Read Online Consortium of Planets: Alien Test by Jack Wells - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Wells
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blackness.
Despite taking too long, they arrived at the floor of the crater with no surprises. Beth pulled the shiny half-meter-long plasma launcher off her back. She cocked it for action and nodded that she was ready. Dean pointed at the base of the Moonbeam with his blaster and they started toward it. For safety, they alternated running behind huge pieces of industrial gear – as one advanced, the other stayed hidden and provided cover. Up close, the alien buildings, equipment, and randomly placed paraphernalia seemed much larger. Using hand signals for communication, Dean and Beth passed what appeared to be massive shipping containers under loading gantries. They paused next to a glossy black building.
“L.T., you see any doors or windows? All the surfaces are smooth as glass.”
“Colonel, I don’t even see a scratch. The whole place looks deserted except for, what did you call it, the Moonbeam?”
“That’s what Visen said the press named it.”
“Do you think this place is automated?”
Dean was guarded with his answer. “I think it’s too early to tell but anything’s possible. Let’s keep moving. When we get to the Beam, I’ll check in with Command and then we’ll take it out.”
Beth thought how easy he made it sound to stop the alien weapon. All they had were some conventional explosives that might not be enough to do the job, but she wanted to win back his confidence and didn’t argue. She just nodded and turned back toward their target.
Before Dean followed her, something told him to take another look at the building’s slick surface. He frowned as he studied it. Something about it was wrong. Tentatively, he extended his right hand toward the exterior wall. As he made contact, the surface began to waver and flicker like something that didn’t want to vanish. Dean yelled in surprise and jumped back. After he jerked his hand away, the wall looked solid again.
Beth instantly dropped onto her belly, rolled over supine, and pulled out a blaster. She stayed on her back with her launcher and blaster aimed up at Dean. “What happened?” she gasped.
He was already reaching for the shiny surface again. “Lieutenant, would you mind pointing your weapons at something other than me?” he said, still watching the surface. “The metal changed when I tried to touch it! Watch what happens.”
Dean reached out and once again the wall began to shimmer and sparkle. This time the wall didn’t reform. Instead, the unstable spot expanded into a dark entrance about three meters wide and four meters tall. Its interior walls were smooth, but the floor looked like the crater’s natural dusty surface.
“L.T., I don’t see a welcoming party, but if one shows up, there’s nowhere to hide in there.”
“Colonel, they just threw out the welcome mat. So, do we accept their invitation, blow a few holes in their pretty walls for cover, and kick some alien butt? Or, do we try to get to their scary weapon before they can stop us?”
The element of surprise was gone. Dean felt like a mouse being offered cheese in a trap. He took a few steps back. “We’ll stick to the mission and come back for this after we turn off that light.”
In reality, Beth was relieved. She had been acting overly enthusiastic to impress the colonel. She allowed some fake disappointment to show in her voice. “Too bad we have to wait. I’m going to enjoy checking this out later.”
Suddenly, a force stopped them in their tracks and they began to rise. They floated helplessly a few meters above the hole in the building before a gentle tug began to pull them toward it.
“L.T., I think you’re about to get your wish to check it out – whether we like it or not. Can you move at all?”
“Maybe,” Beth grunted with effort, “with the right motivation. If I could get a shot at one of those little green men, I’d try like hell.”
An average-looking Human male with wavy brown hair and olive skin stood in the mouth of the opening
Despite taking too long, they arrived at the floor of the crater with no surprises. Beth pulled the shiny half-meter-long plasma launcher off her back. She cocked it for action and nodded that she was ready. Dean pointed at the base of the Moonbeam with his blaster and they started toward it. For safety, they alternated running behind huge pieces of industrial gear – as one advanced, the other stayed hidden and provided cover. Up close, the alien buildings, equipment, and randomly placed paraphernalia seemed much larger. Using hand signals for communication, Dean and Beth passed what appeared to be massive shipping containers under loading gantries. They paused next to a glossy black building.
“L.T., you see any doors or windows? All the surfaces are smooth as glass.”
“Colonel, I don’t even see a scratch. The whole place looks deserted except for, what did you call it, the Moonbeam?”
“That’s what Visen said the press named it.”
“Do you think this place is automated?”
Dean was guarded with his answer. “I think it’s too early to tell but anything’s possible. Let’s keep moving. When we get to the Beam, I’ll check in with Command and then we’ll take it out.”
Beth thought how easy he made it sound to stop the alien weapon. All they had were some conventional explosives that might not be enough to do the job, but she wanted to win back his confidence and didn’t argue. She just nodded and turned back toward their target.
Before Dean followed her, something told him to take another look at the building’s slick surface. He frowned as he studied it. Something about it was wrong. Tentatively, he extended his right hand toward the exterior wall. As he made contact, the surface began to waver and flicker like something that didn’t want to vanish. Dean yelled in surprise and jumped back. After he jerked his hand away, the wall looked solid again.
Beth instantly dropped onto her belly, rolled over supine, and pulled out a blaster. She stayed on her back with her launcher and blaster aimed up at Dean. “What happened?” she gasped.
He was already reaching for the shiny surface again. “Lieutenant, would you mind pointing your weapons at something other than me?” he said, still watching the surface. “The metal changed when I tried to touch it! Watch what happens.”
Dean reached out and once again the wall began to shimmer and sparkle. This time the wall didn’t reform. Instead, the unstable spot expanded into a dark entrance about three meters wide and four meters tall. Its interior walls were smooth, but the floor looked like the crater’s natural dusty surface.
“L.T., I don’t see a welcoming party, but if one shows up, there’s nowhere to hide in there.”
“Colonel, they just threw out the welcome mat. So, do we accept their invitation, blow a few holes in their pretty walls for cover, and kick some alien butt? Or, do we try to get to their scary weapon before they can stop us?”
The element of surprise was gone. Dean felt like a mouse being offered cheese in a trap. He took a few steps back. “We’ll stick to the mission and come back for this after we turn off that light.”
In reality, Beth was relieved. She had been acting overly enthusiastic to impress the colonel. She allowed some fake disappointment to show in her voice. “Too bad we have to wait. I’m going to enjoy checking this out later.”
Suddenly, a force stopped them in their tracks and they began to rise. They floated helplessly a few meters above the hole in the building before a gentle tug began to pull them toward it.
“L.T., I think you’re about to get your wish to check it out – whether we like it or not. Can you move at all?”
“Maybe,” Beth grunted with effort, “with the right motivation. If I could get a shot at one of those little green men, I’d try like hell.”
An average-looking Human male with wavy brown hair and olive skin stood in the mouth of the opening
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