Plan for Michael Hughes
by NA · 02/19/2002 (9:23 am) · 0 comments
During the early 22nd century, a GSA (Global Space Administration) Star-Seeker vehicle located a new planet beyond the previously obscured moon Charon near Pluto. Under intense pressure to deliver the planetary goods, GSA was overwhelmed to find this new star contained vast evidence of actual biological life. Although the Thermal Projecters couldn't completely identify the life forms, only their bio-energy, GSA knew this was the find of any century. Their corporate governments agreed and GSA was restored to its former glory -- and budget. Despite the amazing discovery, it was believed by officials that a secret exploration would be needed before announcing the startling news. If life forms were active, it would be better for the free world to know only when their presence had been made safe.
Of course, the Military was called in.
Their budgets had been quadrupled long ago, so they were prepared with the latest and smartest death technology. Their impressive armada of cyborgs and vehicles flew, swooped, climbed, swam and burrowed. They would be ready for any violent surprises from the benign thermal red shapes. GSA grumbled about the excessive military presence but they did have technical resources unavailble to the scientists. A reluctant coalition was formed with the acronym PEACE - Pluto Exploration Advancement Colony Enterprise.
A crew was selected.
This was complicated since everybody from both military and space administrations wanted to be involved in the historic event. Choosing a leader for the project proved the most difficult part. Any leader would have to inspire respect from both military and science divisions. In the end, one man remained above the rest: CHRISTIAN AVALON, a science warrior born and bred in the Bio-Chaos of the late 21 century, capable of analyzing or destroying. Despised and feared; loved and admired, Christian reluctantly took the duty despite his conflicting feelings about the mission. He had spent too long under corporate adminstrations and loathed their greed and duplicity. He rationalized that if he was in charge, there might be less chance of unprovoked violence.
Yet after the crew selection, animosities were briefly forgotten as a spirit of universal awe and discovery replaced the xenophobia that lay beneath the mission's surface. Even the stoic and cynical Christian felt a sense that humankind was approaching a historical nexus. Billions were quickly spent on an apropriate ship that would serve as base and laboratory. A fleet of interstellar fighters were commisioned to act as backup for the crew and vessel. The fighters were stationed out of view near Charon -- in case any intelligent life would be frightened by the military display. Christian had won that small concession.
The planet was duly named ATHENA, after the Goddess of Education and Science. After a massive private celebration, Team PEACE began a three year journey to the cold edge of the solar system.
Of course, even in his most private moments, Christian wondered what would happen if the indigenous population of Genesis turned out to be...not friendly. He had seen bloodshed from the Australian Pipeline battles to the Moon Colony skirmishes. He hoped that in this new world, Earth and her sister planets would find an evolved way of looking out to the stars.
Christian Avalon was wrong.
"Welcome to Hell," said LT WILSON, hard-ass second-command of the mission, as their ship finally approached the misty barren atmosphere of ATHENA. Like Pluto and Charon, this new planet had a similar arrid surface except for unusual patches of lush flora. Details were hazy even under the cutting glare of the Thermal Projecters; the bio-energy readings were faint and distant. Suddenly it seemed as if the entire journey might be a collosal waste of time, money and hope.
It was agreed to dispatch Hawk Hovercrafts to the surface for a preliminary expedition. Although the planet seemed dead as the Underworld God for which Pluto was named, Christian still held out a wish that intelligent and peaceful life existed somewhere on Athena. He led the first wave of swift, humming Hawks into the cold gray fog. Lt Wilson had demanded more soldiers than scientists for this first glimpse, and Christian agreed. He would make sure they would fly before they would fight, although their interstellar backup could easily vaporize the planet if the situation became cataclysmic. Along with the standard-issue one Plasmon 66 assault rifle, Christian was armed with archaic weapons technology like the Uzi Mac-10, and a hidden serrated blade. As a history scholar, he had an eclectic arsenal. He knew the lethal effectiveness of plasma and shock weapons, but he liked to keep things real in a battle.
DR KWAN, a famous Nobel Prize-winning Korean scientist, was allowed -- and demanded -- to accompany the team to the surface. Her steely and beautiful nature was integral to the mission since her research dealt with the long-term effects of colonists on other worlds. After the Moon and Mars had been turned into Earth outposts, Kwan devoted her life to studying how a planet's environment altered after colonization. Christian had personally invited her on the PEACE mission over strenuous objections from corporate politicians. They made a good team.
As the two Hawk Hovercrafts skimmed along the icy landscape, the onboard Thermal Projecters tried to find any bio-readings to little success. Lt Wilson grew more apprehensive. Secretly, he thought the mision was a waste. He would have prefered to send only Military Cyborgs instead of human soldiers.
Christian intently watched the new world unfold before them, a vista of rolling snow hills and vast burning desolation. Charred debris littered the area, the ground pock-marked with smoldering craters, undefinable structures...and blackened bodies.
They had found alien life.
And death.
Stunned by this sight, Christian ordered the Hawks to land over Lt Wilson's objections. They compromised by sending out Cyborg troops to secure the parameter. Christian defied protocol by leading them. He was awed and saddened by the bleak sight before them. The few humanoid bodies were charred beyond recognition. The first recorded evidence of interplanetary intelligence would be the residue of destruction.
Then a shambling figure appeared.
The Cyborg soldiers automatically encircled Christian and raised their plasma rifles. The figure stumbled and fell at their steel boots. Christian broke through to help.
The Alien spoke. Music flowed from his cracked mouth.
Somehow, Christian and the others understood everything. They could almost see the story before them, enveloping them. The Alien's tonal and telepathic language sang roughly of an ancient race, the SPNGHTARO, proud but simple beings, who lived primarliy underground on this moon they called TARO. They were farmers and scientists, artists and engineers, but no training in warfare. The concept was unknown to them -- until the PA'CHA invaded their peaceful world.
Images flashed through the Team's collective head, that of the Pa'Cha. They were cruel-witted, brutal, spikey aliens, landing in black spidery vehicles upon Taro, where they began to destroy and enslave the surprised populace. The Pa'Cha saw the peaceful Spnghtaro as perfect slave fodder to achieve their ultimate goal: domination of this solar system and all her planets beyond.
Weak and stunned by this rush of cosmic information, Christian and the others watched helpless as the dying alien turned to ashen dust. Lt Wilson and Dr Kwan watched this exchange via the Hawk Hovercraft monitors, and they were prepared to leave the planet immediately. Then came word that communication had been severed with the Team PEACE mother ship and the interstellar back-up.
That's when they saw the fleet of Pa'Cha spider ships approach.
Christian Avalon ordered the Troops and Cyborgs to prepare for battle. They weren't going to let anything enslave this world -- or any other.
He brought out his Mac-10 Uzi and headed for the black spiders....
Of course, the Military was called in.
Their budgets had been quadrupled long ago, so they were prepared with the latest and smartest death technology. Their impressive armada of cyborgs and vehicles flew, swooped, climbed, swam and burrowed. They would be ready for any violent surprises from the benign thermal red shapes. GSA grumbled about the excessive military presence but they did have technical resources unavailble to the scientists. A reluctant coalition was formed with the acronym PEACE - Pluto Exploration Advancement Colony Enterprise.
A crew was selected.
This was complicated since everybody from both military and space administrations wanted to be involved in the historic event. Choosing a leader for the project proved the most difficult part. Any leader would have to inspire respect from both military and science divisions. In the end, one man remained above the rest: CHRISTIAN AVALON, a science warrior born and bred in the Bio-Chaos of the late 21 century, capable of analyzing or destroying. Despised and feared; loved and admired, Christian reluctantly took the duty despite his conflicting feelings about the mission. He had spent too long under corporate adminstrations and loathed their greed and duplicity. He rationalized that if he was in charge, there might be less chance of unprovoked violence.
Yet after the crew selection, animosities were briefly forgotten as a spirit of universal awe and discovery replaced the xenophobia that lay beneath the mission's surface. Even the stoic and cynical Christian felt a sense that humankind was approaching a historical nexus. Billions were quickly spent on an apropriate ship that would serve as base and laboratory. A fleet of interstellar fighters were commisioned to act as backup for the crew and vessel. The fighters were stationed out of view near Charon -- in case any intelligent life would be frightened by the military display. Christian had won that small concession.
The planet was duly named ATHENA, after the Goddess of Education and Science. After a massive private celebration, Team PEACE began a three year journey to the cold edge of the solar system.
Of course, even in his most private moments, Christian wondered what would happen if the indigenous population of Genesis turned out to be...not friendly. He had seen bloodshed from the Australian Pipeline battles to the Moon Colony skirmishes. He hoped that in this new world, Earth and her sister planets would find an evolved way of looking out to the stars.
Christian Avalon was wrong.
"Welcome to Hell," said LT WILSON, hard-ass second-command of the mission, as their ship finally approached the misty barren atmosphere of ATHENA. Like Pluto and Charon, this new planet had a similar arrid surface except for unusual patches of lush flora. Details were hazy even under the cutting glare of the Thermal Projecters; the bio-energy readings were faint and distant. Suddenly it seemed as if the entire journey might be a collosal waste of time, money and hope.
It was agreed to dispatch Hawk Hovercrafts to the surface for a preliminary expedition. Although the planet seemed dead as the Underworld God for which Pluto was named, Christian still held out a wish that intelligent and peaceful life existed somewhere on Athena. He led the first wave of swift, humming Hawks into the cold gray fog. Lt Wilson had demanded more soldiers than scientists for this first glimpse, and Christian agreed. He would make sure they would fly before they would fight, although their interstellar backup could easily vaporize the planet if the situation became cataclysmic. Along with the standard-issue one Plasmon 66 assault rifle, Christian was armed with archaic weapons technology like the Uzi Mac-10, and a hidden serrated blade. As a history scholar, he had an eclectic arsenal. He knew the lethal effectiveness of plasma and shock weapons, but he liked to keep things real in a battle.
DR KWAN, a famous Nobel Prize-winning Korean scientist, was allowed -- and demanded -- to accompany the team to the surface. Her steely and beautiful nature was integral to the mission since her research dealt with the long-term effects of colonists on other worlds. After the Moon and Mars had been turned into Earth outposts, Kwan devoted her life to studying how a planet's environment altered after colonization. Christian had personally invited her on the PEACE mission over strenuous objections from corporate politicians. They made a good team.
As the two Hawk Hovercrafts skimmed along the icy landscape, the onboard Thermal Projecters tried to find any bio-readings to little success. Lt Wilson grew more apprehensive. Secretly, he thought the mision was a waste. He would have prefered to send only Military Cyborgs instead of human soldiers.
Christian intently watched the new world unfold before them, a vista of rolling snow hills and vast burning desolation. Charred debris littered the area, the ground pock-marked with smoldering craters, undefinable structures...and blackened bodies.
They had found alien life.
And death.
Stunned by this sight, Christian ordered the Hawks to land over Lt Wilson's objections. They compromised by sending out Cyborg troops to secure the parameter. Christian defied protocol by leading them. He was awed and saddened by the bleak sight before them. The few humanoid bodies were charred beyond recognition. The first recorded evidence of interplanetary intelligence would be the residue of destruction.
Then a shambling figure appeared.
The Cyborg soldiers automatically encircled Christian and raised their plasma rifles. The figure stumbled and fell at their steel boots. Christian broke through to help.
The Alien spoke. Music flowed from his cracked mouth.
Somehow, Christian and the others understood everything. They could almost see the story before them, enveloping them. The Alien's tonal and telepathic language sang roughly of an ancient race, the SPNGHTARO, proud but simple beings, who lived primarliy underground on this moon they called TARO. They were farmers and scientists, artists and engineers, but no training in warfare. The concept was unknown to them -- until the PA'CHA invaded their peaceful world.
Images flashed through the Team's collective head, that of the Pa'Cha. They were cruel-witted, brutal, spikey aliens, landing in black spidery vehicles upon Taro, where they began to destroy and enslave the surprised populace. The Pa'Cha saw the peaceful Spnghtaro as perfect slave fodder to achieve their ultimate goal: domination of this solar system and all her planets beyond.
Weak and stunned by this rush of cosmic information, Christian and the others watched helpless as the dying alien turned to ashen dust. Lt Wilson and Dr Kwan watched this exchange via the Hawk Hovercraft monitors, and they were prepared to leave the planet immediately. Then came word that communication had been severed with the Team PEACE mother ship and the interstellar back-up.
That's when they saw the fleet of Pa'Cha spider ships approach.
Christian Avalon ordered the Troops and Cyborgs to prepare for battle. They weren't going to let anything enslave this world -- or any other.
He brought out his Mac-10 Uzi and headed for the black spiders....
