just the right calculations while also applying the amount of repulsive force for their auto-thrusters while on Q.

 

Orlando:  Operational check, everyone good?

 

One by one the Advance Team acknowledges the securing of their excursion suits to Orlando with a “Thumbs Up”.

 

Orlando:  CLAIRE, we are all set, will you please depressurize the Planetary Transfer Bay now?

 

CLAIRE:  Yes, Meijo, depressurizing now.

 

In a rushing noise of air, the Planetary Transfer Bay is removed of its atmosphere and then there is only silence as they are now in the vacuum of Space. 

 

The Advance Team then boards LC-1A and as the door seals up Orlando and Vai take the pilots seats while the rest of the team strap in to their positions in the Passenger Bay to prepare for departure.

 

 Soon after settling in and LC-1A had been pressurized for travel, the rest of Advance Team in the Passenger Bay can hear what sounds like squishing and gurgling noises coming from the Cargo Bay behind them…..faint, but there just the same.

 

Orlando:  Deactivating electro-magnetic locks, engines on.

 

LC-1A then lifts up and off of the floor of the Bay while the auto control thrusters keep it steady at five feet off of the ground.

 

CLAIRE:  Electro-magnetic force field on the Bay doors is set to 121.5 hertz.

 

Orlando:  121.5 hertz…. got it.  Orlando sets the electro-magnetic force field surrounding LC-1A to 121.5 hertz allowing the landing craft to merge with the force field as is exits The Box. 

 

Slowly he nudges the thrusters forward and as the landing craft moves toward the Bay doors, Orlando looks over to the KIDS and waves his right hand good-bye.

 

Orlando:  Bye KIDS, see you soon!

 

The KIDS then wave back at Orlando in the Pilots seat in LC-1A and shout in unison:  ‘Bye, bye’…‘see you later alligator’…’after a while crocodile’…‘make like a tree and leave’……they then burst out in childish laughter.

 

LC-1A exits The Box and as it clears the Bay doors, the plasma engines light to life propelling the landing craft out and away in an orange glowing plume of plasma and on towards Q below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

As LC-1A enters the atmosphere of Q, Orlando and Vai discuss their return.

 

Vai:  How are you feeling, babe?

 

Orlando:  A little nervous, a little excited and a lot relieved. 

 

Vai:  I know it’s been a long time but you are finally keeping your promise to Yalus-Kan and his people and that’s a good thing.

 

Orlando:  Yes, I know but I just hope they are still there and everything is okay.

 

Vai then reaches over from her co-pilots seat and takes Orlando’s hand in hers and looks into his eyes.

 

Vai:  Everything will be just fine, I love you, babe.

 

Orlando:  I love you too!

 

Suddenly there is a beeping on the control panel of the landing craft indicating that they are just above coordinates 867.5309 and the Pyrthonian encampment.  As they settle back into their seats……..

 

Orlando:  Coming upon the landing site now, but wait…..I don’t see the caves next to that mountain that I remember. 

 

Vai:  That’s odd…….Huh!

 

Orlando:  What?

 

Vai:  I remember the mountain face being at a sheer angle and not extended outwards like that. 

 

Orlando:  Yeah, now that you mention it, that’s what I remember too.  I’ll turn on the flood lights and circle the area for a bit just to be sure we have the right mountain.

 

Vai:  And I don’t see the corral either.

 

As Orlando pilots LC-1A to survey the area of where the Pyrthonians should be, he and Vai continue to see a solid elongated mountain face extending outwards and downwards with no caves or corral to be found.

 

Orlando:  The farther away we go from this spot the Navigational System is telling me we are farther away from the landing coordinates.  I’ll just set her down at Center Point and we’ll check it out.

 

Vai:  Maybe there was some type of geological upheaval, it has been nine thousand years’ planet time, anything could have happened.

 

As LC-1A slows and lowers to a hover, the air beneath it begins to light up with a sparkling, crackling, buzzing blue and white electro-magnetic energy pulse travelling between LC-1A and the ground which, set against the darkness of night is a stunningly illuminating sight to see.  As LC-1A descends, it repels the weight of the craft against the ground bringing it to a soft landing.

 

Orlando:  And engines off, force field off and we are on planet.   Advance Team, we are on planet, meet me and Vai in the Control Room for a quick briefing.

 

The Advance Team look at each other while they un-strap from their seats.

 

Leo:  Briefing?  I wonder what that’s all about.

 

As the crew aboard LC-1A meet in the Control Room…..….

 

Leo:  What is it, what’s wrong?

 

Orlando:  Well we are at the correct coordinates, but the mountain face appears different from what Vai and I remember and we did not see any cave entrances or a corral from the air so we’ll have to do a manual survey on the ground. 

 

Since Vai, Leo and I have been here before we will each lead three teams in different directions. 

 

Dr. Halston, you go with Vai to the North.  

 

Leo, you take the Site 4 team to the South and Mrs. Prashkati and I will head East and straight for the mountain face. 

 

At the mouth of the caves was a corral in which indigenous animals were kept to feed the Pyrths, so be on the lookout for that as well as the cave entrances.  We have landed just as night comes upon on this side of Q, so use the night vision of your excursion suits.

 

As the Advance Team exits LC-1A they feel the lightness of the gravity of Q when just then the auto-thrusters kick in stabilizing them to the ground.

 

Orlando:   Vai and Leo, you take your teams approximately one mile out then meet-up with Mrs. Prashkati and me at that center point of the mountain face there.  Report back any findings immediately.

 

While the teams depart, they take in the beauty of the area because with the latest technology in night vision face masks on their excursion suits, the surface of Q appears as it would during daylight hours with its rolling green meadows and a lush green forest just off to the North and a grey mountain face right in front of them.

 

And as they walk, they talk……

 

Dr. Monica:  So Vai, how long have you and Orlando been married?

 

Vai:  Going on thirty-five years now.

 

Dr. Monica:  You both still seem so much in love.

 

Vai:  We are.  You know, when I remember back to when we were here before, Orlando and I had been married for twenty years and it almost seemed like we were getting away on an exotic vacation, just the two of us.

 

Dr. Monica:  I know how you feel, out there amongst the Stars with the man you love, very intoxicating.  Any plans to start a family?

 

Vai:  We’ve talked about it and probably after this mission.  We’d like a small family though, one boy and one girl would be perfect.

.

Dr. Monica:  We hope.  What about the UPEC’s request for larger families to help with our re-population?

 

Vai:  There is still a lot we want to do as far as Space travel is concerned, and Orlando and I were thinking of making it a family affair, you know, raise our children while traveling amongst the Stars, what better education can you give your children?

 

Dr. Monica:  Well you’re both still young enough to make that happen.  I hope it works out well for you.  My baby making days are over and now my husband and I get to travel to the Stars, albeit almost always on separate missions but I don’t mind so much, it makes getting back together like a honeymoon again.

 

Vai:  Awwwwe, that’s sweet….and you two are still young enough that there is a lot of Space travel ahead of you both.

 

With the team heading South…….

 

Leo:  I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we have been formally introduced.  I am Leo Taylor, Anthropologist.  I will be escorting the Pyrths to the Eta Carinae Nebula and you all are?

 

Shiv Shrinivasu:  I am Mr. Shiv Shrinivasu, Architect.

 

Ilsa Adriana:  And I am Miss Ilsa Adriana, Engineer.

 

Jag Chandra:  I am Mr. Jag Chandra, Physicist, but you can just call me Jag.

 

Leo:  Okay, Jag.  What brought you all out on this mission?

 

Jag:  I’m interested to see how the Pulsar Power cell source interacts with the planet’s magnetic field to spread it over the entire hemisphere.

 

Ilsa:  For me, it was a chance to get this far out in the Galaxy, I mean, wow the fringes!

 

Shiv:  I am very interested in the design aspects of the relay station we will be erecting.  I mean these Littles are little, but the size of these structures will be megalithic even for our size, that will be a site to behold.

 

Ilsa:  Mr. Taylor, is it true these Pyrths can read our minds and even control our thoughts?

 

Leo:  Please, call me Leo and yes, it is true, but they can also be blocked by Alpha Wave Scramblers………….Hey wait a minute, hold on!

 

Leo then switches his communications link to the Advance Team General Frequency.

 

Leo:  Orlando, it’s me Leo, you there?

 

Orlando:  Yes, Leo what is it?

 

Leo:  I just thought of something, let’s all meet up at your point, we’ll be there shortly.

 

Orlando:  Holding here, transmitting coordinates now.

 

Vai:  Dr. Monica and I are on our way.

 

A short time later the entire Advance Team meets up to hear Leo’s revelation.

 

Leo:  I was just thinking, what if the Pyrths are putting out a signal to throw the Littles off from their location so they would not draw suspicion or curiosity to the cave entrances or the corral, a signal strong enough to affect our minds?

 

Orlando:  Hmmm, interesting and very possible.  Good thinking.  Let’s set our excursion suits to enable the Alpha Wave Scramblers.  The controls are on the panel in the upper right hand corner of your heads up display marked Electronic Brain Activity. 

 

Blink on that and you will see a drop down list and an option marked Alpha Wave Scrambler. 

 

Blink on that and set to it twelve hertz and ten times power, that’s what we used the last time we were here to block out the Pyrths signals.

 

One by one, as the Advance Team activates their Alpha Wave Scramblers, the mountain face in front of them suddenly disappears and what is revealed is what both Orlando and Vai remember, a sheer faced mountain and in plain sight is the corral with multiple herds of livestock milling about and beyond that are the cave entrances.  Leo points…..

 

Leo:  There they are, look!

 

Also in plain sight are three young Pyrths tending to the livestock when they suddenly look up and see the Advance Team approaching.  They point to the strangers as their wings begin flapping in a hurried motion lifting them up and off the ground, they then turn fly away into the caves.

 

Orlando:  Well, it looks like they know we’re here.  Follow me, but let’s take it easy, with our new excursion suits they may not recognize us as Solans.

 

Slowly the Advance Team makes their way around the corral and to the entrance of the caves when a group of five adult Pyrths emerge with the younger ones protectively behind them.

 

Orlando and the Advance Team come to stop as Orlando holds up his hand and speaks…..

 

Orlando:  We are Solans, Humans from Planet Terra, uh, I mean Planet Earth and I am Orlando De La Viega, do you remember me?  Orlando De La Viega?  We were here many years ago. 

 

We built this corral to house the livestock and hollowed out the caves for you and your people to live in until we returned to take you to the Eta Carinae Nebula.  Do you remember?

 

One of the Pyrths buzzes forward to greet Orlando.  Half the size of the Solan, the Pyrth swoops up to come face to face with him and looking him up and down.  His face turns from consternation to recognition and as he buzzes backwards just a bit, he can see Orlando in full.

 

Mitus-Rok:  I am Mitus-Rok and yes, I do remember you, Orlando De La Viega, Solan….Human from Planet Earth.  We have waited a very long time for your return and were not sure you ever would.

 

Suddenly the rest of the adult Pyrthonians begin to speak up…….

 

Yagnon-Xoo:  I remember, too!  It has been so long, we thought you may have forgotten about us.

 

Orlando:  No, never forgotten, just delayed.

 

Pozon-Foh:  Oh yes, the war.  Is it finally over?  Is that why you are here?

 

Kashka-Foh:  Yes, is the war is over and are you here to take us to Eta Carinae?

 

Vai:  Yes on both points.

 

Orlando then turns to the Advance Team while he holds out his hand towards to introduce them.

 

Orlando:  This is Vai and Leo they were here before as well.

 

Sikat-Ray:  Yes, I remember you both.  The others I do not recognize.

 

Orlando:  The others are part of my second mission here on Q. 

 

After relocating you and your people, we are going to build a Planetary Power Grid to transport the Littles of Q all around the Planet so they can see that they are not alone and by the way, where is Yalus-Kan?

 

The Pyrths look around at each other and mumble amongst themselves in Klatuu.  After a brief moment, they appear to come to a consensus as Mitus-Rok speaks.

 

Mitus-Rok:  Yalus-Kan is away from here but he is expected back in a few more cycles of night.

 

Orlando:  Where did he go?

 

Mitus-Rok:  Many things have changed since your departure Orlando De La Viega, terrible things.

 

Minta-Kan:  Mitus-Rok, no!  We wait until my husband has returned as discussed. 

 

Minta-Kan then turns to Orlando.

 

Minta-Kan:  Please, Orlando De La Viega let me introduce the rest of our group. 

 

This is Sikat-Ray, Yagnon-Xoo and his wife Relai-Xoo, Pozon-Foh and his wife Kashka-Foh and I am Minta-Kan, Yalus-Kan is my husband.  Like Mitus-Rok said, Yalus-Kan is away with another group but they will return shortly.

 

Orlando then looks over the corral from left to right and up and down……….

 

Orlando:  Nice touch with the visual projection of an elongated mountain face and I see you have diversified into many different types of animals to feed on.

 

Mitus-Rok:  Yes, we have found that keeping the Littles as far away from here as possible is in both of our interests and with the many years we have been here, we have discovered a varied supply of animals with which to stock the corral, but still none of them can meet our nutritional needs completely.

 

Orlando:  Well, then, I have some good news for you.  Leo, can you and Site 4 Team, please unload those crates in the Cargo Bay?

 

Leo:  Sure, let’s go guys!

 

Leo, Shiv, Jag and Ilsa tend to un-loading the crates and bring them to Orlando and the rest of the group.

 

Orlando:  Mitus-Rok, we have something for you.

 

After it has been brought to his side, Orlando bends over and un-snaps the locks and opens the first crate and inside the white crate is a bubbling, oozing, thick, dark green liquid from which an occasional tentacle or tentacles can be seen reaching up and out only to snap back down and under the liquid.  Mitus-Rok looks inside the crate and his eyes open in amazement.

 

Mitus-Rok:  Can it be? 

 

Minta-Kan:  What?

 

Mitus-Rok:  Minta-Kan! Look!....It’s Korobloshas, Orlando, you brought Korobloshas?

 

Orlando:  Yes, they were sent here with your people.  They said that this is one your species favorite foods.

 

Mitus-Rok then reaches into the crate with his second arm, stabs and removes what is revealed to be a black, round, squishy and bloated creature with four eyes and what appears to be a mouth in the front with a series of tentacles all about its body. 

 

He then grabs it with his topmost hand, picks it up and lifts it above his head as the green ooze drips down from the creature and along the length of his arms.  The creature’s tentacles then latch onto his hand and arm and squeeze them in a defensive move.  Mitus-Rok laughs in a hearty and robust fashion. 

 

Mitus-Rok:  Ha, Ha!  Korobloshas! Ha, Ha!

 

He then slowly brings the creature down to his mouth and as his fanged teeth dig in to its flesh it pops with gushing blood, as he begins to suck and devour its blood, some of which trickles down and along the sides of his face and neck when suddenly half of the tentacles remove themselves from his hand and arm and re-attach to his face.

 

Unfazed, Mitus-Rok continues to feed and when he is done and when the Korobloshas has been completely drained of its blood, all of the tentacles of the creature fall to the wayside. 

 

After Mitus-Rok has fed on the Koroblashas, the electro-organic force field around his body begins to pulse a bright blue and purple color, with a steady, pulse….pulse….pulse. 

 

This pulsing soon becomes quicker to form a solid state of illumination around his body, far greater than the other Pyrths at the site.

 

At the same time, Mitus-Rok’s eyes light up with electro-organic energy and are glowing and sparking……

 

Mitus-Rok then holds the Koroblashas back up again and over his head, all tentacles drooping down along his arm.

 

Mitus-Rok:   Children, come here, feed.  All of you……come and feed!

 

One by one the young Pyrths slowly approach the crate and never having seen a Korobloshas as they were born on Q and do not know the foods of their home Planet of Niktos they give out a strange look.

 

Patan-Foh:  What’s that?

 

Kashka-Foh:  It is food, food from our home planet, now feed.

 

Patan-Foh:  It looks weird!

 

Shokon-Xoo:  Yeah, it looks weird.

 

Relai-Xoo:  Well they taste great and they will give you the nutrition you need to be strong.

 

Relai-Xoo then picks up a Korobloshas and feeds as do the other adults with the young Pyrths staring on with a look of disgust.

 

Relai-Xoo:  Look, just bite into it and feed, mmmmm, sooo good!

 

Relai-Xoo then turns her head and looks directly at her daughter, Shokon-Xoo and evoking her now enhanced powers she sends out a massive telepathic pulse and communicates with her daughter…..

 

Relai-Xoo:  Shokon?  Do you feel that?

 

Shokon-Xoo:  Yes, mommy……I feel good!  I feel energetic!  I feel alive like I never have!

 

Shokon-Xoo’s eyes begin to shoot out small sparks of electro-organic energy and she now feels what her mother is feeling.

 

Relai-Xoo:  Go, my daughter……feed and you too, will have this power and all that comes with it…….be a true Pyrthonian!

 

Shokon-Xoo, in a trance, slowly buzzes herself over to the containers holding the Koroblashas.  She settles herself down in front of the container where Relai-Xoo releases her from their telepathic bond…...

                     

Sokon-Xoo then reaches in and takes a Koroblashas from the container and instantly smashes it into her fangs and feeds……….and after a few seconds her body begins to glow bright blue and purple as her eyes begin to light up and sparks begin emanating in all directions.

 

Shokon-Xoo:  Mmmm, this is good….I feel good and I want another one!

 

Emboldened by Shokon-Xoo, the other young Pyrths quickly fall in line………

 

Patan-Foh:  Really?  Lemme try, lemme try!

 

One by one the young Pyrths join in the feeding with some grabbing two at a time.

 

As Shokon-Xoo feeds, she giggles……

 

Shokon-Xoo:  My face feels funny, ha, ha.….mmmm, mmmm, awwwe this one’s done already!

 

Patan-Foh:  Ha, ha, ha….the tentacles are tickling my face, ha, ha, ha……….

 

Soon, all of the Pyrthonians who were abandoned on Planet Q, thirty of their years ago, begin to glow with a bright, blue and purple buzz around their bodies as their eyes are sparking with electro-organic energy, relishing in the remembrance of times past, all the while lighting up the area surrounding the entrance to the caves with a bright blue and purple glow.

 

Kashka-Foh:  Now children, don’t be rude.

 

Orlando:  No, not to worry there is plenty for all.  See those crates?  They loaded with different types of foods from Niktos, so please eat, as the Star Traveler has lots more where that came from along with an atmosphere and environment which will equal that of your home Planet of Niktos while on your journey to the Eta Carinae Nebula.

 

From very far off in the distance, a group of Littles are huddled in their home, peering out the wood plank covered window space and see the purple and blueish glowing horizon………

 

Sulan:  Look!  What is that?

 

Tobah:  I don’t know, but looks pretty!

 

Winae:  Let’s go see.

 

Sulan:  No, it’s still dark out.

 

Tobah:  Nothing has happened around here for a very long time, I’m sure it will be okay.

 

Winae:  Yeah, let’s have some fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION:  WITH THE SITE TEAMS ON A WHIRLWIND AERIAL CIRCUMNAVITATION SURVEY OF Q

 

IN THE SKIES ABOVE SITE 1, BASE CAMP:

 

Just at daybreak on the other side Q as its parent Star rises in the West, Cultural Advisor Steed Veracocha and his team consisting of Architect Mr. Arex Ingavi, Engineer Miss Ralene Aymara, Physicist Miss Shay Lukurmata and Geologist Dan Stephenson are aboard LC-1B piloted by Bobbie and Louie and as they approach Site 1……..

 

Louie:  Missster Veracocha, we are coming up on Site 1 nowwww.  Bobbie, activate the ground penetrating radar to search for minerals.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Louie, but I’m afraid I can’t do that.

 

The Base Camp team looks around at each other with a look of consternation.

 

Steed:  What was that?

 

Louie:  Missster Veracocha, pay him no minnnd, he’s a bit….confuuuuused.

 

Bobbie:  Activating ground penetrating radar now.

 

As LC-1B reaches the Base Camp point, all that can be seen all across the area and into the horizon are mountains and mountain ridges.

 

Steed:  Orlando wants a base camp here?

 

Arex:   There’s nothing but mountains here, lots of them and no place to land the Wanaku.

 

Dan:  Yeah but wow, look at the read-out from the ground penetrating radar.  This place is a mother lode of minerals, gold, silver, iron, diamonds, lithium, manganese, copper, chromite, uranite everything we need for repair work and more than enough materials for fuel to get the Planet Lander Starships back into Space.

 

Steed:   Yeah, it looks like Orlando did his research, but we will clearly need the Grazer for this Site and we need to find someplace flat to set the Wanaku down.

 

Raylene:  Mr. Veracocha, the topographical maps of this continent show some flat highlands to the North about five hundred miles out.  And actually these ridges are large enough so that if we cleared one, say that one over there to the East, we could land all of the Planet Lander Starships and supporting aircraft.  What do you think?

 

Steed:  Good choice.  Bobbie, take us back to The Box so we can report our findings.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Dave, but I’m afraid I can’t do that.

 

Steed:  WHAT?

 

Louie:  Yessir, Missster Veracocha heading back to The Box now.

 

 

MANY MILES SOUTH OF SITE 1 AND IN THE SKIES ABOVE SITE 3, RELAY SITE EAST:

 

Aboard LC-1C piloted by Sandy & Katie, Cultural Advisor Mr. Chaz Quez is accompanied by Architect Mr. Peter Polen, Engineer Miss Roberta Chicchan and Physicist Mr. Case Tiqual.

 

Chaz:  Sandy, are these the correct coordinates?  I don’t see any place to land let alone any place to build the relay station or any raw materials, it’s just a wet tropical forest.

 

Sandy:  Oh my goodness gracious, why yes sir, Mr. Quetz we are at 19373 Mark 2 and it looks just like my Tara back home!

 

Katie:  Confirmed, my pretties!

 

Chaz:  Okay, so we are at the correct coordinates, what now?

 

Roberta:  Well, at least it’s a flat jungle and that will help the construction.

 

Case:  I wonder if there are any locals living in this area now to help with the construction.

 

Chaz:  Looks like we’ll have to do a boots on the ground survey to check for locals and we’ll have to bring in the Grazer for this site but make sure we are not destroying their homes, if indeed the area is populated. 

 

We have enough flexibility from the Telluric Lines to move the site to anywhere in a five hundred square mile area surrounding these coordinates should this site encroach on an established community.

 

Roberta:  Check and we’ll do some ground penetrating radar before we step on Planet to see where the major water and raw materials basins are located.  This is gonna be a tough one.

 

 

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF PLANET Q, IN THE SKIES ABOVE SITE 2, MAIN POWER PLANT SITE

 

Hours later as day breaks at Site 2, Cultural Advisor Mr. Qin-Shi Huang stares out the window of LC-1D piloted by Shelly and Suzie as do his team consisting of Miss Lem Li, Architect; Mr. Steve Chen, Engineer and Mr. Wang Chi, Physicist.

 

As LC-1D reaches center point of the landing zone, Shelly yells out.

 

Shelly:  Hi, ya’ all!  We’re here!

 

Huang:  Lem Li, do you see that river there?  It flows past the site and into that delta and eventually spilling into the ocean way down the line.  We could build a simple causeway to bring the water to the Power Plant.

 

Lem Li:  Yeah, and up river is where we could quarry most of the stone we would need to build the power plant.

 

Chen:  What about housing for the locals and our quarters?

 

Huang:  We can set up both on the other side of the river there in that clearing.  We’ll get to those structures first, and then we can work on the Power Plant. 

 

Actually, our housing will be an airtight prefab which will be brought by the Planet Lander Starship Xian.  We can build the housing for the Littles after our housing is up and running.

 

Wang Chi:  Right.

 

Suzie:  Right you are, Big Boy!

 

 

HALF WAY AROUND THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, IN THE SKIES ABOVE SITE 6, ENERGY COMPILATION AND TRANSFER STATION TWO

 

A few hours later as the early morning light from Q’s Star envelopes the area, Billy and Sammy are piloting LC-1F and are cruising high above Site 6, Orlando’s original ES-1 from his earlier mission to Q and the point of His First Contact with the Littles. 

 

The landing craft is also carrying Cultural Advisor Miss Ivanna Enlil, Architect Miss Mara Duke, Engineer Mr. Andy Ute and Physicist Mr. Ernie Inann.

 

Ivanna:  There, between those two rivers, yeah that’s the spot.  Take us there Sammy.

 

Sammy:  I say, top drawer young Miss.

 

Billy:  Marvelous!

 

As LC-1F descends to the surface and circles around the landing coordinates the team looks for any sign of civilization.

 

Ivanna:  There is supposed to be an amphitheater around here somewhere.  It was a place that Mr. De La Viega and is team would meet with the Littles, but I don’t see anything.  Sammy, activate ground penetrating radar and bring us around again so we can scan the area.

 

Sammy:  Very good, young Miss.

 

Billy:  Scanning now, Miss Ivanna, guess you’re feeling lucky, aren’t you?

 

 

A FEW HUNDRED MILES TO THE SOUTH, IN THE SKIES ABOVE SITE 5, ENERGY COMPILATION AND TRANSFER STATION ONE

 

Mr. Seth Horas, Cultural Advisor of Site 5 and his team consisting of Architect Miss Heathor Worset, Engineer Mr. Djoser Hassan and Physicist Mr. Ned Gebb are aboard LC-1E piloted by Chica & Rusty and are surveying Site 5.

 

Seth:  This site is perfect, a mega river running right through it and a quarry just a few miles down the road.

 

Djoser:  Yeah, buddy….all our essentials met.  I can see that this mission is gonna rock.

 

Heathor:  The design of this structure will be of a simple and rudimentary one and the Littles intellect should handle it with no problems.

 

Ned:  On top of that, at this location, the Star Activation Sequence for the Energy Transfer is in perfect alignment and will be for the next two thousand years’ planet time, enough for our mission with plenty to time spare.

 

Chica:   Senor Horas, you want I should zoom in for a closer look?

 

Seth:  No, that will be fine, Chica.  We have reviewed the area from here and it looks pretty good.

 

Rusty:  Now what we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.  No some men you just can’t reach…….

 

The Site 5 team looks at Rusty with questionable faces.

 

Chica:  No leesten to heem, he is so estupido!

 

 

BACK AT THE PYRTHONIAN ENCAMPMENT NEAR SITE 4, RELAY SITE WEST

 

Later that evening and into the morning hours Orlando and his Advance Team are with the Pyrthonians who have now been fed to their stomach’s content.

 

Orlando:  Mitus-Rok, since it will be a few more days until Yalus-Kan’s return, do you think it would be wise to begin our relocation efforts?  The Pyrthonian Starship, the Star Traveler is ready and waiting to transport all of you to the Eta Carinae Nebula.  The Star Traveler is equipped with an atmosphere for your people and all the food you can possibly eat.

 

Mitus-Rok:  A Pyrthonian Starship?  How is this possible?

 

Orlando:  Mitus-Rok, many things have transpired out there while you all have been trapped here, though I cannot get into all of the details right now.

 

Mitus-Rok:  I do not see any reason why the children cannot go now and maybe a few of us adults.  I would prefer to stay here and wait for Yalus-Kan’s arrive.

 

Minta-Kan:  Yes, and I will also stay to greet my husband upon his return.

 

Mitus-Rok then looks upon the Pyrthonians amongst him………………

 

Mitus-Rok:  Is there anyone else who would like to stay behind or would you prefer to be transported to the Star Traveler?

 

Mighty-Rok, Mitus-Rok’s young son tugs at his fourth and lowest arm…….

 

Mighty-Rok:  Daddy, what’s the Star Traveler?

 

The entire group of Pyrthonians and Solans erupt in laughter.

 

Mitus-Rok:  You’ll see my son, you’ll see.

 

As day breaks and the Pyrthonians have retreated to the damp darkness of the caves and Orlando meets with Mrs. Shree Prashkati to discuss the next course of the mission. 

 

Orlando:  Mrs. Prashkati, there is no reason to stay here while your Site needs to be surveyed.  You are released from this Advance Team to lead your team on the survey of Site 4, Relay Site West.

 

Mrs. Shree Prashkati:  Why, thank you Mr. De La Viega.  I am very eager to start my mission and thank you all for your hospitality.  It has been an interesting experience to say the least.

 

Orlando:  I’ll have CLAIRE send down LC-1G for your survey mission, it should be here within the hour to take you to your Site.

IN THE PLANETARY TRANSFER BAY OF THE BOX, IN ORBIT ABOVE Q

 

 

CLAIRE:  Attention……Johnny and Debbie, I have just been asked by Mr. De La Viega to send you down to Q in LC-1G to meet up with him at the Pyrthonian encampment and then to take Mrs. Shree Prashkati and her team to survey Site 4.

 

Johnny:  Like totally awesome!

 

Debbie:  Oh, yeah…you betcha….Oh, yeah!

 

Finally getting his chance to fly, Johnny eagerly rushes to his locker as the gears, levers and actuators clank, whizz and buzz to life while he is in full forward motion.  Once at his locker, he retrieves his brand spanking new Scaramonga Long Board which is specifically designed to enter a Planets atmosphere from outer Space and then be maneuverable enough to surf the skies below it while descending to a soft landing.

 

Johnny:  Deb?....Bud?..…You take the 1G’er down to the surface.  I’m gonna ride down on my Scaramonga Long Board!

 

Debbie:  Yeah?

 

Johnny:  Yeah!

 

Debbie:  Oh, yeah?

 

Johnny:  Oh, yeah and while you cruise down in a controlled flight time of thirty-five minutes, I’m gonna drop like rock from orbit…….just like old school, Baby Yeah!  I’ll break atmosphere in seven minutes and see you on the surface.

 

Debbie:  Oh, yeah… you betcha….oh, yeah!

 

Johnny:  Uuhhh, yeah, soooo, here I go!

 

Johnny then jumps on top of his Scaramonga Long Board and as he slowly cruises out of the Bay and into Space, the Plasma Thruster Engines of his Space Board ignite, sending Johnny off to a rendezvous with old friends while Debbie pilots LC-1G to the same point.

 

 

3

 

 

LOCATION:  THE PYRTHONIAN ENCAMPMENT NEAR SITE 4, RELAY SITE WEST

 

In the early morning hours of day two on Q, but not yet daybreak, Johnny, riding on top of his Scaramonga Long Board can be seen approaching off in the distance with its orange glowing plume of plasma trailing behind him as it zig-zags across the horizon. 

 

When he reaches final approach, Johnny circles the Pyrthonian encampment with his Scaramonga Long Board to the amazement of the Pyrths and the Advance Team below.  Johnny then slowly sets his Space board down alongside LC-1A and as it comes to a stop he jumps off it and on to the ground.

 

Johnny:  Heeeeere’s Johnny!....huh, huh, huh…..Radical!

 

Johnny then makes his way to the entrance of the caves where the Pyrths and the Advance Team are gathered to the sound of gears whizzing and hydraulic pumps activating.

 

Orlando:  Johnny, where’s Debbie and LC-1G?

 

Johnny:   Like, dude, she’s taking the scenic route.  ETA to the surface is seventeen minutes.

 

A few minutes later, LC-1G can be seen approaching from off in the distance, yet at a slow and steady angle.   After a straight and narrow approach, Debbie sets the landing craft down in between LC-1A and Johnny’s Scaramonga Long Board.

 

Debbie:   I am on Planet, Mr. De La Viega, yeah….oh, yeah!....You Betcha!

 

Orlando:  Well, Mrs. Prashkati, LC-1G has arrived to take you to Site 4 in support of your mission.   We’ll see you at the Site Review Meeting later today.

 

Mrs. Prashkati:  Thank you Mr. De La Viega, it has been a most educational experience.   

 

Prashkati and her Advance Team then board LC-1G, off to survey Site 4.

 

Orlando:  Mitus-Rok, we have to go now to report back on our findings but I am leaving you with this transmitter.  When Yalus-Kan returns activate this switch here and we will be back down within the hour.  We have stocked your caves to feed all that remain with an ample supply of all the nutrients your species requires.

 

Mitus-Rok:  I understand, Orlando and we will.

 

Orlando:  Leo will stay here with you all and when night falls again on this side of Q, the Star Travelers shuttles will arrive to begin the evacuation.   Good-bye for now.

 

Orlando and the rest of the Advance Team then board LC-1A and head back to The Box.

 

 

IN THE SKIES ABOVE SITE 4, RELAY SITE WEST

 

As LC-1G circles Site 4 what can be seen is exactly what was expected.  A deep river valley with high reaching mountain peaks, one of which will be used for the Relay Transfer Site.  LC-1G, piloted by Johnny and Debbie, Johnny announces their arrival.

 

Johnny:  Like Bodhi, we have reached Site 4, huh, huh, huh…..

 

Mrs. Shree Prashkati:  What?  What was that?

 

Johnny:  Oh yeah Bodhi….like Bodhisattva, you know, the enlightened one?

 

Debbie:  Oh, yeah…you betcha…oh, yeah!

 

Mrs. Shree Prashkati:  I see.

 

As the Site 4 team surveys the area, they all come to the same conclusion.  This site appears to be just as planned and will take minimal effort to construct the relay site.

 

Mrs. Shree Prashkati:  Well then, I guess we should just count our chickens and head back

 to The Box to report our findings.  Johnny?

 

Johnny:  Like Cowabunga Dudette and we’re on our way……

 

Debbie:  Oh, yeah…you betcha, yeah…oh, yeah!

 

 

LOCATION:  THE PLANETARY TRANSFER BAY OF THE BOX

                                                                        

After all Site teams have surveyed their respective areas, they meet to discuss their findings and develop the next plan of action.

 

Orlando:  Okay, report back by the numbers, Mr. Veracocha, you are up first.

 

One by one the Site Teams report their findings on the situations at their respective Sites.  Orlando then sets out a plan to move forward.

 

Orlando:   Thank you for your reports.  Leo will remain on Q to continue his efforts to evacuate the Pyrthonians to the Star Traveler while a few of the Pyrth have decided to stay on Q to await Yalus-Kan’s return.  When he does, we will be alerted and Vai, and I will then return to meet with him.

 

Until then, I believe it is time that we all made contact with the Littles.   Because the ground penetrating radar has revealed that the amphitheater at Site 6 is buried under mounds of vegetation and has been abandoned as has the entire village complex including the homes, gardens & groves and the corral, Vai, Dr. Monica and I will accompany Miss Ivanna Enlil and her Team to investigate while the rest of you will visit your respective Sites as day breaks. 

 

Make contact with the leaders of your Sites and establish a line of communication.  Let them know we are friendlies and are here to help.  Let’s keep it like that for now, but I want you to observe their surroundings, how they do things, what technology they have, then on later visits, we’ll offer a bit of advice on improvements in one or more areas of these items.

 

Once trust has been established, we can explain to them that we were here before and are here now to connect them to the other Littles on Q.  This initial contact will be the most important part of your mission.  We must set an atmosphere of trust and comfort with the Littles. 

 

It has been nine thousand years, Planet time and there is no telling what, if anything, they remember about the last mission here.  Good luck to you all and please feel free to report back any problems or situations which you feel might need assistance immediately. 

 

 

LOCATION:  ON THE GROUND AT SITE 6 JUST AT MID-DAY

 

 As Site Team 6 exits LC-1F, and Orlando and Vai exit LC-1A and they all walk the area and survey the remains of the abandoned village.

 

Orlando:  This is it for sure.  Right here was village central.  That sunken-in area over there was the amphitheater and down there to the right should be where the gardens and groves, and the corral were located.

 

Vai:  It looks like the irrigation canal has also been abandoned as this stream was not here before.

 

Orlando:  Yes, the water from the reservoir up river must be flowing unimpeded thereby forming the stream. 

 

Let’s spread out in standard three-point sweep of the area.  Vai and I will travel south and up river to check out what, if anything is left of the reservoir. 

 

Miss Enlil, you take Dr. Monica and Mr. Ernie Inann to the east.  

 

Miss Mara Duke and Mr. Andy Ute, you two go west. 

 

There is no point in going north as our approach from that direction did not reveal any settlements. 

 

Report back any contact with the Littles immediately.  Billy and Sammy, you two stay here with LC-1F and LC-1A and wait for our call.

 

Sammy:  I say good show old chap.

 

Billy:  Why not, I’m feeling lucky today.

 

 

LOCATION:  LANDING SITE 5, ENERGY COMPILIATION AND TRANSFER SITE ONE

 

Chica:  Ohya, Meester Seth, we’re coming over the Site now and there appears to be a mass abundance of Littles here and extending many miles outwards.

 

Seth:  As expected, our workforce is here already.

 

Rusty:  I’d say, what we’ve got here is failure to communicate….Now some men you just can’t reach…..

 

Miss Heathor Worset:  I’m sorry?

 

Chica:  No mind heem….he’s sooo estupido!

 

Seth:  Okay, so let’s set LC-1E down on the outskirts of that oasis there to the right and approach from the west as the Star of Q rises behind us.

 

After landing on Q, Site 5 team exits the landing craft and heads out toward the settlement on foot and as they near the settlement, to their amazement, a large group of Littles is approaching them and they are carrying baskets upon baskets of fruits and vegetables, grains and fresh meats from their most recent slaughter.

 

Seth:  Well would you look at that?

 

 Djoser Hassan:  Our own Little servants?...Get it?  “Little” servants?

 

Ned Gebb:  Hardly…..They’re gonna have to break their backs on this project…..they just don’t know it yet.

 

As the Littles stop directly in front of Site Team 5, three of them, Dizan, Lataia and Ralah approach the Solans and as they do, their leader, Dizan speaks…….

 

Dizan:  Louua, taar, rmewx, rmqeip.

 

Seth:  Hmmm…..doesn’t sound familiar.  CLAIRE, can you run that past linguistics and see if there is a match?

 

CLAIRE:  Of course, Mr. Horas, checking now.

 

Seth:  Hello, my friend.  My name is Seth Horas and we are Solans, Humans from Planet Terra.  And who might you be?

 

Dizan, looking puzzled turns to Lataia and Ralah, two female Littles standing next to him, shrugs his shoulders then looks back at Seth and replies.

 

Dizan:  Hle yno jaq?

 

As Dizan asks with an inquisitive look on his face.

 

Seth:  I do not know what you are saying my little friend.  My name is Seth.

 

As he speaks, Seth points his right index finger to his chest.  Seth then points to Dizan….

 

Seth:  Dizan!

 

Seth then points to the two other littles and asks.

 

Seth:  Who are these two?

 

Seeing his gesture and understanding the nature of his question, Dizan then replies as he motions his left arm and points his finger.

 

Dizan:  Lataia, Ralah.

 

Seth then points to himself and then the rest of the Site 5 team.

 

Seth:  I am Seth and this is Heather, Djoser and Ned.

 

CLAIRE:  I’m sorry Mr. Horas but there is no match for this language in the linguistics database.

 

Ned:  Well, it looks like we’ll have to do some learning and teaching.

 

Heathor:  Language 101, indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION:  IN GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT ABOVE SITE 1, IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON THIS SIDE OF Q

 

 

Mr. Steed Veracocha and Site Team 1 prepare to de-orbit while on board the deep space mining and heavy equipment carrying Planet Lander Starship Wanaku piloted by Bobbie and Louie, who have stowed LC-1B in the Exo-Planetary Bay of the Wanaku for use while on Q.

 

The Wanaku will employ the “First On Planet” maneuver, a risky endeavor any time it is attempted.

 

The five other Plant Lander Starships, Wakkan, Memphis, Xian, Indus and Uralite are also in geosynchronous orbit behind the Wanaku and are anxiously awaiting the success of its Advance Party landing. 

 

Once the Wanaku has successfully landed, it will then launch the Grazer which will begin its first mission…..Setting up the Base Camp landing site runway.

 

When this has been accomplished, the rest of the Planet Lander Starships will descend from orbit and land on the brand new runway, much easier than the task at hand for the Wanaku.

 

The Wanaku, which stands one hundred feet tall and three hundred feet long, is a flat topped, long barn shaped Starship. 

 

The front of the Wanaku has a flat shaped surface like the front of a barn.

 

It is fifty feet wide at its base while the sides of the Starship extend upwards fifty feet where its frontal rectangular shape turns from a straight up and down rectangle to an upwards and inwards angle and towards the center of the Starship, where, just a few degrees from connecting, the angles then turn inwards towards each other providing a flat top surface, just like a barn.

 

The sides of the Wanaku contain three main doors rising from the bottom of the Starship which comprise the Cargo Deck.

 
Sitting atop of and attached to the Wanaku is the Command Craft. 

 

The Command Craft is where Steed Veracocha and his team are located along with their travel bags and the Command Craft is also where the Wanaku receives all of its guidance and directional commands.

 

Sleek in design, the Command Craft is thinly rectangular in shape extending from the front most top of the Wanaku and down along its length three hundred feet to match that of the Starship.

 

The nose of the Command Craft is angled out and downward while its fuselage is adorned with windows all along the length of the craft. 

 

The Command Craft is also an escape ship which can detach from the Wanaku at any time, should a dangerous reason arise and take the crew to safety, which is evidenced by the four rocket thruster engines located at the rear of the craft.

 

Just behind the barn shaped Starship is the Quarter Deck, a one-hundred-foot-long by twenty-foot-wide rectangular section extending behind and away from the Wanaku.

 

The Quarter-Deck separates the Wanaku from the dangers of the possibility of radiation exposure from the Ambient Plasma storage which feeds the Ambient Plasma Fusion Drive engines in the Engine-Deck.

 

In addition to the separation of the dangers of radiation exposure, the Quarter-Deck also houses the fuel for the Wanaku’s rocket thruster engines. 

 

At the very end of the Wanaku is the Engine-Deck which is larger than the main section of the Wanaku in height, width and girth.  The Engine Deck is where the four Ambient Plasma Fusion Drive engines are located and also where the nuclear boost exhaust is housed.                                      

 

The Wanaku has four main atmospheric rocket thruster engines located at the outside edges of each of its four corners. 

 

These rocket thruster engines are shaped like gigantic wine caskets, twenty feet tall with semi-narrow tips and wide midsections and are locked into a horizontal position along the length of the Wanaku.

 

When activated, the rocket thruster engines can move into any rotational 360-degree position and still provide maximum thrust………………………………………..

 

In the soundless vacuum of Space, the Wanaku slowly disconnects from the Quarter-Deck by releasing the electro-magnetic locks holding the barn shaped section to the Quarter and Engine Decks while also sending out a short burst of rocket engine thrust.

 

The Planet Lander Deck of the Wanaku slowly starts to drift away, leaving behind the Quarter and Engine Decks, which will remain in geo-synchronous orbit for the duration of the mission.

 

As the now disengaged Decks of the Wanaku have been separated by enough distance, two more sudden, quick bursts of the rocket thruster engine moves the Wanaku even further away from the Quarter and Engine Decks……it drifts away ever slowly in the quiet of Space and on to the First On Planet maneuver.

 

Once a minimal safe distance has been attained between the main section of the Wanaku and its Star Jump components, the wine barrel shaped rocket thruster engines rotate from their horizontal positions to a forty-five degree downward facing angle. 

 

All four engines ignite with a five second burst of thrust, sending the Wanaku downwards towards Q while the maneuvering thrusters orient the ship into the proper angle of descent all while in the quiet environment of Space.

 

Moving slowly at first, the Wanaku picks up speed as the gravity of Planet Q begins to take hold.

 

The Wanaku leaves its gravity free environment of orbit and begins its descent into the atmosphere of Planet Q, while from a viewing window, the Quarter and Engine Decks are becoming smaller and smaller as the Wanaku descends into the atmosphere……………….

 

Within minutes the Wanaku begins to buckle and shake as it falls from orbit and engages the friction of the atmosphere of Q.

 

As the Wanaku is shaking violently upon its descent, outside the ship, the windows begin to glow red as the friction of the Starship against the atmosphere of Q heats the hull as they come together at twenty thousand, five hundred miles per hour. 

 

After a few seemingly lengthy minutes, the Wanaku has cleared the atmospheric barrier and is dropping smoothly but quickly towards the continent where Base Camp will be located.  

 

Louie:  Missster Bobbieeee, engage retro-rocket thruster engines.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, Louie engaging retro-rocket thruster engines now.

 

Each of the four retro-rocket thruster engines slowly rotate from the forty-five downward angle to a two hundred and seventy-degree angle, that is to say that the exhaust ports of the four retro-rocket thruster engines are all facing directly in the forward facing flight path of the Wanaku.

 

The exhaust ports, once locked in place, burst forward an orange fiery plume in front of the Wanaku and leaving a trail of thick black smoke behind the Starship as it crosses the skies above Q at blazing speed.

 

Just then the passengers, Site Team 1, lurch forward as the Wanaku jolts from the sudden reduction of speed while it continues on……….falling at a sixty degree down angle and towards its destination.

 

Louie:  Missster Bobbieeee, deploy Dellllta Winnngs.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, Louie Delta Wings activated.

 

From the sides of the Wanaku and at its mid-section, extend a pair of delta wings, which are triangular in shape, out and away from the Planet Lander Starship.  The delta wings assist the Wanaku in slowing its descent just a bit while also affording it atmospheric maneuverability.

 

Dropping into Q along an ocean landscape, the Wanaku soon approaches the coastline of its destination continent. 

 

The ocean in front of the continent is deep blue in color and as the Wanaku approaches the coastline, the dark blue water surrounding the shoreline blends into a turquoise color as the shallower water exposes the white sands below.

 

As the Wanaku approaches even closer to the coastline, the occupants can see the turquoise water becoming clear as it reaches the beach, which is being pounded by a series of very large and long waves extending many miles down the coast. 

 

Steed Veracocha:  Hey gang, if you will look out your port windows, you will see the coastline and the mountain ridges just beyond it.

 

Site Team 1 then peer out the windows of the Command Craft of the Wanaku to take in the sights.

 

Louie:  It looks like this coastline would be of interest to Johnny, wouldn’t you say, punk?

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Louie, but I’m afraid that Johnny is not here to see it.

 

Louie:  Yeah, punk, but we should tell him about this and ask him….”are you feeling lucky…..punk?”.

 

Steed:  Excuse me?  What are you talking about?

 

Louie:  Well you see, punk, our friend Johnny here is a surfer, get it?  And if you look down there you’ll see some very large, long waves?…….Well do ya see ‘em punk?  When we get back, I’m gonna let our friend in on this little secret, see?

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, Mr. Veracocha, but you’ll have to forgive my animated co-pilot here.

 

Steed Veracocha:  Yeah, well look at the length of those waves, they just keep going on and on forever.

 

After cruising down the coastline for a bit, Steed Veracocha realizes that it is time to move inland.

 

Steed Veracocha:  Louie, re-position the retro-rocket thruster engines to a thirty degree up angle and give us some altitude to get us over that mountain ridge beyond the coast and once we are inland proper, we should be able to shut down the engines and glide in from there.

 

Louie:  I see Mr. Veracocha, excellent command choice, guess you’re feeling lucky? 

 

Setting course for 181 mark 17…..Course set and retro-rocket thruster engines repositioned to a thirty degree up angle and hitting the gas now……

 

As all four of the Wanaku’s retro-rocket thruster engines change their orientation and become locked in to a thirty-degree upward angle, Louie hits maximum thrust and as he does the passengers feel a jolt pressing them back into their seats as the Wanaku climbs up and away from the coastline and inland towards their final destination leaving behind streams of black smoke exhaust in the atmosphere.

 

Once the Wanaku has cleared the coastal mountain range, Bobbie alters the course of the Wanaku to the right and heads north to their final destination.

 

The retro-rocket thruster engines suddenly shut down and Bobbie begins to control the Wanaku using only the delta wings, ailerons and flaps, much as a glider would do by surfing the winds as it descends across the high desert plain of its final destination and as he does that, the black smoke trailing the Wanaku dissipates until there is no more.

 

As the Wanaku glides in along its designated flight path, it passes an area of the region where Geologist Dan Stephenson will be mining the minerals necessary to repair and re-fuel the Wanaku and all the other Planet Lander Starships. 

 

This is where then Scorpion will assume its mission to mine the minerals.

 

Steed Veracocha:  If you will look out to your right Mr. Stephenson……..those ridges there above this flat valley will provide enough minerals for the repair and re-fuel part of our mission.

 

Dan Stephenson:  Thank you, Mr. Veracocha.  This is a bit of a distance from the Wanaku’s landing site. How will we get the Scorpion here?

 

Steed Veracocha:  We’ll use the Wanaku to bring the Scorpion from Base Camp to this location and back again.

 

Dan Stephenson:  I see and what about the mined materials, how will we get them back here to be processed?

 

Steed Veracocha:  Sky Cranes will ferry the mined material from the Scorpion’s site to the processing plants at Base Camp.

 

Dan Stephenson:  Nice.

 

A scant twenty minutes later the Wanaku is passing a series of mountaintop ridges in situated in a jungle environment.

 

Steed Veracocha:  If you will all look out to your right, you will see the area that will be Project Orion’s landing field for the Planet Lander Starships as the Grazer will sheer off one of those mountaintops to make way for the rest of the Planet Lander Starships so that they do not have to go through what the Wanaku will soon have to do.

 

Ahhh, the advantages of being an Advance Party…….Bobbie, let’s take the Wanaku to her landing site.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, Mr. Veracocha, but I am changing directions……249 mark 7……

 

Ten minutes later, the Wanaku is heading north across the high desert plain and up ahead, way off in the distance is a very large and deep blue lake that is oblong in shape…….

 

Steed Veracocha:  Bobbie, take us in low and fast towards the north end of that lake and set the Wanaku down just at its edge using the Swoop and Drop In Maneuver.

 

Bobbie:  The Swoop and Drop In Maneuver?  I’m sorry Mr. Veracocha but that is a very dangerous maneuver.

 

Steed Veracocha:  Well, Bobbie, there are no landing strips, no runways and no flatlands that can support a Planet Lander Starship landing….what would you suggest?

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry, Mr. Veracocha, but your point is well taken…..Swoop and Drop In Maneuver it is.

 

As the Wanaku approaches the landing site, it is cruising over the deep blue lake and approaching fast and at its northern end……dry land. 

 

The Wanaku then dramatically lowers its altitude and begins a sharp dive down towards the landing site, and as it does, it swoops down and in, then suddenly arches directly upwards travelling to a point high above the landing site where it comes to a predetermined stall. 

 

At the height of attitude, the thruster engines of the Wanaku change from a horizontal position to one that is perpendicular to the ground as the delta wings retract and all four thruster engines face downwards and roar to life to slow the Wanaku as gravity takes over and pulls it straight down towards to the surface of Q…….. and fast, leaving four trails of black smoke.

 

With all four thruster engines firing at maximum capacity, the Wanaku is still dropping faster than is safe to attempt a landing……though they have no choice but to land. 

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Mr. Veracocha, but we are dropping just way too fast.

 

Louie:  Missster Verrracochhhha, it looks like we’re goinnng to have to lightennnn the loooad.

 

Arex:  Lighten the load?  We need every piece of equipment on this ship for our mission we can’t just lighten the load.

 

Steed:  Easy there now, Arex.  Louie, if we jettisoned LC-1B, would that be enough weight?

 

Louie:  Yes, it would Missster Verrracochhhha but it jussst might be a littllllle late.

 

Steed:  Do it and have LC-1B rendezvous at our landing point.

 

Louie and Bobbie then activate the auto-pilot on LC-1B sending it out of the Wanaku and into a holding pattern above the landing site.

 

Louie:  Slowinnnng, hold on…..it’s going to rufffffff.  Bobbie, landing gear now!

 

Bobbie:   I’m sorry Louie, but landing gear is engaged.

 

As the Wanaku rumbles and shakes, beneath it and at six points along the edges of its flat underbelly, four at each corner and two in the middle, circular doors suddenly open and six massive cylindrical tubes simultaneously eject out twenty feet below the Starship in a whizzing and thunderous gear grinding noise culminating in a ship shaking boom as all six tubes come to a stop at the same time. 

 

A bottom section of each of the tubes then expands outwards in a downward angle like a flange putting the Wanaku’s landing gear on full display.

 

With all four thruster engines firing away at maximum capacity and violently shaking the ship, the Wanaku continues to fall and though it does slow, it is coming in just a little too fast for the prescribed landing speed. 

 

The collision alarm sounds….

 

COLLISION ALERT…..COLLISION ALERT…..COLLISION ALERT…..

 

The massive amount of flames and exhaust from the thruster engines kicks up a fiery plume of dirt, dust and debris out of the landing area, and as the Wanaku touches the ground, its two rear landing gear fail under the immense speed of the landing which causes it to lurch downward from the rear while the Wanaku also pitches slowly to the right settling down in an awkward and semi-upright, right angled position as all thrusters come to halt with the landing site consumed in smoke and dust.

 

Louie:  Missster Verrracochhhha, we are onnnnn Plaaannet!

 

After a few seconds of silence, the Wanaku then suddenly jolts downwards again as the middle and front landing gear collapse settling it flatly on the surface of Q, accompanied by a booming and crunching sound as more dust and debris envelopes the outside of the Starship, while tearing all four engines off of their hinges.

 

All passengers aboard experience two sudden pulls of gravity taking them downwards as their motion comes to a violent halt.

 

Louie:  Damn!

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Dave, but this cannot be a good thing.

 

Steed:  I gather as much.  Everyone okay?

 

Steed gets the thumbs up signal from his Site team and as they begin to un-strap from their seats…..

 

Steed:  Okay, I want a full damage assessment and check on the Grazer, we need to get her out and to work as soon as possible.  Louie, set LC-1B down over there to the north.

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION:  IN THE HILLS ABOVE SITE 6

 

Orlando and Vai are walking up and along the stream when Orlando soon begins to hear the sounds of splashing water and children laughing.

 

Orlando:  Vai, wait….do you hear that?

 

Vai:  No, nothing, what is it?

 

Orlando:  Turn up the volume on your excursion suit.

 

Vai:  Okay, now wait, yes, it sounds like splashing water and laughing.

 

Orlando:  Exactly and it sounds like it’s just ahead.  Let’s approach slowly.

 

Orlando and Vai proceed with caution and just over the next ridge they, in fact, see a group of Little children playing in what was once the reservoir but has since been transformed into a natural pool being fed by the nearby river with an outlet at the north end creating the stream that runs downhill and through the remnants of the old village. 

 

They cautiously and slowly approach on their hands and knees ensuring that they’re heads appear slowly on the horizon so as to not scare those they are approaching.

 

When the area is in clear view, Orlando and Vai can indeed see a group of ten Little children playing in and around the pool, some swimming while others are jumping off of a rock above the water causing sometimes large splashes, each trying to outdo the others while yet another group is relaxing on the banks of the pool and enjoying the sunshine while they watch the others.

 

Orlando taps Vai on the shoulder and gestures for them to retreat so they can discuss their plan of approach.  Speaking in soft tones…….

 

Orlando:  Well, what do you think?  I mean, they’re just children and we really need to make contact with the adults here.

 

Vai:  Yes, but it’s a start.  I say we make contact here then maybe have them take us to the adults and their village.

 

Orlando:  Right, let me just call the others to our point.

 

Vai:  Wait…..maybe it should be just the two of us for now, with they being children and us being so large and all, I wouldn’t want to frighten them too much with a big group.

 

Orlando:  Good point. 

 

Orlando then switches his communications device to the Site 6 General Frequency.

 

Orlando:  Miss Duke, Miss Enlil……..Vai and I have found a group of Littles, but we need some time here.  Please rendezvous at the landing craft and await further contact.

 

Mara:  Understood, on our way.

 

Ivanna:  Heading back now.

 

Vai:  So, how do you want to approach them?

 

Orlando:  Well, they’re having fun in the pool right?  Well then, let’s join them.

 

Vai:  Join them?

 

Orlando:  Yeah, follow my lead, come on.

 

Orlando then leaps to his feet and begins running towards the pool with his external speakers on full blast so the Little children can hear his words. 

 

As he reaches the opposite end of the pool, he stops as the Little children simultaneously stop and stare in amazement and with no words to be had. 

 

Orlando then raises his right arm up in the air and waves it back and forth.

 

Orlando:  Hey you Little childrens?…….. Can we play too?

 

Orlando then runs along the side of the pool quickly approaching the Little children and just when they are about to run away in fear they see Orlando stop and jump into the air then belly flop into the pool causing a splash which is more like a wave of water toward the Little children pushing them backwards and wetting those on the banks, not participating in the fun. 

 

The ripples of water extend outward towards the Little children then back to Orlando’s entrance point then there is silence with only Vai visible on land at the opposite end of the pool. 

 

Suddenly Orlando springs up and out of the water causing yet another wave racing towards the Little children pushing them backwards to the edge of the pool.  They begin laughing and splashing about and pointing to Orlando.

 

Orlando:  Wow, now that was fun!

 

Orlando then turns and motions to Vai.

 

Orlando:  Okay, your turn come on in, the waters’ fine!

 

Vai then runs the same path as Orlando, but as she dives in, she recalls her diving skills and as she enters the water in a full dive, she streamlines her body so that as she enters the water, there is barely a splash…..a ten in her book. 

 

After a few seconds of silence, Vai then slowly arises from under the surface of the water bringing the water’s edge to her waist and next to Orlando.

 

The group of Little children then begin shouting in what appears to be a concerted voice of disapproval with sounds reminiscent of boos and awwwes. 

 

Seeing and hearing this, Orlando jumps up and out of the water and into the air.  He shouts, ‘Cannon Balllll’ as he curls his body into a circle then drops back down causing yet another big splash sending the Little children backwards from the wave of water he has just produced.

 

The Little children then erupt in laughter and cheers in what appears to be approval as they begin to jump up and down and proceed to splash around in the water. 

 

A few of them then run over to one of the rocks protruding out from a back wall of rock encircling the pool and one by one they jump in trying to make the biggest splash they can.

 

Orlando and Vai cheer the children on and soon they are climbing onto both Orlando and Vai’s excursion suits, which at the shoulder point are much higher than any of the rocks around the pool area, and begin jumping off and into the water.

 

Later, as the group of Little children become tired from all the play and take time out to rest, Orlando and Vai try and communicate.

 

Orlando:  Hello.  I am Orlando and this is Vai.  Who are you?

 

One of the children looks at the others and shrugs his shoulder then turns back to Orlando and Vai.

 

Katok:  Foon?  Foon so doon?  Noose so doon?

 

Vai:  I see they aren’t speaking the language we taught them, interesting.

 

Orlando:  Very interesting.  It appears that the Littles have created a new language all by themselves.  Fantastic!  Difficult for us but fantastic just the same.

 

After trying to communicate with no success and as the afternoon has worn on, Orlando decides to leave the Little children and return the next day, and as they begin to walk away, the Little children urge them to stay as they shout, open up and extend their arms forward.

 

Katok:  Shor topan ta, atoon shoob.

 

Laman:  Shakoo atoon shoob, doon so foon.

 

Solah:  Shakoo, donkah atoon.

 

Orlando:  We have to go now, but we will be back when your Star is there in the sky.  Star, do you know Star?

 

Orlando points to Q’s parent Star as it is nearing the horizon.  He then points his right hand up to just over his head, which would represent mid-day.

 

Orlando:  When the Star is here we will come back and play some more.

 

As he says that, his left hand swipes the water of the pool towards the opposite end sending a soft and rolling wave of water out and outwards toward the Little children, splashing all them is a wisp of water.

 

As Katok repeats Orlando’s gestures, he points and speaks.

 

Katok:  Star, shoob, Star loontah?

 

Orlando:  Yes, when the Star is there, Star loontah, we will return and we will bring friends.

 

Orlando and Via then turn and head back down the hill to meet with the rest of the Site 6 team at the landing site as the Little children watch them walk away and slowly disappear.

 

Later at the landing site, Orlando and Vai clue in Site Team 6 to just what they have discovered.

 

Orlando:   Well, it looks like we have come in contact with a small group of Little children who love to play in the water.

 

Ivanna:  Play in the water?

 

Vai:  Yes, we came across a group of ten Little children playing in a pool that was once the reservoir which fed the irrigation canal to the village here.

 

Orlando:  Since they were playing in the pool, we decided to join them and it was a hit.  I think we communicated enough to let them know that we would be back there when their Star is highest in the sky, noon tomorrow Planet time.

 

 

LOCATION:  LANDING SITE OF THE WANAKU, BASE CAMP, SITE 1

 

Steed:  Report back.

 

Arex:  The Grazer is in good condition as are all of the other supporting air craft, but I am afraid structural integrity of the Wanaku is damaged beyond repair and she may never fly again.

 

Steed:  Understood.  Let’s get the Grazer on its mission and we’ll deal with the Wanaku when the time comes.  Bobbie, Louie, deploy the Grazer.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Mr. Veracocha but I’m afraid I can’t do that.

 

Steed:  Excuse me?

 

Louie:   Payyyy him no attention, Mr. Veraaacochaaaaa, extending exit ramp now.

 

From the floor of the Cargo Bay doors of the Wanaku, a ramp extends outwards and angled down towards the surface of Q below to the sound of loud and thunderous gears.  As it reaches away from the Wanaku, just above the ground, the gears stop and the ramp falls down the last two feet of distance with a loud boom and the kicking up dust and dirt. 

 

As the side door of the Cargo Bay of the Wanaku slides open from bottom to top, appearing just inside is the Grazer, an atmospheric flying craft sitting upon on six sets of four large wheeled landing gears.

 

The Grazer, rectangular in shape and like the Wanaku, also has four wine barrel shaped rocket-thruster engines on the outside edges of its four corners and in the front of the Planet Lander Starship is a LAAMB, but this is no ordinary LAMMB. 

 

Protruding out from the face of the Grazer is a section of the ship which slopes at a downward angle, meeting up with the upward angled portion from the underbelly of the ship.  Together, they connect at a ten feet tall by fifty feet wide area creating a sleek black and flat front face to the ship. 

 

This front section of the Grazer contains its massive LAMMB device.  A LAAMB that is so powerful, it can and does literally, shape Planets.

 

The Grazer then slowly rolls out of the Wanaku along the ramp and down to the surface of Q. 

 

Once the Grazer has traveled out and away from the Wanaku, and to a safe launch distance, its four-barrel shaped launch thruster engines, facing downward and towards the surface of Q, roar to life sending out plumes of fire, smoke, dust and debris while shaking the ground in the immediate area. 

 

As the Grazer rises up and reaches an altitude of fifty feet, the thruster engines then slowly rotate half way between their horizontal position backwards to an angle, sending the Grazer upwards, forward and on to its mission.

 

Minutes later, as the Grazer reaches its objective, the high peaks of Base Camp Site 1, the process begins…………….

 

Louie:  There she is coming up nowwwww.  Do you see those mountain ridges over there?

 

Steed:  Yes, I see them.

 

Bobbie:  I’m sorry Dave, but we should take that one to the left.  Mr. Veracocha?

 

Steed:  Yes.  LAAMB Officer, ready on point beam.

 

LAAMB Officer:  Aye, Sir, ready on point beam.

 

Steed:  Set first pass for full scope, ten tall by fifty wide by two hundred deep.

 

LAAMB Officer:  Aye, Sir, ten by fifty, by two hundred…….LAAMB lock on.

 

Louie:  Coming in low, set at two hundred depth……ready.

 

The Grazer descends and lowers its altitude as it travels at a slow and steady pace towards the high peaked and lengthy mountain ridge which resembles an “A”, narrow and just one-foot-wide at the top, the ridge gradually extends outwards and down out to five thousand feet at its base.

 

Steed:  Power on, now.

 

LAAMB Officer:  Aye, Sir, power on now.

 

As the LAAMB comes to full power, its wide beam contacts the top of the mountain ridge clearing away the first two hundred feet of its height while vaporizing the foliage, rock and dirt clearing a wide, smooth path.

 

Louie:  Coming to the end of the ridge.

 

Steed:  LAAMB off.

 

Laser Cutter Officer:  LAAMB off, aye, Sir.

 

Raylene:  Wow, Shay did you see that?

 

Shay:  Wow is right.  They just sheared off the top of that ridge from an A point to a smooth, flat surface!

 

The Grazer then circles around and comes in for a second approach.

 

Louie:  Coming around again.

 

Steed:  Fifty feet to the left, second pass.

 

LAAMB Officer:  Fifty feet, Aye Sir.

 

The Grazers second pass again vaporizes away more of the mountain ridge making the cleared path wider than the first pass. 

 

Following is a third, fourth and fifth pass, and with each pass, the flat top of the mountain ridge grows wider, flatter and longer.  In the end, the Grazers work has leveled a swath of the mountain top which is now five hundred yards wide and extends out ten thousand yards in length.

 

Steed:  LAAMB Officer prepare for thermo-sealant.

 

LAAMB Officer:  Aye, Sir.

 

Louie:  I’m coming on the right edge.

 

Steed:  Set thermo-sealant for twenty feet thickness and fifty feet wide.

 

LAAMB Officer:  Aye, Sir, twenty by fifty.

 

As the Grazer slowly reaches the cleared top of the mountain ridge with all of its four thruster engines engaged in full thrust to accurately control its slow speed, it lowers its altitude again, but this time to just ten feet above the surface and just a nudge faster than a hover. 

 

Suddenly, a fifty-foot-wide blast of fiery hot flame shoots out from the Thermo Sealant Device below the Grazer, heating the exposed rock and dirt to just barely the melting point while allowing everything in its path to settle in and along the same flat plane as it cools. 

 

On the next pass the Grazer slowly proceeds slightly left of the last path and along the mountain ridge top while the flames from the Thermo Sealant Device again solidify the rock and dirt below it. 

 

After ten more passes shifting left then right again, the entire top of the mountain ridge now has a black, smooth, flat surface which has now become a runway for Planetary Lander Starships to land safely on Q.

 

Louie then swings the Grazer around for a landing.

 

Steed:  Okay, let’s check her out ……Landing gear down.

 

Louie…..Yessirrr, Misssterrr Veracochaaaa……Landing gear dowwwwn……On final approach, hang onnnn……

 

The Grazer approaches the new landing strip with its nose angled up exposing the rear landing gear towards the surface and its delta wings deployed.

 

As the rear wheels make contact with the runway, the tires screech as black smoke begins flowing from all around the back of the ship.  The Grazer jolts and rumbles down the runway and then another jolt and more black smoke as the front wheels make contact with the surface when suddenly the retro-rocket engines ignite sending forward a thunderous, roaring stream of flame and smoke from the front of the ship slowing it down and eventually rolling to a slow stop.

 

Louie:  And……….touchdown!

 

The retro-rocket thruster engines then shut down, leaving a smoldering, whisping plume of black smoke rising up from the Grazer.

 

Louie then sets the thruster engines to taxi mode and moves the Grazer to the end of the runway and pulls it off to the right in a designated parking area.  Site 1 team looks out of the windows of the Grazer at the vastness of the new landing strip, complete with its first skid marks.

 

Arex:  Wow, will you look at this?

 

Raylene:  Amazing.  We’re on this flat smooth runway in the middle of all these mountain ranges.  Standing here at over twelve thousand feet the view is majestic and to think just minutes ago this was a mountain ridge.

 

Arex:  It certainly is. 

 

Steed:  Actually, the mineral composition of the land here and other areas not too far away are perfect for the Scorpion to mine the ores we will need to repair and refuel all of the Planet Lander Starships.

 

Arex:  How long before the Planet Lander Starships can land?

 

Steed:  Well from what I can see, it looks like we underestimated the area necessary to land all of them on this site.  Let’s have the Grazer continue along those ridgelines to the southeast, one runway for each Planet Lander Starship.  As they are completed, we’ll bring down one ship at a time.

 

Louie, send for LC-1B to pick up me and my team and take us back to the Wanaku, then I want you take the Grazer and get started on those runways.

 

Louie:  Yesss, Misssterrr Verrrracochaaa.

 

 

LOCATION:  LANDING SITE 3, RELAY SITE EAST, LATER THAT MORNING

 

Sandy:  Oh, my, I believe I see an area perfect for a landing site just to the east at 131 Mark 4….there is a clearing and lots of Littles milling about.  Did I say Mark 4?  Hmmmm, Mark always reminds me of Ashley….Oh, Ashley!

 

Mr. Chaz Quetzal:  That’ll be fine, just set us down there.

 

Katie:  We certainly will, my pretty……and your little dog, too!

 

As the immense size of LC-1C with its protruding white and blue electro-magnetic gravity repulsors ejecting from below and towards the ground gradually approaches the clearing where the Littles are congregated, one of them, Hotay, looks up and points.

 

Hotay:  Shuhar!  Shuhar!  Odim eh das???

 

A second Little, Shakan, is aghast by the size of the approaching Solans….

 

Shakan:  Obahh nah deeum nan khakoo, KHAKOO!!

 

Hotay:  KHAKOO!  KHAKOO!.....YAN!, YAN!

 

As he says that, Hotay, Shakan usher the Littles around them to run for cover…………

 

The rest of the Littles then look up and see LC-1C approaching and immediately begin screaming, yelling and running for protection.  Fathers gather their children while the mothers usher the groups away in the opposite direction and into the cover of the jungle.

 

Peter:  They’re rabbiting!

 

Katie:  Silly, Rabbits, tricks are for kids…..and your little dog, too!

 

Roberta:  Can’t say I blame them, though.

 

Chaz:  Well, I guess we’ll have some time on our hands until they get the gumption to approach the landing craft, at which point, we will exit and greet them……it’ll be like on their terms.  So settle in and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em and enjoy the sights while you can.

 

As Sandy sets LC-1C down on the surface of Q, the team eagerly exits the landing craft for a ground level look at this new and strange Planet.

 

Peter:  Wow!  Will you get a look at that?  Pretty isn’t it?

 

Miss Roberta Chicchan:  It IS lush and green.

 

Mr. Case Tiqual:  A Planetary Power Relay Site here?  Okay then.

 

Chaz:  After a few days, Planet time, I’m sure quite a few Littles won’t be able to help themselves and will approach the landing craft.  Once a sufficient number of Littles have gathered around the landing craft, the time will be right to open the doors and greet them.

 

 

LOCATION:  LANDING SITE 2, POWER PLANT SITE, JUST AS DAY BREAKS

 

Shelly:  Hey, Ya’ll, we’re above Site 2 and I see some Littles walking in a column two by two and approaching from the West.

 

Suzie:  I bet the Big Boys have come up to see me now, oooh!

 

Qin-Shi Huang:  Excellent, set the landing craft down just in front of the column.

 

Miss Lem-Li:  Whatever do you suppose they are doing?

 

Steve Chen:  It looks like their marching, as in a military formation.

 

Wang-Chi:  Hut, two, three, four……..

 

Qin-Shi:  It would appear so, now wouldn’t it?

 

Shelly then lowers LC-1D’s altitude and as it slowly approaches the surface, it’s white and blue electro-magnetic gravity repulsors eject out from below the landing craft reaching to the ground and bringing it to a soft landing.

 

Shelly:  Hold on, y’all.  It looks like we have a stampede on our hands…Heeee, Hawwww!!!

 

Qin-Shi:  A stampede?

 

Suzie:  Well, my, my…..wouldn’t you look at all those fine young men coming our way…….

 

The stampede is the group of Littles which were walking in columns but are now approaching at a running pace and bearing shields fashioned from animal hides and carrying sharp stone tipped spears to a unified chant in a language that Site Team 6 does not understand.

 

The Littles then stop in their tracks and begin to spread out and encircle the landing craft. 

 

Once they are all in place, one Little, Oton, approaches from the front.  Slowly walking forward, he reaches what he believes to be his maximum effective range for throwing his spear and stops again.  Oton then speaks…..

 

Oton:  Mena pog pevo?  Se pog pevo? 

 

Oton then raises his spear in a menacing motion.

 

Oton:  Se pog pevo!

 

There is no reply from the landing craft.  Getting jittery, Oton then throws his spear at LC-1D and as it flies straight and true, it contacts the side of the landing craft, bounces off and falls harmlessly to the ground. Oton then gestures to the others to throw their spears.

 

As the rest of the Littles then throw their spears at LC-1D, they make contact to the same fate as Oton’s, falling flat on the ground after bouncing off of the landing craft.  Oton then looks around, picks up a rock and hurls it at the landing craft as the others follow suit, but to no avail as the rocks also harmlessly bounce off and to the ground.

 

Qin-Shi:  So they want a fight, huh?  Well, let’s give them one.

 

Lem-Li:  Excuse me, sir?

 

Steve:  Yeah, what?

 

Qin-Shi:  I’ll counter their aggressiveness with some of our own.  Shelly, open the landing craft doors.

 

Shelly:  A bar room brawl, now that’s what I’m talking about!

 

As the doors of the LC-1D open and the ramp extends out to the surface of Q, Qin-Shi quickly steps out and runs over to where the Littles are and picks up Oton and another Little by the scruff of their necks, one in each hand and as he pulls them up to his face, he looks them in the eyes……..

 

Qin-Shi:  I am Ruler!  I am King!  I am EMPEROR…….GOT IT?

 

Qin-Shi then throws the two Littles away and towards the others and as they fall, they tumble around on the ground, coming to a stop then slowly stand up, shaking in fear as are all the other Littles while the rest of the Site 2 team look at each other in shock.

 

 

LOCATION:  LANDING SITE 4, RELAY SITE WEST

 

As Johnny sets LC-1G down in a clearing at the base of a nearby mountain range the landing craft doors open and Site 4 team exit and survey their surroundings.

 

Shree:  My but this is a beautiful place.

 

Shiv:  Indeed.  Which mountain top do you think we should use for the Relay Site?

 

Shree:  I’d say that one to the right as it is the tallest of them all, as we will need maximum height.

 

Ilsa:  I’ll activate the thermal imaging system to see where the Littles are located in this area.

 

Jag:  No need, look over there at the edge of that forest, I see some Littles gathering.

 

Shree:  That’s our queue…..let’s go and make contact.

 

Site Team 4 then moves toward the Littles at a slow and deliberate pace so as not to frighten them.  As the Site 4 team approaches the far edge of the clearing, the Littles scurry away and into the forest.

 

Shree:  Okay, let’s take it slow now.  We’ll approach just to the edge of the forest and call to them.

 

As the team reaches their objective, Jag calls out.

 

Jag:  Hey you Littles, do not be afraid, we are friends.

 

After a few seconds of waiting, there is no response from the Littles.

 

Shree:  Hmmmm……This might be more difficult than expected…..wait, look, they’re moving along the edge of the forest and to the west.

 

Ilsa:  I’ll swing around and meet them on the opposite end.

 

Shree:  Good idea.  Shiv, you go with Ilsa.  Jag and I will follow the Littles until we all meet up.

 

As the Littles continue to move away from Shree and Jag, they do not see Ilsa and Shiv doing an end around and as they emerge from the forest into the clearing they are surprised to the giant Solans in their path.

 

Ilsa:  Well, hello there my little friends!

 

The Littles stop in their tracks, and as they turn around to head back in the direction they came from, they see Shree and Jag approaching. 

 

Fearful at the immense size of the Solans, they re-enter the forest, but just enough to maintain a visual on the approaching large strangers.  While sensing no danger and after a brief discussion, four of the Littles emerge from the forest and cautiously approach the Team.  The Littles are comprised of three males, Gabon, Tobah and Sulan and one female, Winae.

 

Gabah:  Uhat aven au?

 

Ilsa:  Hello, I am Ilsa, who are you?

 

Gabah:  Uhat ve auen uelan?

 

Tobah then whispers into Gabah’s ear as he intently stares at the Solans.

 

Winae:   A ne Winae….Winae.

 

Gabah and Sulan then join Winae at her side.

 

Sulan:  A ne Sulan.

 

Gabah:  A ne Gabah.

 

Shree:  CLAIRE, can you please run that language through the linguistics database and see if there is a match?

 

CLAIRE:  Certainly, running database cross-reference.

 

Shree:  We do not understand what you are saying.  We are Solans, Humans from the Planet Terra and we are here to help you.  Do you understand, help?

 

Winae:  Uhat aven auen?

 

CLAIRE:   Mrs. Prashkati, I find no corresponding language in the database.

 

Shree:  Understood. 

 

Shree then address the group of four Littles.

 

Shree:  Well, my friends, it looks like we’ll all have some learning to do.

 

Sulan then turns to the forest and calls to the other Littles to come out and into the clearing.  

 

Gathered together the Littles and the Solans try to communicate.