STAR TREK TOS ALTERNATIVE BOOK 11.-
"ANKAA"
SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL BY ALFREDO F.H.JUILLET FRASCARA.
2003
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1. Captain James Tiberius Kirk.
2. First Officer Juan Gonzalez V.
3. Second Officer Lana Bickford
4. Science Officer Salustio Venegas R.
5. Medical officer Pedro Truco
6. Chief Engineer Morian Sarcovetiz .
7. Transporter Engineer Wlad Smirnoff.
8. Ensign Pavel Adrian Jackson.
9. Exo Biologist Janice Icelon
10.Electromen: Ten.
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Chapters of this obra :
chapter one ANKAA
chapter two The Balos
chapter three The Expedition of Mr. Rosemberg
chapter four Orbital Station
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-----------ANKAA-------------------------------------
PROLOGUE:
Kirk was looking a pair of Cepheids; he didn t rise eyes from the Chart.A couple of tears drops from his eyes...
He was to choose between a family life, rising kids properly in Maora Noemi s kind company, or to travel far into the deep space, leaving a lonely woman rise his child as good as she can......
-"I will sell the ship,then! And we both will devote our life to gave a proper education to our childs!"- Kirk said, and hearing his own voice, that seems to be uttered by another man, he trembled with elation.
-My love! I imagine how much you ll be suffering, if you did that!
But I know your destiny is to be surfing unknown skies! Go to the stars! Go boldly where no one has ever gone before!"- Maora Noemi told him, with passion.....
Chapter One.
Ankaa.--
Kirk was a freelance explorer now he was not in the Federation of Planet Starfleet; his former officers were piloting or commanding big spaceships in outer space, so his
crew was composed now by new people.
With the money from the Mining Company- where he has still the shares- he bought a nice and streamlined spaceship with capacity to made Jumps through Hyper space and back; capable of to advance at Warp 9, and with a crew of 9 persons plus cargo.
There were several Companies - as well as small nations- who hired spaceships to do fast voyages, dangerous voyages, or leisure voyages to the Stars beyond; so Kirk has his name for anyone who could pay his fare.
His ship was called by the name of "MAORA", and the two shuttles bears the names of his two daughters: "Nova" and "Star."
The "Saucer Services" calls him one day to their offices, and Kirk went , expecting they were to offer him some special trip.
And he was not disappointed!
Mr. Gorfleur Nacho , his stomach more and more big each time Kirk went to visit him, told him:- "Captain Kirk! How good to see you! Please, take a seat!"
Kirk seated, after the handshake, and listen.
- One of my customers was here yesterday, with the idea of to travel to a newly discovered planetary system; he believes he can earn something by going there."
- Just tell me where he wants to go, and sure thing I will deliver him there!"- Kirk said.
- Well, is the "star Kaas in the Phoenix Constellation"; went there yourself ?"- Gorfleur Nacho asked.
- Never in my life; the Phoenix Constellation is unknown- at least that was what they were saying last week."- Kirk said.
- Well, if you are interested, I can communicate him to you; and he is paying five hundred thousand Credits for the whole trip- plus the fuel and the necessary food."- Gorfleur Nacho told him.
Kirk made a quick estimation of the time that trip was going to cost him, and said:"- It's a fair offer; but tell me how much he was going to be in the spot?"-
- No idea! You must talk with him, for the details! And if you are interested, I can call him here; all the contracts I made them here, as I must to see nobody gets hurt by a comma or some important item that was not cared for, and that could mean the difference between a good deal from a disastrous one!- Gorfleur said; Kirk accepted, as he was going to pay the guy, too!
So the deal was made; Gorfleur reunite them three days elapsed, and when Kirk enter his office, he saw three persons already there.
- Captain Kirk! I have the pleasure to present you Mr. Joah Rosemberg , Mr. Harold Gans and Mr. Ken Sillac , your future clients!
- Glad to meet you! Hope we could work this out"- Kirk said.
Rosemberg and Gans were big and bald ,in their middle fifties, and Sillac was short and thin.
- Mr. Kirk, we are three friends who are trying to do a good business out of this; we have much interest in a planet in the Phoenix Constellation. "- Rosemberg said.
- Have you made some research ,apart of being interested on?"- Kirk asked.
- The information is scant and all we knew, some weeks ago, it�s that it was received a radio communication from those far reaches of Space; perhaps a stranded ship." - Rosemberg said.
- Captain Kirk: I have a brother, who's name is Garton Gans; a philosopher and a Mineralogist. Since three years, now, he is lost in space- perhaps it was he who send that message! I have gone to several planets, using the money of what father left us both, in order to find my brother! And so it is that this Expedition is of the utmost importance for me."- Harold Gans explained.
- And for how much time are you thinking this expedition of yours will last?"- Kirk asked.
- At least a year! Less than that, impossible! We want to bring back as many things as we can! My field of interest is the Television programs; currently I have three or four teams working in little known worlds, in order to present them , in an interesting fashion, in my series."- Ken Sillac said.
- All right, my wages are known! A million credits, plus the fuel; and the right to bring back any thing I choose fit ."- Kirk said.
The three associates talk among themselves some time, and Rosemberg resume it to Kirk:"- We find your wages and fuel an acceptable request. We will be four in this trip; my daughter is going, too."- Joah Rosemberg said.
- Up to ten persons you could invite, apart of you three; and some two tons of cargo, if you have any."- Kirk said.
- Of course, we will carry some gear with us. And cameras."- Ken Silliac said.
Gorfleur Nacho said:" Well, Sirs, I had the picture now: Captain Kirk is going to be with you at least a year in space- and bring back your valuable persons and whatever you wish to carry in his spaceship! The payment is, Gentlemen, in advance! The fuel, in orbit! As I need my percentage in this financial operation!"-
- I find it very reasonable."- Ken Silliac said, and so Gorfleur Nacho smiled broadly.
- When the papers are going to be ready to sign?"- Kirk asked.
- To-morrow! We are going to have all your personal data and the whole expedition explained in the Contract, so nobody will be suing nobody if things goes correctly. Captain Kirk is one of the few Gentlemen in space that never has been sued by anybody! So you are making business with Zero worries here."- Gorfleur Nacho said.
After some other considerations, the adjourning was over, and Kirk went out of the "SAUCER SERVICES", to the smog of Santiago. He exhaled deeply, and takes a taxi to his home.
- And, how it was?"- Maora Noemi asked him, kissing his lips briefly.
- A million bucks already ! - Kirk said, embracing her.
- Good! When do you depart?"- She asked, kissing him.
- That was not discussed to-day! We are going to sign to-morrow! Gorfleur has the check in his pocket!"- Kirk announced.
- Good! There are several items at our house that I want to improve!"- Maora laughs, dancing with him by the kitchen's floor.
- And our child, where are they?"- Kirk asked, sensing the house was too silent.
- Oh, I send them to the park! They need to play with other child, you know. I don't want them to be shy; they suffer a lot afterwards."- Maora explained.
Kirk went to his office- inside the house. He begun making the necessary lists- fuel, food, everything to have a nice and quiet voyage in space , without too much worries.
At the next day, the meeting was in the morning; they all seems to be in a hurry, and they shaken hands, signs and depart; Kirk with his million Credits in his credit card- except a seven per cent for Gorfleur Nacho and his "Saucer Services."
- Have a nice trip, my friend!- Gorfleur said.
- Hope so!"- Kirk reply, smiling.
At the street, he called Maora, who came with her two daughters, and went shopping- he bought them clothes and new shoes, and also for himself a couple of jackets and some pants.
- They will send it to our home."- He told her.
- Better that way! So we are ready to go lunching at some fancy restaurant!- Maora said, and so they did. The two little daughters made a mess of the food at the table, and Kirk was blushing as a maid; then they went home.
- When are you going to depart, darling?"- Maora asked him.
- Guess this Saturday; a little trip to the ship in orbit, and there I must be sure the fuel and the cargo are in place; then I call you when going out of Earth's orbit."- Kirk said, embracing his love.
- Hope you could return soon! "- She said.
- A year is not too much of time to wait for me! "- He smiled.
- Gosh! A lot of time it is! But, as a Captain, you must do what is needed! I will be waiting you- like old Penelope for his Odiseo."- She said.
*************
Once at his "Maora" spaceship, Kirk was excited with the next mission they had for him.
- Send me the first officer, please!"- He told Lana by the intercom.
- Right away, Captain !"- The Second Officer replied him by the phone.
Some ten minutes afterwards, the first officer appeared on the threshold, carrying a electronic pad in his right hand.
- Please come in, Juan Gonzalez ; and have a 7 seat. - Kirk told him.
- Thanks you, Captain. "- Gonzalez said, seating in the only spare chair that Kirk had in his ante-chamber.
- I called you, Juan , as we have a new appointment ahead of us; there is some queer radio signals incoming from Ankaa system; right on ---"
- The Phoenix Constellation, I know."- The first officer said, with pedantic voice.
- Yes, in that constellation; please inform me about that System, if you have some information."- Kirk asked .
- We have the relative size of Ankaa, and the distance from our capital planet to that far-off star; but I guess you want to know more."- Juan Gonzalez said.
- Of course; I want to know if there is someone there!"
- Not that I know of, Captain; not even members of our fleet has gone there before; guess we will be the first ones to arrive there."
- At least we have visited some of those stars?
- Phoenix Constellation has been not charted until now; perhaps we could find some interesting things there, Captain. When are we departing there?"
- As soon as we finished this conversation, First Officer! As we has been traveling for four and a half years in our five years mission, guess we are going to have a real exploration ,this time. No settlers to be saved, either."- Kirk sighed, remembering some other missions ...
- How much time we are going to spend this time, Gonzalez ?
- Guess some three weeks, Captain- at full speed."
- Three weeks- a lot of time. I confide you are going to make the crew work enough as to forget we are spending so much time in space. - Kirk said.
- All right, Captain ."- Juan Gonzalez said, standing.
- Well, I guess we are going to travel fast this time; see Mr. Morian has everything in order. I have a matter to discuss with someone."- Kirk said, looking at his watch.
- I will set the new course in some fifteen minutes, Captain . "- Juan Gonzalez said, retiring.
- Kirk went out , too, but in other direction; he went to certain cabin , and knock in a door.
- Come in."- Someone said from the inside. Kirk crossed the threshold, and saw Lana Bickford , Second Communication's officer snapping her brassier in place.
- I guess I arrive in a bad time."- Kirk said, retracing his steps.
- No, wait, Captain! I was changing my bra, as there is something in the first one that itches me most!"- The young woman said, putting herself a green jacket.
- It will be Ankaa our next destination, a small world orbiting the Ankaa sun.- Kirk informs the girl, who made a grimace of endurance.
- Guess I am not going to have too much work, did I?"- Lana said.
- Guess not!- Kirk answered, taking one of her hands; she smiled, and embraced him, offering her lips- they kissed and then she said:" - Oh, I was waiting this an eternity!"
- How was that ?"- Kirk said, touching her blonde hair.
- Since we departed."- She said, eyes wide opened.
- Three days and a half! There is a lot to be said of that span of time."- Kirk said, laughing .
- Yes! You was very busy in those three days."- Lana remarked, kissing him lightly.
Lana Bickford chew his hear...
- Please! I am a real quiet kind of captain!"- Kirk said.
- Now we will see how quiet you could be- " Lana said, pressing her lips unto his...
*******
Gonzalez said :- All ready to depart. "
- Calling all hands! Braze for depart!"- Jackson said, by the Intercom.
The "Maora" accelerated, and soon was ready for the Jump through Hyper Space- just ten minutes and thousands of Parsecs were leave behind.
- Entering normal space.- The voice of Adrian Jackson said, awakening echoes through the hull .
The big ship was traveling at a great velocity; in front of them and something to the right, was Ankaa, still a speck of light.
- Ankaa is visible, Sir.- Adrian Jackson said.
- Fine, and adjusting course.- the First Officer said.
- Did I call the Captain, Sir?- Salustio Venegas asked him.
- Not necessarily, officer."- He said, looking at the Science Officer ; he rise his shoulders, and look the other way; it was curious that Captain Kirk wasn't in the main deck during a Jump.
*******
Janice Icelon, Exo Biologist aboard the ship, went to see her friend Lana, thinking she was feeling bad- as she wasn't at her place, and when knocking at her door's cabin, Kirk opened it .
- Oh ,pardon me, Sir! I came here to see if officer Bickford was present in this cabin!"- Janice said, blushing.
- She is here; you could come in, as I am leaving now."- He said, and went out.
Janice went inside, and wait until the beautiful blonde girl finished her bath; she went out wearing a pink negligee
- Oh, you are here!"- Lana said, looking at her friend.
- You didn't told me you have a visitor in your room!"- Janice said.
- Kirk? I mean, the Captain? Don't you worry; he is a real good friend of mine."- Lana replied, beginning to dressing the uniform.
- A good friend of yours? I guess it is something more than that!- Janice said, heartily; she felt her own heart pounding hard inside of her chest...
- Don't get you wrong ideas! Just friends."- Lana said, departing; Janice follows her to the corridor, and said:"- You get to tell me all about it!"
- Not in a hundred years, my friend!"- Lana turns her beautiful blue eyes on Janice.- And please, not a word of this!"
- Cross my heart!"- Janice told her in reply, but after she lost sight of her friend, she began to gossip all over the ship, so by the late hours of that day, everyone aboard the " Maora" knew what was happening between the beauteous Lana and the Captain!
Kirk went to the Main Deck, asking Juan Gonzalez about the Ankaa sun.
- How far are we from the last of his planet, Gonzalez ?"
- Just one week ahead, Captain."- Gonzalez said.
- Very well."- Kirk said.
Janice Icelon was looking keenly on Kirk; he was changed; he had that "anew" look in his eyes; probably the new conquest- the new girl in his hands; she sighed; when it will came the time for her to be loved by the blond captain ?
Perhaps never! The Captain very well could be a Narcisist , in his inner self...
Kirk went down the hull to see Engineer Morian, finding him quarreling with his aid, Wlad Smirnoff.
- I told you once and I told you know: you must see the whole bunch of indicators! "- He was yelling to the younger man.
- Hush, hush!"- Captain Kirk said, approaching him. Morian come directly to him, saying:"- Please, Captain , told Mr. Wlad Smirnoff here how he must obey my orders!"
- What is the problem, Smirnoff ?"- Kirk asked.
- Sir, there are some 32 indicators in this control panel, and I saw them all in the green light, but when our Chief Engineer come this way, there it was a red light shining! So he said I didn't take attention !"- Smirnoff said.
- You must pay attention at all times, Smirnoff ! But of course, Morian, the man could be very well saying the truth!"- Kirk told him.
- Yes, Captain! I will forgive this gentleman - once! The next time I feel he is not doing his work as I want, I will ask you to change the fellow from my Section!"- Morian said, and the man was dismissed.
- There is something troubling you, Captain ?"- Morian Sarcovetiz asked.
- Yes! I want to know a lot of things- in the future! We are approaching the end of our voyage! And we know nothing about that planets in the wilderness!- Kirk said.
- That is the trouble, Captain?"- Morian asked, with a keen smile.
- I am in love of this piece of machinery- and so are you! And I want it to be in one piece- when we return!"- Kirk said, seating on a corner.
- You are so gloomy to-day, Captain! Perhaps you need a little medicine from our good doctor!"- Morian said.
- I believe his medicine could be had in some other places, too." - Kirk told him.
- Oh, you know, then! Well, doctor Morian has something for you!"- He said, and going to a locker, he produce a fine bottle of scotch- half a pint- and placed it on his captain's hand.
- Take a little drink, Captain!"- Morian Sarcovetiz said.
- Well, but you are going to do the same, after me! "- Kirk smiled.
He was drinking from the bottle, when Lana Bickford happened to be passing by!
- Oh, Captain Kirk! Pardon me for the intruding !" She said, blushing.
- No trouble at all, Lana ! This is beginning to be a normal trend!"- Kirk said, with a sigh.
The woman leaves the place in a hurry, and Morian takes the bottle, drinking a mouthful.
- Oh, there is nothing better for erase a gloomy afternoon with this!!"- He said.
- Well, I see no gloomy afternoon around here !"- Kirk said to him, leaving the place; he went to the Infirmary, and ask for doctor Pedro Truco .
- He is in his resting time, Sir!"- Janice Icelon told him.
- Fine."- Kirk said, leaving the place; Janice was a nice blonde woman, but the saying was she was engaged with a big shot , back there in Earth; so she was Taboo for everyone on board...
- Care for a little exercise, Captain?"- A voice interrupts his train of thoughts. It was Juan Gonzalez.
- Of course! Let's go there now, and see if you can beat me up!"- Kirk replied, and with Juan he enters the Gymnasium- a place where you could lift weights, run on rubber bands, or fight with some Instructor.
Juan and Kirk changes their clothes for white garments, and then began to fight each other ,using Judo. Juan grabbed Kirk and send him flying to the nearest- padded- wall; he springs back and try to do the oriental a "scissors", but failed, and bumped on the -padded- floor.
- To soft for me!"- Juan yelled, and landed with his two feet over Kirk�s chest.
- Worgh!"- Kirk said, and spurt some food over the tarmac.
- Enough for to-day, Captain! "- Juan vowed in Kirk`s direction, and departed to the showers.
Kirk crawled there, and takes a shower , too. After, he went to the Infirmary, to check his chest...
- No bones broken, Captain! You can challenge Juan Gonzalez again!"- Doctor Truco said, after the scan.
- I will refrain to do so, unless I have a Phaser in my hand!"- Kirk said, smiling.
- Take this; good for the bones."- Truco said, giving him some scotch in a test tube.
- Good!" - Kirk remarked; this time the scotch makes him recover his usual high spirits.
- And please, keep away from Gonzalez , next time!"- Truco said, with a grin.
Kirk went to see his fiancee at her room, but she wasn't ; so he walked to the Main Deck; there she was, and when seeing him, he approached, saying:"- Somebody spills the beans, my love! Everyone seems to be in the know- about you and me!"
- Well, somebody you know must have talked! That girl- the last visit you have! "- Kirk said, in undertones.
- Must be Janice Icelon ! Could you make her walk over the board?"- Lana said, smiling.
- Lana! That is not necessary! "- Kirk replied, feigning scare.
- Captain: we have the outermost planet in front of us. Will you send a scout ship to take samples ?"- Gonzalez said, from his place.
- Not necessarily, First Officer! We could touch the stratosphere with the "Maora" and takes the samples with the tubes!"- Kirk replied.
The big ship passed through a lot of Stratosphere, sucking the gases inside the experimental chambers; there, a team of six scientific personnel -plus the Central Computer- decomposed the gases and made a report.
- Methane, for the most part, Captain! With traces of Sulfur and Manganese dioxide.- The voice of Exo Biologist Janice Icelon ,coming from the Labs, informs them- after some twenty minutes.
- The core, how much big it is?"- Kirk asked.
- 30 % of the total apparent mass, Captain! Density of gravity: 23."- Gonzalez said.
- Enough to makes us porridge!"- Lana said, looking out the porthole.
- No need to land down there! - Kirk said.
The "Maora" passed to the other side of the planet, rising speed; soon the next planet was in sight: a big chunk of a planet- some 23 times greater than the old Earth! Mostly covered by snow and terrible storms, with a mild -123 degrees Centigrade .
- Nothing interesting there, either! Salustio , are you filming everything?"- Kirk asked the guy.
- Yes, Captain! All recorded and taped already."- Salustio Venegas said, tapping his console.
- Good! Everyone at their posts! No mistakes this time!"- Kirk said, looking at Lana, who was seated in front of a big radar screen.
- Nothing in sight- except the planets, Sir!- Lana informed, fully aware of his gaze.
- Good ! No aliens to fight in this trip!"- Kirk said, seating at his arm-chair.
- Four hours to arrive to the next planet, Sir! - Gonzalez said.
Kirk glanced to the clock in a wall, and said:"- Guess I will go to lunch; care to accompany me, officer Bickford?"
- Ready to do so, Captain!- She said, blushing a lot.
So they both went to the dinner table, in the Dining quarters. She takes his hand, saying:"- Please, forgive my love, but I am so delighted to be with you- specially now you show the crew we are in love!"
- No problem, Lana! I did what I did without shame! We are human beings, in need of love and affection! What is the so special situation, here?"- Kirk said.
- The Regulations! The captain of a ship cannot have sexual intercourse with one of his subordinates! "- She said, whispering.
- Oh, my darling! "- Kirk said, laughing, and take her to Hydroponics, where he prepare a salad with tomatoes and lettuce - right from Hydroponics!
- You sure know how to be eating healthy !"- Lana said, referring herself to the food.
- I must indulge myself in good chew, my darling! Pity my waist suffers !"
- Oh, no! I cannot indulge to be a fat woman!"- She said, laughing aloud.
- Four hours more, and we will arrive to the last of the giants of this System; then it will follow the inner planets- where we could find more interesting things."- Kirk said.
- And the radio signals`s source!"- She said, whispering.
- The radio signals we hadn't been hearing since we arrive here! - Kirk said.
- Strange, don't you think?"- Lana said, munching a piece of mutton away.
- Not so strange, child! We were informed of a radio signal that sprouts from here some 390 years ago! Remember we have a Jump in between! That shortened the time- for us- but here, the time is as always had been equal ! So the guy- or guys- who sent that signals, could be very well dead and buried a hundred times already!"- Kirk explains with pedantic tones.
- Oh, how you reminds me of a History professor I once had!"- She laughed, sipping a little Canada Dry.
- Good to be similar to a teacher, here!"- Kirk said, looking at her; she was young, eager, clever- a good match for himself!
They finished the meal and Lana looked at the clock in the wall, and said: " Three and a half hours more to be waiting!"
- Shall we wait at your place, darling?"- He asked; she assented with his head, and they went there, closing the door behind them; he caressed his strong body, and she offered his lips to the man; long time they were loving each other, until she said:"- We are nearing the time to be waited; let's go to Main Deck?"
- Let's go!"- He said, dressing himself in a hurry.
She comb his hair before going out, and said:"- My hero!"
- Seven in sight, Sir!"- Gonzalez said, when he enters cabin.
- Very well! Zoom in!"- Kirk asked; the planet was seen in the main screen, and the surface was pure ice.
- It's of water, or what?"- Kirk said.
- We are scanning it, Captain, and it is water."- Gonzalez said.
- Really good! Gravity ?"
- 14 it's the density of gravity - a forbidden place."- Gonzalez said.
- Pity! "- Kirk said, looking at those cracks on the surface- at the least, water could be grabbed from this planet, with machinery- people were forbidden there!
- Using the planet's pull, we could increase velocity without any waste of fuel.- Gonzalez said.
- Make it so.- Kirk asked of Gonzalez, who uses the planet's mass to project the " Maora" to the inner planets- some millions of kilometers away...
- Time to arrival to the next planet, First Officer?"- Yawned Kirk.
- 26 hours, Captain."- Juan Gonzalez said.
- Fine; give me a call."- Kirk said, and went out.
He walked to his own cabin, and not caring for undress, he felt asleep over his bed- too much of a tired man to pull out his clothes, after the sexual match!
But Six was as cold and dead as Seven; so it was Five and Four...
- Dead planets! - Kirk said, looking at the screen, two days elapsed.
- The next one is the one alive of the whole pack!"- Salustio said, looking at his control panel.
- Good! Gonzalez , said to me!"
- Terraformed planet, Sir! Water and atmosphere present- pity we are not able to scan it in full, but I could say we will be able to land there, Captain!"-
- Gravity pull?"
- 0.9, Captain!"- Gonzalez said.
Kirk approaches the bench where Lana was working, and said:"- Good news! We are going to weight a little less, in that planet!
- Oh, really? I want to be in the landing party!"- Lana said, smiling to him.
- You ask for it!"- Kirk said, pointing a finger to her.
The "Maora" fixed orbit over Ankaa, with a full revolution each two hours; a fine web will be produced in this way, so every part of the planet in a week or so.
- There are three continents and two polar regions; breathable air, no radio signals."- Said Gonzalez.
- What a mountain ridge!"- Salustio Venegas said, looking by the screen; a real great chain of mountains traversed the continent they were crossing- from west to east. They were crossing the north hemisphere.
- Time to wake up our passengers!"- Kirk said, and with Janice Icelon they wake up ,from the Cold, Mr. Joah Rosemberg , Mr. Harold Gans , Mr. Ken Sillac and Miss Jane Rosemberg, of nineteen years old.
They were very weak , due to the hibernation, and so they were told to be in their cabins...
- I hope you feel better in a couple of days ! We will provide you with special food for now; and I have news for you: we are already orbiting "Ankaa."
The eyes of Harold Gans sparkled, and he said:"- Hope we could find my brother Garton? Any radio transmitting?"
- None whatsoever."- Kirk said.
- Well, guess the batteries must had gone long ago! "- Ken Sillac said, crumbling in his place...
Three days elapsed, Kirk saw the passengers were fully recovered, and said to them:"- The Expedition will begun; are you ready to go to the surface of the planet Ankaa?"
- Of course!"- Joah Rosemberg said, pale on the face.
- Very well, then! You are going in the first voyage." - Kirk smiled; nothing better to scare shit a passenger was to tell him he was in the first landing!
The "Maora" has two scout ships, with six seats in each one; Kirk said , by the Intercom:"- Crew of the First Scout Ship ready to depart in ten minutes!"
And to Gonzalez he said:"- I leave you in command of the ship, Mr. Gonzalez."
- Very well, Sir."- The man said, stiffly.
- Lana, come with me."- Kirk told the woman, who was looking intently to him from his place.
When arriving to the Scout ship tunnel, Kirk saw his four passengers already seated inside the shuttle. The pilot was going to be Lana Bickford.
So he gives a smile to his fiancee, who was beaming with delight.
Shuttle One.
Pilot: Lana Bickford
Radarscope, Radiotransmitter: James T. Kirk.
Passengers: Joah Rosemberg, Harold Gans, Ken Sillac, Jane Rosemberg.
In the tiny box of soap that was the Scout Ship I, Lana piloted the craft to the surface; in so doing, they avoid the big paramount mountains, and landed in a plain, between two great hills.
The place was full of ice; the craft's doors opened wide, the humans breathe the air.
- It 's very icy!- She said, gasping.
- You ask for this!- Kirk replied, stepping outside.
The boots sunk ten centimeters inside the snow.
The landscape was great, with all those mountains surrounding them.
The passengers begun their exploratory and scientific work; Kirk said -" Let's climb a little, my darling!"
Using their sticks, they climb some hundred meters , and look down below.
- What a puny thing the craft seems from here!"- Lana said.
- All the works of man seems puny from a distance."- Kirk replied.
- Oh, yeah! The greatness of man it 's inside him!"- Lana remembered one of Starfleet's Academy first lessons.
Kirk climbs a little more, and find a nest.- Look! Eggs!"
Lana looked at the sky- pale blue , no birds!
Kirk takes one in his palm: the egg hatched suddenly, and a black snake bits his hand, jumping to the snow and burying itself in it.
- Oh, he hurts you!- Lana said, taking his arm; Kirk fainted to the snow, trembling.
- Hey, you down there! Help!"- Lana cried , and the tiny specks of life begun to climb the mountain in a hurry.
- What happened, Bickford ?"- Joah Rosemberg asked, sensing Kirk's heart, when arrived up there.
- A snow- snake bits him in the arm! It sprouts from an hatchet egg."- She said, in a whisper.
Joah Rosemberg injected him with a syringe some medicine, and said:"- We must climb up to the "Maora", Lady ! Every minute counts, now!"
- Let's move , then!"- She said, and they descended in a hurry; once in the tiny shuttle, the pilot start the engines, and after a short run by the snow, the vehicle climbs up to the sky; soon it was dark over them, and the shiny "Maora" was in front.
- We have an injured man on -board, Mr. Gonzalez; he was bitten by a snake!"
- Who is his name, please?"- Gonzalez said by the radio.
- He is the captain Kirk, Sir."- The radio-man said.
The shuttle enters the hull of the big starship, and then all was running to the Infirmary; there, Doctor Truco scanned the fainted Captain with his Tricorder.
- He is in comma. "- He muttered almost to himself; his words reached until the last crew members, as they passed the word in a flash.
- He is in danger, Doctor?"- Lana said, crying a little.
- He is almost gone, Lieutenant."- Truco said, injecting another medicine inside the body of Kirk- " I can maintain him for a while- tell me , how did it looks the thing that bites him?"
- Oh, it was just one of those eggs! He takes one in his hand, and it hatched in a second! A tiny little beast sprouts out and bites him; then, it jumped to the snow and disappears inside."- Lana informed the Doctor.
- Mm! Well, I will collect as much of the venom as I could- but I will be needing the snake."- Truco said.
- Oh!"- Lana said, looking at the Captain, who was trembling a little.
Gonzalez enters the infirmary's main room, and asked about Kirk�s health.
- He is almost bad as he looks! We need more samples of the venom- you see, the snake injected him with the bite he gives him; now, we could trace some of that venom in the Captain�s blood, but we need the pure venom itself. Could you send someone to the planet, in order to bring here some serpent?"- Truco asked.
- Well, indeed, Doctor! If you believe you need the snake in order to cure our Captain, I will send a team there to collect as many snakes as you like."- Gonzalez said, looking at the dormant.
- So, I ask you to did send the team, Mr. Gonzalez! As fast as you could."- Truco said.
- Very well."- Gonzalez said, and retrace his steps, seating in the Captain�s chair, and said, by the Intercom:"- Adrian Jackson, to the Bridge!"
Soon the named arrive, and salute.
- I need you and some others to accompany the Communications officer Bickford to the spot where she was with the Captain, on the surface of Ankaa Third! There you will capture snakes to bring them to the Infirmary! On the double!"
- Aye aye, Sir!"- Jackson said, running out of the Deck; he finds Lana in the Infirmary, and told her to accompany him to the Planet.
- Why me? I want to be here, with him! There were some others with me there; why don't you call on them?"- Lana said, with Kirk�s hand on her own.
- No way, lady Lana ! It's First Officer's orders!"- Jackson said, looking at her .
- Very well! I will go ! " - She said, angrily .
SHUTTLE ONE
Pilot: Lana Bickford.
Radar and Radio transmitter: Adrian Jackson.
Five minutes elapsed, the First Scout Ship was traversing the upper layers of the troposphere, with a whining sound; Lana was almost scared to see how fast the Shuttle was descending, and try to diminish the velocity with the forward thrusters.
Suddenly a din was heard, and Lana saw how the fin-tail of the little craft rip off and went with the wind !
- What are you doing!"- Adrian Jackson yelled, trying to take control of the ship, but the artifact was spinning wildly, and soon it was buried in the snow, after a crash-landing.
Inside the tiny capsule, there was no sound whatsoever; the heat of the hull was diluting the snow as fast as it could, so the ship was sinking deeper and deeper into the snow, until it stops, some fifty meters below surface; the water over him gets cold in a couple of hours, and so the ship lie encased in a chunk of very solid ice cube...
- We have lost communications with the First Shuttle, Sir!"- Wlad Smirnoff said to Gonzalez .
- Try Telemetry.- He asked.
Smirnoff tried that, but to not avail, and said so.
- Keep trying!"- Gonzalez said, walking out of the main deck.
He walked to the Second Auxiliary Ship, and called for Salustio Venegas and Morian Sarcovetiz.
- You are going to the site ! The coordinates are already in the computer of this craft! Something happens with the first Shuttle, but we have an emergency now, with Captain Kirk in the Infirmary! So you hasten there, take the snakes to counter-attack the poison in our Captain�s blood stream, and come back! The rescue of Shuttle One will follow!"
- Understood!"- Salustio Venegas said, jumping inside of the Shuttle Two, followed by Morian.
SHUTTLE TWO.
PILOT: SALUSTIO VENEGAS
RADAR AND RADIO TRANSMITTER: MORIAN SARCOVETIZ
- I want you to descend where we are going to told you; we lost communications with the First Scout ship; so be aware of any danger! The coordinates will be giving to you by the radio."- Gonzalez told Morian Sarcovetiz, by the radio.
- Aye Aye, sir!"- The aforementioned astronaut said, and soon the Second Scout Ship was a mere speck in front of the clouds of Ankaa Third.
Sarcovetiz saw the snow-marks where the former landing was produced, and descended there; then, they search for the eggs, finding a dozen - after a little while.
- Don`t touch them with bare hands! "- Sarcovetiz said, producing a bag; they put the eggs there with care- using the Phaser�s butt, and they return to the Scout 2.
- Ready to depart, Sir."- Sarcovetiz told Gonzalez, via Intercom.
- Take off as soon as you could, Lieutenant! We have an injured captain here!"- Gonzalez told in reply.
The tiny ship rise the nose when the river of fire went out their nozzles; they crossed the newly arrived clouds, and soon they were in the blackness of space.
- Three minutes for eye-contact with the " Maora"."- Sarcovetiz said.
Soon, the tiny ship went inside the hull of the starship, and Sarcovetiz himself carried the eggs to the Doctor.
- So here it is the primal cause of this drama!"- Truco said, handling the eggs; he leave them inside a plastic envelope; with globes and a scissors, he opened one of the black eggs; a little snake went out snapping furiously.
- Take care!"- Gonzalez said, surprised to see that.
- No problem! The envelope resist three hundred kilos"- Truco replied; and taking the snake with a pliers, he makes the creature bare his teeth; soon some venom sample was already in a vial.
In the next hour, after some experiments with the venom, Truco said:" - I find it!" - And went to the Lab to produce the antidote; three hours of hard labor, and he obtained a yellow liquid.
- I will inject the Captain with this; must be working in an hour."- He muttered, and so he did; after sixty minutes, the heavy breathing of Kirk diminished to a normal one, and he opened his eyes.
- What happened?"- He ask, with a dizzy look.
- You were bitten by a snake, and they bring you to the "Maora"; but you are recovering now."- Truco said.
- Where is Lana?"- Kirk ask, with a troubled grimace.
- She ... have an accident. "- Gonzalez said.
- What? Did she was bitten ,too?"- Kirk asked.
- NOT that, I'm afraid. She went down to take some snakes here to be analyzed.. and we lost contact with the ship." - Truco replied.
- I must go there!"- Kirk said, trying to stand up, but Truco pushed him to the bed, saying:" You cannot leave right now! The venom still is in your blood!"
So Kirk remind in bed, dozed, and Gonzalez begun to be worried about Lana and the First Shuttle craft!
He calls Sarcovetiz to Main Deck, and told him: "- I need to recover the first Shuttle! "
- We find where the first Shuttle crash -landed, Sir! With the heat, it sunk in the ice several meters!" - Sarcovetiz said .
- Must be that! You are going to recover it as soon as possible!"
- I am ready, First Officer ! May I insinuate something, Sir? As the ship crash landed, there are needed some apparatus, to recover the pieces- must be inserted on the snowy terrain by now !"- SARCOVETIZ pointed out.
- The Scout ship cannot handle big apparatus! But you carry as most of the gear as possible."- Gonzalez told Sarcovetiz.
- All right ! You must tell me how many people am I going to be carrying! "- Morian replied.
- As there are two in that ship- take three to help in the works!"- Juan Gonzalez said.
So, the crew members were:
Shuttle 2 Second trip:
Pilot: Salustio Venegas
Radar and Radiotransmitter: Morian Sarcovetiz
Crew: Wlad Smirnoff, Janice Icelon, Pedro Truco.
The coordinates carried them right to the crash- landing ; soon they saw the imprints on the snow, from the Air.
- What a crash! The ship must be buried deep into the snow!"- Icelon remarked.
Salustio makes the ship touch the ground near a flat terrain, and they walk to the debris- pieces of equipment, wings...
- Here! - Sarcovetiz said, pointing downwards; the ice was solid in that particular place, and no visible ship was in sight.
- Must have melted the snow- and produce this crystal of ice!"- Whispered Janice Icelon, kneeling there and trying to peek through the ice.
- We must melt the ice! As to axe through this chunk its impossible!"- Sarcovetiz said.
- With a hose connected to the ventilation system- a hot current of air could do."- Pedro Truco said.
- Lets do it!"- Sarcovetiz urged; but when melting the ice, the water appeared, and stay on top of the chunk of ice.
- This water soon will be solidifying, as the air is very cool here!"- Sarcovetiz noticed.
- We should suck the water out and away!"- Truco remarked.
- Try to do it!"- Sarcovetiz said.
With another hose they suck the water and throw some 15 meters away; doing some little walls of snow, they impeded the water to return...
Four hours of hard labor, and they arrive to the ceiling of the crashed Scout One.
- Bingo!"- Said Sarcovetiz , smiling.
They opened the upper door, and enter inside; the ice was covering faces and bodies there.
They take the crew members out; they were stunned- first- and frozen- later.
- They are all dead."- Truco said, after a reconnaissance through a Tricorder.
- Bad news- specially to our Captain!"- Sarcovetiz remind them.
Lana looks as beautiful as ever- a little blue in her features, but the same gorgeous woman they all knew!
They carried them to the shuttle craft and they take -off with a burst of fire.
- Twenty minutes to the rendezvous!"- Sarcovetiz said by the radio.
- All right, twenty minutes it is!"- Gonzalez replied by the same medium...
Half an hour later, Kirk was looking at Lana, at the Infirmary. Doctor Truco was trying to return her to the World of the Living Things again, but to not avail. Three hours later, he give up trying to recover the frozen bodies to life.
- No way, Jim."- He patted his captain's shoulders, who were sagging now.
- What a damnable pity it is ! "- Kirk said, stroking the gentle hair of her damsel...
- Death cannot be cheated, sometimes; no matter how much we could have learned from the time of the Hitites."- Truco sighed.
Five hours later, the last of the black coffins leaves the " Maora", under the Starfleet`s anthem.
- Rest in peace, my darling!"- Kirk said, looking as the last of the caskets fly away - to the dark.
The rest of that day nobody was willing even to chatter, so the corridors were gloomy places to be walking...
Kirk went to sleep that night, feeling himself guilty of the death of her darling one. He muttered to himself:"- If I should have not taken that egg, nothing of this would have happened!"
Or to climb that mountain !
Next morning, Kirk reads the list and cross out some names: Lana, Second Communication Officer
Adrian Jackson, Ensign.
*********************************************************
Chapter II.
The Balos.
***************************************************
23 told 93: "- Object in our path, Colonel!"
- Captor beam!"- ordered 93, rising two tentacles up
The big vessel beamed the object , capturing it with a captor beam.
- Analyze!"- 93 ordered.
- A casket of plastic; a dormant being in the inside, Colonel!"- 23 said.
- Species?"
- Human."
- Ah! The incoming beasts, again! Send it to the Lab! Search with the long range Radar! Could be more."- 93 ordered.
Soon the another casket was in the inside of the big ship, and 23 said:"- The species must be in dry atmosphere, Colonel! What do you want to do with them?"
- Analyze!"- 93 replied, and with the first body in a dry tank, he begun to work with the medical apparatus on board; soon he was obtaining results; a hand moved.
- Good !"- 23 sighed, almost incredulity.
- Nice bodies, this! Easy to repair- hard to deal with, when awoke!"- 93 expounded briefly.
The 93 skill abilities were at stake, soon two humans were breathing normally again!
- What caused the deaths of the specimens, Colonel?"- 23 asked, eyes glued to the crystal panel.
- Seems to me they were frozen to death- those humans! Guess they have too much curiosity inside their skulls! And little know-how, of course!"-
- Shall we return them to the craft where they were expelled?"- 23 asked.
- Should be a good joke on them! Probably they became choked the rest of their lives!"- The Colonel 93 said, spurting some ink on the tank...
The big vessel scanned the vicinity, and to their surprise, they spotted the "Maora" orbiting Ankaa III!
- A big vessel! I wonder what are they doing here! Nothing worthwhile on Ankaa, pity to say it!"- 93 said.
- Perhaps they are charting the whole system! As you know, Colonel, this humans are very curious!"- 23 said.
- Yes, curious and childish! Well, we will show ourselves just a bit! Just in order to make them know we have something for them!"- 93 said, referring to the living beings...
- In which vessel are we going to deliver them?"- 23 asked of 93.
- We will form an egg of energy, of course! No need to give them some of our precious technology for them to de-engineering this time!"- The colonel said; so the people saved from the Parkas were encased in an egg of energy.
The big Balos craft neared the "Maora", making the alarms ring wildly inside, and then they deposit the "energy egg" in front of the "Maora".
- That is ! We know disappear from here."- 93 said, ordering 23 to depart in a hurry.
**********************************************************
- To all stations! Condition red!"- Kirk cried, seating at his desk; in front of them a big battle craft was present, coming from nowhere!
- Shields up!"- Kirk yelled to Gonzalez.
- Shields up, Sir!"- He replied, out of tradition.
- The ship is gone, sir!"- Salustio said, looking by his apparatus.
- Gone! How could that be!"- Kirk said, rubbing his eyes in front of the screen...
- Some object is standing there, Sir! "- Gonzalez said, rising his eyes in amazement.
- See to it, First Officer!"- Kirk asked of Gonzalez.
- An energy field is there present, Sir! It encases some living creatures!"- Gonzalez almost choked in amazement!
- Morian! Beam them here!"- Kirk asked by the Intercom...
- Not possible, Captain! The energy field will distort the beam!"- The voice of the chief of Engineers come loud and clear out of the loudspeaker...
- Damn! What could be done, then?"- Kirk asked, with a strange pain in his stomach...
- The creatures are alive, captain!"- Gonzalez said, after a quick study of its interior.
- This is a major riddle! "- Kirk said, pacing the room.- "Morian, come here!"- He called his first Engineer...
- Yes, Captain?"- Said Morian, a minute after.
- We have some creatures inside a force field! We must take them out soon, or they will be asphyxiated!"- Kirk said.
- Well, Captain... perhaps we could bring the energy egg inside ship! "- Morian said, after a pause.
- How?"- Gonzalez asked of the first Engineer.
- Well, a little risky... we get as close as we could, and then we move the ship a little further- so the energy egg could be placed inside the hull! Then, with a rod, we suck up the energy- to our own magnetos- and so the beings will be in the open!"- Morian said, rising his arms.
- But who is the pilot who could do that?"- Pedro Truco said, amazed.
- Me.- Kirk replied, and soon he was maneuvering skillfully; the egg inside the hull, they close the lock, and Morian sucked the energy out; Lana Bickford and Adrian Jackson fall to the floor, and then they stand up, bewildered and naked .
Kirk and the rest of the officers were present, so they yelled in surprise; Lana walks to him, saying:"- What is happening?"
- Lana! Are you... really?"- Kirk said, taking her by the shoulders.
- What? "- She asked, astonished.
- You were... injured... after a crash landing! We all saw you... lying ..."- Kirk said, pale as a piece of snow.
- But I am here, don't I? And Jackson.. was he also injured?"- She asked Kirk.
Kirk takes his shirt and handled to Lana, saying: "Put this on, darling!"
Gonzalez send for clothes, and approached to Adrian Jackson, touching him incredulity
The aforementioned guy keep silent, staring intently.
Doctor Truco approaches the two crew members, and placed the Tricorder on both of them- and after a short reading of the results, he said:"- The bodies are in good shape."
- Whoever they are, they have my gratitude eternal!"- Kirk said, embracing the girl in his arms!
Doctor Truco carried them to the Infirmary, after they both clothed themselves, and revised them with better equipment. Then, he said:"- They are all good and sound! They could go on as before!"
- Fine with me; but we are going to hypnotize them, to see if we could learn who made this miracle ourselves!"- Kirk said.
- Not to peek to much, is my motto!- Truco replied.
- Yes.- Kirk said, thinking about it.
Lana and Adrian Jackson went to bed- Doctor's orders- and Kirk went to the Main Deck, saying to Juan Gonzalez :"- Please, verify in the long distance radar if we are being followed."
After a while, the First Officer said:"- None whatsoever, Captain."
- Let's see if we could track the last appearance of the big vessel..."- And works with the Main Computer's data systems, to search if the "Maora" could have recorded the incoming Strange vessel... and find nothing at all.
- Must correspond to an highly technological race."- Gonzalez said, over his shoulder.-" There are some highly developed civilizations in this side of the Universe, Captain! But I don't know if they wish to mingle with us."- Gonzalez said, rising one of his eyebrows...
- They did mingle ! They restored life to five of our crew members! People who was dead and buried in space !"- Kirk said, passing a hand over his face.
- Don't you think too much on it, Captain! Humans still have a lot to learn from the people of the space!"- Gonzalez admonished.
- But you, are you not afraid of what this case represent for us? For all mankind?"- Kirk asked.
- Well, we need more data for the time being! No need to get panicked at all!"- Gonzalez said, leaving the room...
- Yeah!"- Kirk sighed, looking at the porthole in front of him...
In the morning, Kirk summoned Lana and Adrian to his office.
- Did you slept well?"- Kirk asked them.
- Oh, fine, Sir! "- Jackson said, and Lana said:"- I have a queer dream !I believe I was in the snow, looking how I was going deeper and deeper inside the shutlecraft!"
- You sure did that, Lana! They find the Shuttle One buried some ten meters deep into the snow! And the whole artifact surrounded by a thick layer of ice!"- Kirk said.
- And how we came here in an egg of pure energy, Captain?"- Adrian Jackson asked.
- Who knows for sure? The bodies were sent in caskets to the space- funeral for you all- and then, you come back alive and in a balloon made of energy! All this, after we saw- and recorded- a strange alien ship. Mind to see it?"- Kirk asked.
- By all means!"- Lana expounded, and Kirk repeats the scene in his computer, for them to see.
- Wow! How big it seems!"- Adrian said.
- Some eight hundred meters!- Kirk said.
- Those were the ones who returns us to life!"- Lana Bickford said.
- Sure thing."- Kirk replied.
- When you guess they are prone to come back?"- Adrian Jackson asked.
- No idea! They just appears there, leave the egg -and you inside- and depart in a trifle!"- Kirk said.
- No name for that craft, either?"- Lana said.
- Mr. Gonzalez, who is here with man knowledge, told me he knows of certain races who has highly advanced civilizations- he guess one of them saw your coffins out in the space, recovers your bodies, and using their medical knowledge, achieve what we couldn't . "- Kirk said.
- It is something!"- Salustio Venegas said, entering at the room.
- I want you both to take some examinations; especially a hypnotic regression; perhaps we could know something more in that way."- Kirk said.
- O.K. by me, Captain!"- Lana said, and Adrian Jackson was of the same idea.
So Doctor Truco begun treating them, and in three days he knew something to told Kirk: - Jim, this people never set eyes on their benefactors; they were all the time unable to see them, but they remember an empty chamber."
- Empty chamber?"- Kirk asked.
- Yes; they recovered there for some time, and they also receives some water from a tube in the wall."
- That's fantastic! "- Kirk said, rubbing his chin.
- I recommend you didn't use this personnel for a couple of weeks- they are alive, but they passed through a very testing period ; the brains could have some minor injuries."- Truco said.
- All right, I will leave them without works to do for a while; and what about Lana ?"- Kirk asked.
- She is doing well- I saw her this morning at her chamber- no need for her to go to work yet! Perhaps a little vacation for her must be recommended."- Truco said.
- All right, I will see to it. "- Kirk replied.
- Very. I recommend , for them, a long period of re adaptation; and I am almost certain they will be recovered in a couple of months."- Truco said.
- You are the doctor; do what you think best, and I am here to back up your sayings. "- Kirk said.
- Fine!"- Truco smiled, and departed.
Kirk went to the main Deck, and told Juan:"- No signals yet?"
- No signals, Captain. We are scanning everything we could- in every band -width- and it seems the radio signals were produced by a by-passing ship."- Juan told him.
- Good idea, but not necessarily the truth. Keep on listening, Communications Officer ."- Kirk told him.
Lana enters Deck, and told Kirk:"- Doctor Truco told me you relieve me of my duties! Why is that so?-
- Well, he ask me that! "- Kirk smiled, and takes one of her hands.
- That doctor! Well, I am feeling fine to- day! And I want to be of use!"- She said, smiling to everyone on the room.
- Yes, I know you are a working girl!"- Kirk replied, and added:"- But health goes first! And you had a real miracle in your life, Lana! So better take the things with a lot of patience! For now, I am really decided to see you having a long vacation from your work! And then, with the incoming days, we will evaluate your health and decide."- Kirk said.
- All right, Captain!"- She said, giving up.
- And now, how about a coffee break ? - Kirk asked.
- Fine with me!"- She replied, smiling gently... They went to her own cabin, and there they sip a couple of cups of mild coffee.
- You really give me a scare! I thought I was loosing you."- Kirk said.
- Oh, darling!"- Lana said, kissing him.
- The ones who take care of you are my benefactors! Wish I could know how to thanks them !"- Kirk said.
- Perhaps they will show themselves one day! The same as they did when they take us back to the "Maora".- Lana said.
- Yes."- Kirk replied, thoughtfully.
In the afternoon, Kirk send the Shuttle 2 back to the planet, but in other latitude.
- "Gentlemen, you are to begun your Expedition! I will lend you my Chief Engineer, and four ELECTROMEN. You are going to take samples of everything: air, earth, water, animals! Even insects! And then, you take them here; take no chances!"- Kirk said to Morian Sarcovetiz and the organizers of the Expedition: the Rosembergs, Gans and Sillac, who were carrying several camcorders.
- All right, Captain! "- Morian replied, and soon the little craft was leaving the "Maora" in earnest.
THE ROSEMBERG EXPEDITION ON ANKAA 3.
Pilot: Morian Sarcovetiz , Expeditionaries: Joah Rosemberg, Jane Rosemberg, Harold Gans, Ken Silliac, 4 Electromen (Whose serial numbers has been changed to names beguining with the letter "E".)
- We are going in a scientific mission, gentlemen! We take no risks this time! Samples and more samples we are going to collect- not daring trips up or down hills this time!"- Sarcovetiz told the Organizers.
- Wish we could stumble unto a mound with lots of gold!"- Joah Rosemberg expostulated.
- Gold in this planet! Ha, ha!"- Ken Sillac said, in the back seat.
Sarcovetiz piloted the craft handsomely, and landed in a plain, surrounded by the four sides by a thick forest.
- The planet is all yours, Gentlemen!"- Sarcovetiz said,
inhaling deeply; this air was delicious, and not the chilly damp air of the polar region he had inhaled in previous missions!
Kirk called Sarcovetiz, saying:"- How things are going there, Morian?"
- Nice landing; our patrons are looking at the field with awe; nice weather, too."- Morian replied.
- Good. Take the ship up here , as I want to send there the equipment of those guys."- Kirk asked.
- All right, Sir."- Morian said, and soon he was telling the Rosembergs and friends he was going to the "Maora" and come back in some hours.
- Good! But please be here before dark."- Miss Jane Rosemberg asked.
Morian traveled up, and locked the shuttle against the hull of the "Maora", traversing inside through the lock.
Kirk ordered to put all the necessary equipment inside of the Shuttle 2, saying:"- All their belongings, and also some more food than they bring here! Janice Icelon, you could go and study the place!"-
Janice was happy to receive that invitation, and said:"- Please permit Salustio Venegas to come with me, Captain! Both are scientists and he would help me greatly!"-
- All right! - Kirk said, smiling.
Salustio piloted the shuttle, so Morian could remind at the "Maora."
Soon they were in the surface of the planet, and helping rise the tents to pass the night...
- I will call the Captain- to tell we are fine.- Salustio said.
Kirk received the message, and said:"- Call me to-morrow morning, Salustio! And have a good night."-
Janice slept in the Shuttle- she was too scared to be in the open!
At the other day, Kirk send them orders:"- Tell the Organizers we are going to rotate the people down there; you could help them if you want."
- All right, Captain! "- Janice said, smiling- the sun was shining and all seems to be going her way!
Afterwards, Janice Icelon takes the insects`s recollection, together with Salustio Venegas, who helps him carrying the boxes.
- I know very little about Insects, but I enjoy looking at them"- Salustio said.
- Well, they are animals of a class belonging to the arthropod phylum. The insects are the largest class in the animal world, outnumbering all other animals. At least 800,000 species have been described. The class is distributed throughout Earth from the polar regions to the Tropics and is found on land, in fresh and salt water, and in salt lakes and hot springs. The insects reach their greatest number and variety, however, in the Tropics."- Janice said.
- Who knows how is distributed here!"- Salustio Venegas said.
- Temperature must be the regulation system, I believe; in size, the insects also exhibit great variation. Some small parasitic insects are less than 0.025 cm in length when fully grown, whereas at least one fossilized species related to the modern dragonflies is known to have had a wingspread of more than 60 cm . The largest insects on Earth are certain stick insects about 30 cm long and certain moths with wingspans of about 30 cm "
Salustio Venegas handled one similar to a beetle, saying:"- This little fellow here measures a couple of centimeters long."-
- Yes, we are finding what in this surroundings are the common thing; pity we are not in the hot ,humid climate, or we would had stumbled on larger and more interesting specimens."- Janice Icelon said, but then they find a mound next to the trees, and both men looked at those insects with disbelieving eyes.
- Are you seeing what I see?"- Janice Icelon asked.
- I cannot believe my eyes!"- Salustio Venegas replied, kneeling in front of the mould , to see it better.
It was ,certainly, a colony of insects who build that mound; several entrances some 30 cm. from the soil permitted the circulation of the insects; this were so resembling to a DUCK ,who leave the two guys in silence at least for ten minutes.
Salustio Venegas takes one in his hand, and saw the tiny insect stops immediately in his tracks.
-Seems to me he is watching us!"- Janice Icelon said, astonished.
The little insect was carrying a piece of fruit in his front legs; he deposited it on Salustio Venegas�s hands, and wait.
- Guess he is one of a kind! Could be they are more intelligent than the ones we have back home?"- Salustio asked.
- Could very well be! Of course, we are seeing the first alien insect who didn't resemble any other in our home world!"- Janice Icelon said, and he takes the specimen with some pliers and deposit it inside a glass jar, with a perforated cup. Also, he takes the little piece of fruit, and searched for a greater piece in the vicinity.
- Guess we are kidnapping someone ,here!"- Janice Icelon said.
- Yeah!"- Salustio Venegas snapped, as he was feeling the same way.
They walked by the place , finding roads who lead to the forest near-by; the tiny things walked in groups- not as the ants, who did it in a line.
- We are seeing new things, here!"- Janice Icelon said.
- Tell me more about Insects! This thing its very interesting!"- Salustio Venegas said, taking more insects from the trees, and collecting them in jars of different sizes.
- Insects also are the most highly developed class of invertebrate animals, with the exception of some mollusks. Insects such as the bees, ants, and termites have elaborate social structures in which the various forms of activity necessary for the feeding, shelter, and reproduction of the colony are divided among individuals especially adapted for the various activities. Also, most insects achieve maturity by metamorphosis rather than by direct growth. In most species, the individual passes through at least two distinct and dissimilar stages before reaching its adult form.
In their living and feeding habits, the insects exhibit extreme variations. "
The radio transmitter- interconnected with the one at the Shuttle- rings, and Salustio Venegas respond.
- Salustio here!"-
- Where are you and Janice Icelon?"- Said the voice of Kirk.
- We are in the forest, Commander."
- Very well, then; do not go any further! And return in the daylight!"- Kirk recommend.
- All right, Commander."- Salustio replied.
They take more samples , and find some fruits and lettuce-like plants; they take those too, in order to examine them later.
They find a big snake, hanging from a tree; red and white, with a big head; the eyes looked at them for a while.
- Nasty beast!"- Janice Icelon said.
- There must be other animals, too! Those kind of snakes feed on animals, you know."- Salustio Venegas said.
Then they saw several butterflies, flying in a spot of light who descended through an opening in the upper branches of the trees; Salustio said:"- Nowhere is this more apparent than in the life cycle of various species. Thus the so-called 17-year locust matures over a period of 13 to 17 years . The ordinary housefly can reach maturity in about ten days, and certain parasitic wasps reach their mature form seven days after the eggs have been laid. In general the insects are very precisely adapted to the environments in which they live, and many species depend on a single variety of plant, usually feeding on one specific portion of the plant such as the leaves, stem, flowers, or roots!"
- Guess we are reaching to a river!"- She said; they were hearing the roar of a mighty river!
The forest floor descended, and the trees became rare; big rocks were protruding among a muddy landscape; the river roars to the right, and extended for at least a kilometer wide.
- Big river, all right!"- Salustio Venegas said, and producing a sheet of paper, draw a map , with the aid of a compass.
Big white birds fly along the course of water, and dived here and there; the mist was also present, due to the rushness of the fluid.
No other sound could be heard there; the roar engulfed every other sound...
They soiled their shoes, trying to explore as much as they could; for three hours they went downstream, and the landscape was always the same; muddy bank all the way.
- Guess we better get back."- Salustio Venegas said.
Janice Icelon looked at the sun- it was at its 130� , so they walked as fast as they could, through the forest; they find more queer insects, and several other kinds of trees growing there; the mud in some places makes them retrace steps, so they arrive to the Second Scout Ship almost when dark.
- Well, we are ready to get the last meal now!" - Joah Rosemberg said, seated in front of a metal table.
The others seats in collapsible chairs, and begun to eat the canned food they have; some beer cans were opened, and they talk about the findings of the day; Janice said:-" We find rare specimens to day. The relationship between insect and plant is frequently a necessary one for the growth and reproduction of the plant, as with plants that depend on insects for pollination. A number of insect species do not feed on living plants but act as scavengers. Some of these species live on decaying vegetable matter and others on dung or the carcasses of animals. The activities of the scavenger insects hasten the decomposition of all kinds of dead organic material. Of this kind we encounter a species who resembles a little duck!"
- No!"- Joah Rosemberg said, amazed.
- Yes! We have it in a bottle for you to see!"- Janice Icelon said, and producing the aforementioned bottle, he placed it in the center of the table, who was illuminated by a lamp.
They all were very amazed, and Salustio said:"- Guess we are going to baptize this bug! Donald Duck seems to me the most appropriate name!"
- Donald!"- Said Janice, laughing, and added:"- Certain insects exhibit predation or parasitism, either feeding on other insects or existing on or within the bodies of insect or other animal hosts. Parasitic insects are sometimes parasitic upon parasitic insects, a phenomenon known as hyper parasitism. In a few instances an insect may be parasitic upon a secondary parasite. A few species of insects, although not strictly parasitic, live at the expense of other insects, with whom they associate closely. An example of this form of relationship is that of the wax moth, which lives in the hives of bees and feeds on the comb that the bees produce. Sometimes the relation between two species is symbiotic. Thus ant colonies provide food for certain beetles that live with them, and in return the ants consume fluids that have been secreted by the beetles. "
- Wish is not this case."- Salustio Venegas said- "This one has a fruit in his hands!"
- Not all of them were carrying fruits! I also saw some carrying limbs of dead insects as well!- Informs Janice Icelon.
- Whatever."- Salustio replied.
- Yes! And this is a social Insect; one of the most interesting forms of insect behavior is exhibited by the social insects, which, unlike the majority of insect species, live in organized groups. The social insects include about 800 species of wasps, 500 species of bees, and the ants and termites in Earth! Characteristically an insect society is formed of a parent or parents and a large number of offspring. The individual members of the society are divided into groups, each having a specialized function and often exhibiting markedly different bodily structures."- Janice Icelon expounded briefly.
- Social insects! Gosh!"- Mis Jane Rosemberg said, touching the glass bottle; inside the little "Donald" begun to eat some of the fruit he was carrying previously...
-We are going to study this specimen when alive; then, we are going to study it when dead."- Janice Icelon said.
- Are you going to kill Donald?"- Harold Gans asked.
- You murderer you!"- Miss Jane said, with a grimace.
- Well, we are going to slept in the Shuttle! So everyone who needs to be going to the bath, please so do it now! I am not going to aloud bad odors in my sleep !"- Ken Sillac said, finishing his meal- as the weather was very humid out-doors.
They take the chair and seats inside the shuttle, and prepare the inside to sleep; the armchairs were collapsible, and some thermal blankets were produced; soon they all were sleeping- except the guy on guard, who happened to be Salustio Venegas , for the next three hours...Then, another member was appointed to keep on watching...
The guards do they job, and in the morning Salustio awake, refreshed and with optimism.
- Rise, you all ! To-day we finished our work here, and depart to some other interesting place! "- He said.
- We saw a big river ! We could go there and see where it ends!"- Janice said.
- A river, eh? Why don't you inform it last night?"- Harold Gans asked .
- I forgot."- Salustio Venegas replied, rising his shoulders a bit.
- Well, next time do not forget important matters!"- Rosemberg said, and went out.
- A river, important matter?"- Salustio Venegas barked, with a sigh.
******
Chapter 3
THE EXPEDITION OF MR. ROSEMBERG and The River
The landscape seen through the shuttle front glasses was superb; the mighty river running wide of a hundred kilometers, with forest dimmed by the distance in his two banks; a mighty waterfall some twenty kilometers away, a fall of a hundred meters ; there the mist went sky high, and the winds were shaking the shuttle craft when traversing over the chasm...
- Mighty as the Mississippi!"- Salustio Venegas said, spellbound.
A lake was to be seen afterwards; their sides were lost in the distance. Salustio descended and went to the left bank; the forest there was dense; he landed almost in the border .
- Let`s take a look from here!"- He said, and opened the hatch.
They walked by the sand ; there was no mud there,and the waters were clear; they could also see some fishes swimming swiftly above the stones of the bottom...
- Look!"- Salustio Venegas said, pointing to the lake. There, in the waters, a rugged head was slowly rising; they saw a neck as thick as a tree trunk, and in the mouth he was chewing some water weeds.
- It `s big as an elephant, or more!"- Harold Gans said.
- Surely it `s a mighty fellow!"- Adds Miss Jane Rosemberg .
Salustio used his phaser to bring down a relatively big bird, who was cooked over a bonfire; the smell was good, and they eat the flesh after the meat was tasty.
- Good !"- Janice said, smiling.
- The first meat on Ankaa III, and it tastes good.--" Ken Sillac said, chewing a big chunk of meat.
They remind there, visiting the forest to some extent; there were some fruits in some of the trees, and they were stored in jars to analyze them on board the "Maora".
That night, at 21 hours, Kirk called them, saying:"- Guess you are half way your work there; have you found some interesting things?"-
- Insects resembling Donald Duck, trees, a giant in a lake- that is all for now, Captain."- Salustio Venegas said.
- Interesting; well, keep on with the good work; I give you a week more there, so make it snappy."- Kirk instructed.
- Then I will move faster."- Salustio mumbled.
At night, the darkness was great, with no moon over them to light the landscape; they light a fire and talked under the stars, with the rumble of the river still audible.
- Man has reached the stars- with the "Maora" almost finishing the works, who knows how many other expeditions could begun from where we are now."- Harold Gans said.
- And the colonization of a hundred worlds visited by us will start as soon as the back up of the Starfleet could be improved."- Joah Rosemberg said .
- They said ,before we departed, that even the lesser officials of the "Maora" were to be considered to have a captainship in future vessels."- Janice Icelon remembered.
- That would suit me fine! I always had wished to have my own ship"�- Salustio Venegas said.
- Really? Perhaps they give you a shuttle craft ,back on Earth!"- Ken Sillac said, with a laugh.
- You can laugh all you want ! But the truth will remind." - Salustio Venegas said.
- We will be not too many time here; Captain Kirk called me to hasten in our explorations."- Joah Rosemberg said.
- Pity! This planet seems to be made at order, for a colonization ."- Janice Icelon said.
- To morrow we will go to the Ecuator; here we know already what we have: forests, a big river, a nice lake... Especially designed for a big city- with the materials to build by everywhere!"- Salustio Venegas said, opening his arms wide.
*********
At 08:00 hours, they take off aboard the Second Shuttle Craft, and turning in the air to the north, they traveled over hundred of kilometers full of forests and rivers; sometimes a clearing in the woods show grass plains, and occasionally, flocks of birds in flight.
Second Shuttle Flight n� 4
Pilot Salustio Venegas
Crew Janice Icelon, 4 Electromen
Passengers: Joah and Jane Rosemberg, Harold Gans, Ken Silliak.
- This is Eternia!"- Janice Icelon said, almost crying seeing those virgin lands.
- Good news for a crowded Earth!"- Salustio pointed out, with a grave voice.
At the Ecuator, some strange hills were seen, so Salustio landed near by; a river was seen to the east side.
- Let`s take a look .- He said, jumping out of the Shuttle.
- Who is going to guard the Shuttle?"- Ken Sillac asked.
- I will leave here an Eperson.- Salustio replied, and they following him...
Erobin saw them walk away, from the threshold of the lock; then he seats there, legs dangling, smoking a cigarette. The radio chirped, and it was Captain Kirk.
- Hello, Salustio ?"
- No, Captain, it `s Erobin speaking here!"- He said.
- Oh, you are alone?"-
- Yes and no, Captain; the Naturals are going to explore some mounds we found, and I am with Ebush here..."- Erobin said.
- What did they look like?"
- Like big boulders made of mud! I don�t think someone builds it, captain! Just natural formations, I think"-
- Well, Erobin, don�t leave your post! Tell the Commander to call me when he�s back!"- Kirk said, and cut the communications.
Erobin walked around the machine, and was bored to be there- the others were- at least- walking somewhere!
*** ***
- Commander, do you think this walls were builded by someone?"- Janice Icelon asked.
- No, ; guess this are natural objects- Salustio said, after shoveling some more.
- So we are still the only ones here!"- Janice smiled, as he had a strange feeling- as to be watched!
They take more samples and photos, and return to the shuttle.
- What are those, Commander?"- Jane Rosemberg asked of Salustio.
- Nothing more than hills!- The aforementioned replied, climbing to the shuttle.
Soon they were flying north, with bad weather; the rain was down pouring with strength, and the wind was blowing too.
- Guess we better find a shelter!"- Janice Icelon said,and the pilot , Salustio Venegas, beguin to search for a dry spot- not having seeing any, he said:"- Guess we must return, very bad conditions here!"
-Well, turn the ship south!" - Janice Icelon said, seeing the ship was dancing in the air...
After some two hours, they went out of the bad weather, and descended to see if there was some damage.
- A hell of a wind!"- Ken Silliak said, filming all with his fine machines.
The damage was only superficial, with some patches without paint.
Salustio send Janice Icelon and two Electromen to the south, where some schuberry was present.
- See if there are some more bugs- He told them.
And he sent Harold Gans and Jane Rosemberg plus one Electromen to the west, where there was a ravine.
- See if there is something of interest there; until now, we have little to show Captain Kirk.- Salustio told them.
For his part, he takes a good video camera and walked to the north, where there were a little forest, leaving Erobin to worry about the shuttle.
Salustio walked at a steady pace, recording everything in the vicinity; some trees, a lot of plants not higher than a meter , and the soil, who was yellowish in color, very similar to old sand dunes.
Salustio filmed a flock of birds, and he enters the jungle ; there was fruits in some of the trees, and he tasted one; it was sweet and of good odor, but he spit the chewing pulp, as it must be examined in a lab, first!
Salustio finds a creek, where the shrubbery was dense; the course of water dwindled among the trees, and he follow it recording with the camera.
Then , he saw a figure at the other side of the little creek; the whirr of the camera made the other look in his direction with a start. Salustio Venegas was amazed to be there filming the creature; he measures some meter and a half, with green scales all over his body; with a short strong tail, standing in two feet, and with arms ending in hands with strong fingers ending in curved ,short claws; his legs were thick and ending in bigger talons.
The being moved closer, but not crossing the creek; his face was similar to a serpent, with no nose, slanted eyes, and a mouth -in that moment closed- but who seemingly was big when opened.
The whirr goes on, and Salustio said:"- Hello, you there!"
The being growls, opening somewhat his mouth, revealing it was almost from one hear to the other, and something white shines inside.
Salustio takes the pistol from his waist and pointed to the creature, releasing the video camcorder , who dangled at his chest, as it was attached to a belt.
The creature was going to jump, but Salustio fired to the water, who hissed out.
The creature moved backwards, startled. Salustio fired again, in front of the creature, and this time the earth cracked, with some dust flying up.
The creature depart, hissing, and run to the left, so Salustio lost sight of him because of the trees.
- Oh, boy!"- Salustio said, retracing his steps; when seeing the shuttle, he sighed freely.
- I have something to show you, Erobin!"- He told him, and with the same camcorder he shows the creature to the amazed Electroman.
- Oh, this creature seems a big lizard in his two legs!"
- Yes; some kind of humanoid."- Salustio said.
He called the away-teams, and receive no indication of danger; he told them:"- I saw a human-like creature with fangs; take precautions now!"
Janice Icelon acknowledged, and told :"- There is some lizard big size around! Some kind of humanoid."
- A lizard? "- Epancho asked, looking in all directions- there were plants, rocks, and a lot of birds around.
- With fangs. So we must be sure our Phasers are in killing position, just to be sure." - Janice Icelon said, changing the indicator in her pistol.
- Tell me about bugs! I am nervous, now!"- Epancho said.
- Well, lets see the Anatomy .Although the superficial appearance of insects is extremely varied, certain characteristics of their anatomy are common to the entire class. All mature insects have bodies composed of three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen (the abdomen and thorax are not always differentiated in larvae). Each of these parts is composed of a number of segments. The head is made up of several segments, usually so fused they are scarcely differentiated. On the head are two antennae; a pair of jaws, or mandibles; a pair of auxiliary jaws, or maxillae, that in turn bears a pair of palps; and a fused second pair of accessory jaws, the labium, that also bears a pair of palps. "
- They really are different to mammals- Esodam said.
- Yes! With all the paraphernalia the insects have, we would be like gods! Especially the antennae, usually attached to the anterior part of the head, are segmented. In some insects, the antennae carry organs of smell as well as organs of touch. The mandibles are large, heavy jaws on either side of the mouth. They close horizontally and are used for grasping food and crushing it. The maxillae, or inner jaws, are lighter in structure. The mouths of many insects are adapted for piercing and sucking rather than for biting. The eyes of the insect are also situated on the head. Once I had a girlfriend who told me that the insects and their mouth is a web of little jaws who seems to function in a queer way."- Janice said.
- All insects have three pairs of legs, each pair growing from a different part of the thorax, called, from front to back, the pro thorax, the mesothorax, and the metathorax. Many larvae have, in addition, several pairs of leglike appendages called struts, or prolegs. The forms of the legs vary, depending on their uses, but all insect legs are made up of five parts. In winged insects, the wings, usually four in number, grow from the thorax between the mesothorax and the metathorax. The upper and lower membranes of the wings cover a network of sclerotized tubes, called veins, that stiffen the wing. The pattern of veins of the wings is characteristic of most insect species and is extensively used by entomologists as a basis for classification.
Insect abdomens usually have 10 or 11 clearly defined segments. In all cases the anal opening is located on the last segment; in some species, such as the mayflies, a pair of feelers, called cerci, is also present on this segment. The abdomen is devoid of legs. In female insects, it contains the egg-laying organ, or ovipositor, which may be modified into a sting, saw, or drill for depositing the eggs in the bodies of plants or animals. Insect sexual organs arise from the eighth and ninth segments of the abdomen.
Insects have an external rather than an internal skeleton; this exoskeleton is a rough integument formed by the hardening of the outer layer of the body through impregnation with pigments and polymerization of proteins, a process known as sclerotization. The exoskeleton at the joints does not become sclerotized and therefore remains flexible."
Several insects were collected, and they find a rocky formation, where a big cavern was to be seen. They peek inside, and Epancho said:"- Seems to be a great one; but we didn�t bring lanterns."
- "Who knows what lurks in there?"- Janice Icelon said.
- Perhaps a full crowd of humanoids, thirsty of blood."- Esadam replied, smiling.
- Don`t say so! Sometimes an idea became reality in a flash!"- Epancho said, looking at Janice.
They return to the shuttle, and put the jars in a box.
- You guys amuse me! What do you pretend by collecting those bugs?"- Salustio said.
- Well, we learn a lot of things! Sometimes the insects serves to make medicins, as they could have some glandule producing complicated chemical materials. "- Janice Icelon said.
- Did you had produced some medicin yourself?"- Salustio asked.
- No.- She said.
The radio beeped and Janice answered; it was Joah Rosemberg, saying he was returning already.
- All right! Salustio Venegas is already here."- Janice told him.
- All right; I `ll be there in half an hour."- Joah said.
Janice Icelon went outside the shuttle, to smoke a cigarette. Salustio Venegas seated near by, saying:"- This planet seems to be a good one; perhaps I will ask to be a pioneer ."
- Ah, the life in the wilderness! Pity the society soon collects everyone in the landscape, make them live in huts and apply them a lot of regulations who leaves very little to the imagination."- Janice said.
- Guess that if you went the hell out of them , you could end your days without ever seeing the administrators."- Salustio Venegas said.
- Who knows? We are too attached to the goods of civilization, to the comfort and welfare! Medicines, radio and TV, a good car! People that make your shoes and shirts, people offering you water purifiers! Or are you going to descend to Robinson Crusoe`s level?"- Janice asked.
Salustio Venegas didn`t answer...
THE PATRONS IN EXPLORATION.
(The patrons are the financist and Joah`s daughter)
Half an hour later, Salustio asked :"- Did the Patrons returns?"
- Not yet, Commander."- Janice answered, looking to the West.
The Patrons were some 32 kilometers away, as they walked by the ravine until they found the end of it.
- Looks that it ends here."- Joah Rosemberg said, seating on a rock.
- Nothing worthwhile in all the way!"- Jane Rosemberg said, drinking from her canteen.
- What was that you want?"- Harold Gans asked.-
- Well! Something new."- Joah replied, looking at the wall of stones they have in front; the ravine ends there. He begun climbing it slowly, and in a quarter of an hour, he was already on top.
- Hey, Harold ! Come over here!"- He yelled, and went away.
- Damn creisy!"- Harold Gans mumbled, and begun the climbing.
The sun (Ankaa) was biting fiercely, so he was wet in perspiration in a short while; the rocks were of a yellowish color. He arrive to the top, and walked among rocks, until he finds Joah, looking the landscape. It was superb! The terrain ends in a big cliff, some hundred meters long, and the mountains stretched until the haze of the distance diluted them in the blue yonder.
- What is there, papa?"- Jane Rosemberg asked.
- A nice landscape! Want to come?"- He asked.
- There we go!- She smiled to Ken Silliak, who was filming all.
They all went there, and descend by the other side- a great plain, full of grass and trees, extended under the afternoon's sun.
They found several "Donald Duck" insects, some of them living in little huts- resembling African Bomas!
- Guess this insects are your gold!- Jane Rosemberg said to her father.
- I don't know what you mean, but keep on."- Father Rosemberg said.
- You can train this bugs, and carry them to Earth; then you show this bugs in a TV program, and there you have a million bucks more on your wallet!"- Jane Rosenberg Said.
- Plus taxes.- Ken Silliac said, with half an smile.
- We cannot forget the taxes; with them USA has been killing people all around the world for the past 834 years."- Harold Gans said, kicking a stone.
- Well! I guess I will think this over."- Papa Rosemberg said, patting his daughter her shoulder...
They recollect some bugs, and went back to the shuttle- craft.
- Guess those bugs are out or their environment- they will die soon.- Salustio said, when they show them a dozen, or so, in a jar.
- We want to carry them to Earth! Imagine how this creatures could value in the market!"- Joah Rosemberg said.
- Not a coin, mister! There are regulation ,that forbids the entrance of alien creatures to Earth- first there are many researches to allow a species be at the planet with the rest."- Salustio said.
- Good by to your gold- bug !- Ken Silliak said to Rosemberg...
- All is surmontable to a man with guts!"- Rosemberg said, as he was decided to make a profit out of those bugs...
They rise tents and slept the night in the spot, with both women aboard -ship.
In the morning, they all were ready to depart.
- In this spot there is just a lot of shrubbery and some fruits- we must search for something really alien!"- Ken Silliak said, taking the cup of coffee and bread.
Salustio Venegas said:- " We have lots of insects who will be amazing the scientific world back at Earth! As there is certain species of insects breathe through the body wall, by diffusion, but in general the respiratory system of members of this class consists of a network of tubes, or tracheae, that carry air throughout the body to smaller tubelets or tracheoles with which all the organs of the body are supplied. In the tracheoles the oxygen from the air diffuses into the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses into the air. The exterior openings of the tracheae are called spiracles. The spiracles are situated on the sides of the insect and are usually 20 in number (10 pairs), 4 on the thorax and 16 on the abdomen. Some water-breathing insects have gill-like structures."
- Interesting.- Jane Rosemberg said, looking at the "Donald Ducks".
Salustio rise the ship- with all aboard- and keep on searching for interesting places.
**************
ABOARD THE "MAORA" SPACESHIP IN ORBIT ROUND PLANET ANKAA .
**********
- Four days elapsed here! And a year to be waiting!"- Juan Gonzalez said, spitting to the floor.
- That we knew from the beginning."- Adrian Jackson said, smiling.
- But what they want to find down there! "- Gonzalez asked.
- Guess the old one, Mr. Joah Rosemberg, want a profit! If he doesn't find a gold mine, I don't see how he will have a profit here."- Adrian Jackson said.
They were in the sunbathing room- a couple of stretchers under a infrared lamp.
- I will be a year older when returning home. A year in which civilization would had advanced tenfold ! "- Gonzalez said.
- Ah, you have all negative feelings in your heart! Bad thing."- Adrian sighed.
- And in what are you so different?"- Gonzalez asked, piquant.
- Ah! My thoughts are different when I study! I think in my knowledge, and that is an island who is increasing it's diameter each day! Take the circulation of the insects, par example!"
- Don't tell me you are going to lecture me!"- Gonzalez was startled.
- Well, hear this: the circulatory system of insects is simple. The entire body cavity is filled with blood that is kept in circulation by means of a simple heart. This heart is a tube, open at both ends, that runs the entire length of the body under the exoskeleton along the back of the insect. The walls of the heart can contract to force the blood forward through the heart and out into the body cavity.
- Fine with me, and enough!" - Gonzalez said, going out of the chamber, chased by Salustio`s laughs...
Raul Reyes enter the Chamber, and lay under the rays; he said:"- Why Gonzalez was so upset?"
- Because I told him not to be so pessimistic in his thoughts, and to have some intellectual interest in life! "- Adrian said.
- And you have an intellectual interest?"- Reyes asked.
- Of course! I study Entomology; that and other things make my life worthwhile!"- Adrian said.
- Entomology! Well, I guess to study is better than not."- Reyes said, sleepily.
Adrian went out of the chamber, takes a dry bath, and present himself in Control Room...
- There you are! I need you to take an income message!"- Kirk told him, the minute he set eyes on him.
- All right, Captain!"- Adrian said, seating in front of the Star-radio; the incoming message was garbled- reason why Kirk was so hysterical- and Adrian Jackson give the necessary commands, in order to de-scramble it.
The message says:
" Spaceship "Mestron" to any ship of the Federation of Planets: we are in trouble in Kaas Two; please respond."
The same message was repeated once and again...
- Tell them we are going to help ,if only they give us the coordinates."- Kirk said.
From the far off vessel the respond came:"- Spaceship "Maora"! Glad to hear from you! The coordinates are 3990.- 34. We are going to be sending radio messages until you arrives!"
- All right!"- Adrian said, and turning to Captain Kirk, he said:"- If we go, Captain, we must send a message telling so to our people in the planet!"
- Do so."- Captain Kirk said, busy already with the necessary calculations; soon they departed the orbit around Kaas 3 and went to Kaas 2, who was shining in front of them...
- There will be a lot of heat there! "- Kirk said, looking troubled.
- The coordinates correspond to the south pole, Captain"! "- Adrian Jackson said, after some calculations in his console...
- Fine! "- Kirk said.- "We are going to beam them up! We have no Shuttle to land,."-
- I will tell them so."- Adrian said, and he communicate again with the crew of the " MESTRON".
- "Maora" to "Mestron": attention, please! We have no Shuttle to carry you on-board! So we are going to beam you up!"- Adrian Jackson said.
- "How pity this is it! We have valuable things down here!"- A voice said.
- Who is speaking, please?"- Adrian asked.
- Captain Brormeto here! I will decide later- I must talk with the rest of the crew."- He said.
- Poor and choosy"!- Kirk said, looking amazed.
The "Maora" did the trip in two days, at low velocity, as Kirk was not wanting to waste precious fuel in a rescue mission; they arrive to the spot in 49 hours and 39 minutes.
- Five persons down there, Captain. They are ready to be beamed up."- Adrian said.
- Wlad Smirnoff! Beam them up!"- Kirk said, and went to the Transporter Room , flying by the corridors.
He was there when the bodies begun to stabilize, and he was spellbound, to see the newcomers...
They were robbed and with sandals on their feet.
- Thank`s to you all! We were almost fried down there!"- The elder of the group said; it was a man of about 70 years old; the rest were the captain Brormeto, two younger men and two women: an old one, probably the wife of the elder one, and a young female, with splendid figure.
- I am Captain Kirk , from the " Maora" vessel."- Kirk said.
- I am Omar Damas, my wife Ilia , my sons Gusa and Almohacid, and my daughter of eighteen springs, Rasa. We were expelled from Baghdad last year, and we came here, in search of a proper place."- Omar Damas said.
- But you choose too hot a planet!"- Kirk said.
- Of course! The ship went off-course, and when landing, the hull went broke- we have been suffering for four days, now"- The elder one said.
- Well, guess now you all will be better attended here! My ship it`s not a big one, but you could be allocated properly, if without luxuries."- Kirk said.
- We have money to pay you for the inconveniences! And of course, we are interested in the return to civilization! No more far away places for me!"- Omar Damas said.
- But you said you were expelled! From where, and by whom?"- Kirk asked.
- Captain, with due respect, we should allocate the visitors first!"- Jackson said.
- Indeed! What a lousy house-keeper I am! Of course! Show them the rooms!"- Kirk said, smiling politely.
- We can go down an do some research, Captain. Don�t you think?"- Jackson asked.
- Why? Do you expect to find something there, Columbo?"- Kirk asked, wrily.
- Oh, perhaps! Don`t you forget we are going to live with this castaways for quite a while! This is a little ship, Captain, nothing like the Enterprise" you so swell maintained under your command! Not large amounts of guards, around here!"
- O.K., let's go and take a peek! "- Kirk said, and they walked to the Transportation Room. There, they were sent to the surface- inside the busted vessel of Mr. Omar Damas.
- Wow! A luxury ship!"- Adrian Jackson said, looking the drappings, the walls with upholstery , the silver bars ( handled when in 0 Gravity), and the floor, made of walnut tiles...
They rumaged by the site, finding some containers at haft- hold. At forehold they find more of them.
- What could be in there?"- Adrian asked.
- Let�s open one of this, to know !"- Kirk said, and screwing up one of them , they find mercury.
- Seems they came here to find Mercury! Why, is it too costly?- Adrian asked.
- Guess it is ! With this cargo, they could buy a brand new ship! That's why they want to take whatever cargo they were carrying! Now we now."- Kirk said.
- And could we take some for to make a profit, Captain?"- Adrian Jackson asked.
- Well, guess we can ! But not with the Transporter! So we better came back here with the Shuttle craft- and split the cargo!"- Kirk said.
- Why split, Captain? They lost the cargo already!"- Adrian Jackson said.
- Not entirely! It's in their ship!"- Kirk reply.
- But, Captain! This is a debris no more!"- Adrian Jackson said, eagerly.
Kirk and Adrian Jackson revised the rest of the ship- lots of luxury objects in every corner .
- Guess this Omar is a wealthy guy!"- Kirk said.
- You can bet !- Adrian Jackson said, smiling.
They return to the "Maora " in time to see Mr. Omar Damas enter Main Cabin, saying:"- Well, Captain! I am here to satisfy your curiosity! Ask me whatever you want to know about me!"-
Kirk smiled and offered him a chair; then, he said:"- Well, Mr . Damas, you as no obligation to me! I am your savior, and it is a fact- same thing has happened to me, several times! "
- Yes, I know, Captain, but just the same you take your time and spent your money coming here."- Omar Damas said.
- About money I was thinking! We went to your ship, and you have some treasure in your ship."- Kirk said.
- Ah, the mercury! Yes, it was an idea! We collected it in the surface of the Second planet- some spots are really hot, and the mercury is boiling there- you just take it with a spoon, if you like! And the price is good, at Earth! Pity the "Mestron" get busted!"- Omar Damas said.
-- From where did you said you was expelled?"- Adrian Jackson intervened.
- I didn't said! But I have no problem saying it! From United States!"- Omar said.
- Ah!- Adrian Jackson said- " You a drug dealer, or something?"-
- Nothing of the sort! Just a law abiding- citizen! I was falsely accused of fraud! "- Omar said.
- I have a proposition to make you: to split the cargo! You give me the half of the cargo, I take you to some civilized planet- with the half of the cargo that is resting at your ship! What do you say ?"- Kirk proposed.
Omar rubbed his chin a little while, and reply:"- Well, I see no harm in it! For all the practical purposes, that cargo is lost for me! Unless I carry here another ship- thing I cannot do, for lack of money!"-
- Then, it�s a deal?"- Kirk asked.
- Yes, it�s a deal!"- Omar said, handshaking him... sealing the deal.
Kirk went back to Ankaa 3, and was beamed down, together with Lana.
- Ah, good air! "- She said, looking the greenery.
- Yes, it`s not bad."- Kirk said, trying to see the people who was there some minutes before...
- Look! Tents.... guess they are inside."- Lana said, walking there.
- Hi, Captain!"- Janice Icelon said, when he enters the tent.
- Hi, Janice! Where is the rest?"- Kirk asked.
- Exploring, of course! I was tired- yesterday I walk more of the count!"- She smiled.
- Fine! Wow, it s good to be in here!"- Kirk said, drinking from a bottle.
- It`s fine, all right! And which is the cause of this honour, Captain?"- She asked, standing in front of them.
- Well, we find a ship in Ankaa 2, with some people- they are rescued already- and a cargo of mercury- costly and we are going to take that into the "Maora", and we need the Shuttle."- Kirk said.
- Guess you have all figured out!"- Janice said, amazed.
- Well, with a little help. - Kirk replied.
- Then , you want us to return to the ship?"- Janice asked.
- That is correct; with all aboard ship, we are going to do business. "- Kirk explained.
When the rest arrived- almost at dark- Kirk repeated his words to them.
- Well, Captain, you know you have a contract with me! You cannot just run to make money on your own."- Joah Rosemberg said.
Harold Gans interrupted, saying:"- And how much of the profit will be for us, in case we go with you, interrupting the exploration of Ankaa 3?"
- Well, I am not a greedy man; but also, a profit is a profit! I will give fifty per cent to the ones who has their mercury in their crashed ship; there it is, waiting in craters for us to take! The half part who will be mine, I could split in several parts: one part for the fuel I will consume in the trips- and the rest I will split in equal parts for each one of us."- Kirk said.
- But, Captain, in this way the share of us will be diminished almost to nill!"- Joah Rosemberg said.
- But it will be enough for to put a smile in each of us!"- Kirk said.-" See for yourself! Here is a good planet, full of wonders- as many others in the Galaxy- but for each bucket of gold you want to obtain, another of Credits and hard labor will be needed! This planets are here to be colonized, and in time, they will be producing great fortunes- but an investment is needed! And time! Have you thirty years to spend here?"
They take a little meal- there was not too much for all of them- and Joah Rosemberg said:"- Well, guess it is like you said, Captain Kirk! Let's go working for a spoonful of gold!"
They were beamed up, and then Kirk set the "Maora" in course to Ankaa 2.
As the vessel was somewhat crowded, Kirk send the Electromen to Storage.
- Planet 2 will be soon reached, Captain. "- Pedro Truco said.
- And are you impatient?"- Kirk told the Doctor.
- Yes and no; yes because we have an opportunity of to be rich- and no, because the risks are great."- Doctor Truco said.
They were at the Infirmary, as Kirk was being treated of hemorrhoids.
- You are a winner, Captain! You have gold and shares back at Earth; now you will have money to rummage the entire Universe, if you want!"- Truco said.
- Not always money makes a man happy! I am happy traveling among the stars- going down on desert planets, making the impossible possible! "- Kirk acknowledged...
Lana enter the Infirmary, saying:"- Captain, you must call all hands to the Deck, as there is a problem there."-
Kirk run to the Control Room, and saw Lana Bickford changing course.
- What is happening?"- Kirk asked.
Lana said:"- There is an outburst from the sun! Something is happening to Ankaa!"
Kirk saw the sun, who happens to have an outburst visibly from the distance, as big as the star itself.
- Woe! Guess we are going to be burning in a short while, if we don't move from here , and fast!"
- The only thing that will save us now is a mighty Jump!"- Janice Icelon said, trembling .
- Time for the outburst to arrive here, pilot Gonzalez?"- Kirk asked. The aforementioned made some calculations in his console, and said:"- Seven minutes, Sir."
- Too little time; sorry, Mr. Omar Damas... we cannot recover the mercury."- Kirk said.
- Life is more precious, Captain. Let's get out from here."- Omar Damas replied.
- Gonzalez, lets go to the Solar System; we must carry the news."- Kirk said.
1.4 minutes later, they were traveling by the HyperSpace, leaving behind the dangerous Ankaa system...
Chapter 4
MARS ORBITAL STATION.
The "Maora" locked to the Orbital Station at planet Mars; Kirk told Lana to call Earth, and communicate him with his wife.
- Better talk at your cabin, Captain."- She said.
- Yes; I will be there."- He said; and from his cabin he received the call- Maora said:"- Well, have you returned? What happened?"- Her beautiful face was in the screen, in front of him.
- We were threatened by a solar eruption! So we flew here- much more healthy."- Kirk said.- "How are our daughters?"
- Fine! I will call them, later. Tell me: where are you?"
- In Mars! We locked the ship here, as it needed some repairs."- He explained.
- OH! So when are you coming here, darling??- She asked, with a smile.
- As soon as the ship is repaired! Not more than a week, I suppose."- He said.
- Fine! I will call your daughters, so you can see them!"- Maora said, and soon they were in screen, for him to see. They looked healthy and smiling. After some more talk, Kirk ends the communication...
- Damn!"- He told himself- he was in love with Maora, but a man also needed a woman in the long raids throughout space; so for that purpose he was disloyal to Maora with Lana...
Lana knocked the door; he opened it, and offered her a seat.
- Well, my friend! Are you going home soon, or what?"- She asked, crossing her beautiful legs .
- I told Maora about it - I will go there when the "Maora" is refitted."- He said.
- What? That could take a whole month! "- Lana said.
- And what that means? I cannot go in a commercial flight! And leave my ship here- unattended!"- Kirk remarked.
- I could be here. Attending it."- Lana smiled, gently.
- Ah! Thank�s for your offer! I will think it over."- Kirk said.
- Think about- I will search for a ticket for you To go visiting your family! And perhaps you could find better cargo next time! This trip gives us little income!"- Lana said, and went out .
Kirk revised his finances with the computer, and find he had more millions, thanks to his shares . Lana called him by the intercom and said:"- There are several ships going to Earth, Captain; the first to-day at three hours."
- Fine; booked me in."- He said; and in a bag he puts his most precious belongings, and went to the Deck.
- Call all hands here."- He told Gonzalez.
- Sir, what are we going to do with the passengers?"- Gonzalez asked.
- I will talk to them now."- Kirk said.
Soon all the crew were there, plus the Castaways and the Patrons.
- Well, we are here stucked for good! The ship needs repairs, so the trip is finished."- He told Mr. Joah Rosemberg.
- Ah, dear Captain! You own us more than eleven months!"- He said.
- I will cancel that eleven months with a phrase: the ship is in repairs! We cannot depart now, so you can have a bonus ; we must take in consideration the fuel and the food wasted in this trip; it was not my fault if the Ankaa star give such an outburst that obliged us to fly away."- Kirk said.
- A bonus!"- Joah Rosemberg said, looking at his associates. Ken Silliak said:" At least, Captain Kirk, you could give back the half of our payment!"
- All is apt to be talked- in the future! Now, you are going to disembark at this Mars Station, and go whatever you please! Same to Mr. Omar Damas and his family here!"- Kirk said.
- I only have words of praise for you and your crew! You have saved our lives- twice!"- Omar said.
- And now, for the crew: Lady Lana is taking the command of the "Maora" from now on! I must go and do some business somewhere else! So she is going to pay you the wages, and you will have vacations from now on."- Kirk said.
They all cheered up, and some of them yelled.
Kirk went out of the ship, and takes the one who was traveling to Earth; as a passenger, he was entitled to a tiny dormitory, and three meals a day; the voyage takes a week...
In that week, he called several times to the "Maora" ship; he knew , in his talks with Lana, that the Rosembergs made an accusation at the Mars Station, against him.
Kirk sighed; those Rosembergs were hard to understand.
When arriving to Earth, he went straight to his house, in El Monte, Chile.
- Hello!"- He said, when Maora opened the door; she was - of course- advised by him, as he were calling her by the cellphone very often; she embraces him and said:"- At last you are here!"- And Kirk felt her body trembling in his arms...
Both daughters were there too, and he felt a warm feeling when seeing them.
- They are lovable creatures"- He said, kissing his daughters.
- I miss you."- Maora said.- "Please take a good vacation this time."
- I will. I certainly will."- He said, kissing her for a long time...
The end.
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ANKAA
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Synopsis.
Kirk receives his appointment: straight to ANKAA, in the Phoenix Constellation. In traveling there, he is having a romance with gorgeous blonde blue eyed Lana, and everyone aboard ship is in the know.
Lana and the rest of Shuttle craft One crash landed on Ankaa Three, and die of hypothermic; they were recovered from the ice where they were sunk, and sent to space in coffins. But the Balos recovered them in space, and using their superior medical knowledge, returned them to life and place them inside an energy -egg in front of the " Maora" in orbit.
So they are all in debt with them, but the Balos leaves the site in a hurry.
Kirk send another shuttle (the Second, and last) to examine the planet; Hans Sarcovetiz went down with some others, and finds a pacific planet.
Then the same shuttle goes up and descend, this time with Salustio and Janice Iceland- so in the land rested the Patrons, 4 Electromen .
They just went hither and thither, not finding gold or any other special thing!
A distress call from Ankaa 2; Kirk saved Omar Damas and his family from the hot spot Ankaa 2 is; later, they must depart, as Ankaa star give a big outburst of energy. They arrive to the Solar System, and Kirk make a visit to his family (Maora and the two daughters.)
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