Logan Ryvenbark's Saga Box Set: Logan Ryvenbark's Saga, #8

Chapter 1

"There is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result" Winston Churchill once said.

There is great truth in that statement, especially when considering the alternative. Flesh and blood cannot stand up to a speeding, burning piece of lead. Nor can it survive a laser frying muscle and bone with the precision of a surgical scalpel. Of course, today we have the advantage over soldiers of the past. The medical nanos jump into action, repairing blood vessels, rebuilding organs and creating new flesh to plug the bullet holes. You're as good as new if the wound is not too serious. However, when half your body is blown away, there's little even the nanos can do.

But I've never liked using the memory drugs to erase the knowledge of battle wounds. Civilians use memory wipes to cast bad memories into oblivion, and so are able to forget a bad childhood or traumatic events. Not soldiers. You learn hard lessons in battle, and you should remember, not forget them. A few soldiers use the drugs, but I never have.

But the nanos, as marvelously high-tech as they are, are nature's liars. I look at my body in the mirror and see no scars, no rough, ragged redness on the pale skin. Nothing to show the wounds I have received. But my mind remembers them. It's incongruous to view the skin and know it should show the ravages of battle. Some soldiers have a though emotional time with that.

Eternally young. And eternally waiting for the next battle. Because I'm Genrich, I age very slowly. When I look at my face, my mind tells me I should look older — and wiser for that matter. I guess I might look twenty-five, maybe twenty-seven, but I have lived more years than that.

I have chosen this profession, so I can't complain. I chose it because, thanks to a combination of genetics and other skills, I am good at it. Of course it always helps to have a cause worth fighting for. In this age of nanobites and memory drugs, what often matters most are not high-tech skills but rather, as the poet said, the small, often unremembered, acts of kindness.

Which is why I was so proud of the Distinguished Service Medal the Deltans bestowed upon me. After the war they fought with the Critterrans, they didn’t have a lot of time for thanks, so the ceremony didn’t take long. The Deltan vice president, an older man — there is no Genrich technology on their planet — awarded me the green ribbon with the gold star. His aged hands trembled slightly as he placed the medal around my neck. He shook my hand and almost cried as he thanked me for helping to save his planet and his people. I was touched. My friends, Commander Rembrante Cleed and Lt. Jade O’Malley, also received the DSM. They’re military professionals, while I’m in a private force and usually work for cash.

Unlike their enemies, the Deltans are a benevolent race who know and appreciate the concept of honor. Which is another reason I was so pleased with the medal. When honorable men and women present you with an award, it’s well worth keeping. As I said, it’s nice to have something worth fighting for.

Which is why I couldn’t turn Belen down when she asked me for help.

The mountain winds howled like a drunken banshee and plunked high-powered snow bullet into the windshield. The heat evaporated the snow, only to have a second volley slam the plastic glass. I looked out the window and wondered why Belen desired a mountain home. An ice mountain home.

The transport hummed quietly as it rolled along in the snow. Some people are uncomfortable with driverless vehicles, but they don't cause me any anxiety. The computer handled the wet, twisting roads like a NASCAR driver. The swirling storm had stripped the leaves from most of the trees. They held up their bare snow-covered branches to the sky, as if to surrender.

Belen and I shared a friendly yet turbulent past, and I wondered why she wanted to see me. I assumed it had something to do with my profession as a soldier-of-fortune. She did have a fortune. A considerable one. Inherited some of it, and built up the rest with talent, genius and hard work, 15-hour-a-day ambition. But she always held her cards close to her chest. She had a penchant for secrecy that annoyed me at times. But when you have built several successful corporations, you probably develop a few annoying tics along the way.

When the car reached the house, the covered driveway zoomed out to meet us. It attached itself to the car door, so that I was protected from the snow and sleet. For a man who has dodged bullets and lasers, I found the architectural convenience a bit amusing.

The door scanner pricked my thumb. It was painless, and cheap for that matter. It would run all the chem and bio tests, but I wouldn’t be billed. The green letters on a black background screen asked, ARE YOU:

(1) Synthetic

(2) An AI

(3) Android

(4) Nano-Mutant

(5) Bio-Artificial

(6) Human

There were a few other classifications after human. Looking at the list I became slightly depressed. The last time I saw such a checklist, humans were listed fourth. The species must be dropping in prestige.

Genrich human, I said.

The security computer had a drab, husky voice. Name?

Logan Ryvenbark. I’m expected.

Your gun, sir.

What about it?

Would you please deposit it on the tray?

No.

A silence followed. Perhaps the computer was baffled.

Then, sir, I cannot let you in, it finally said.

Fine, I said.

I turned around, then heard the feminine voice override.

Open the door, Norman. Mr. Ryvenbark doesn’t even like to shower without his weapon. This one time we shall indulge him.

The computer whined and the door clicked open. The house was a two- story spacious dwelling just this side of being a mansion. I walked across the palatial front room and climbed the stairs. A robot servant escorted me to a second floor office.

Belen Morganthal rose behind the large ornate desk and walked toward me. She was tall, almost six feet, and was wearing an elegant black pants suit trimmed with gold. The sparkling brown hair fell across her shoulders. I always thought her voice held something of a military bearing. As she greeted me, I kissed her cheek.

Thank you for coming, Logan.

I nodded.

Please sit down.

Must be important, I thought. Belen did not usually say please. Usually she just issued orders and people obeyed. I eased down into a well-cushioned green chair and crossed my legs. It was a large room with a high ceiling. Deep carpet. The robot bodyguard, white with black trim, stood silent a few feet behind her desk. He could have been a statue except for the menacing aura around him, as palpable as the scent of death on a battlefield. The high, arched windows were not covered with drapes, so you could see the snow-covered mountains. A few evergreens stood a defiant dark green against the white background.

Good to see you again, Belen. Why did you want to talk to me?

I admired her brown eyes. Belen had beautiful brown eyes. They sparkled and could hypnotize you. They had a laser intensity that could melt steel. When she made up her mind about an issue, it was impossible to change it.

Her steel gaze focused on me. I am putting together an expedition to Sandeling and I would like it to be led by you.

Why me?

She eased her hips on the edge of the black walnut desk and crossed her arms. We have a long and rather complicated history, Logan.

Long, complicated, enjoyable.

She nodded. We had many good times.

Yes.

You are one of the very few people I would trust to accomplish this mission.

Chapter 2

I was standing outside at the entrance to our base on Sandeling. But there was nothing to see on Sandeling. It’s an ice world. Ten feet of snow, a dark sky, icy winds and swirling snow was all there was in view. Minus 80 on this piece of miserable frozen real estate. And this was one of our better days. It was 150 below at the poles, and the winds howled even fiercer there. Or so I had been told — I wasn’t going to check it out myself.

I had the blue thermal suit on and continually gave a cheer for science. The thin blue coating over my skin allowed me to stay at 75 degrees. Even so, I still wore the beige Arctic winter coat. It was almost impossible to tear or rip a thermal suit, but I wasn’t going to take any chances.

Even with the suit, I didn’t dare breathe. The cold air would frost my lungs. The medical nanos gave us some protection but, no matter how good the nanos, it wasn’t wise to breathe minus 80 degree air without a mask. I sighed. I looked around and saw nothing but blue ice and white snow.

The squad was grumbling and I didn’t blame them. We were a military unit. The men and women were used to action. They didn’t like doing nothing on a barren world with no idea about what our mission was.

The problem was I couldn’t tell them much. I heard the whiff of air as the entrance opened. Astrid was standing there in her Arctic suit.

The squad is assembled, major.

Thanks. I wish I had something solid to tell them.

The door closed behind me. I peeled back my hood. So did Astrid. She hummed a tune and smiled. She was the only one of Ryvenbark’s Raiders who felt like humming. Astrid has a pleasant personality and an optimistic nature. When I'd married her, I'd told her we might have been called on to go to the most unlikely, dangerous and miserable places.

As long as you’re with me, I’m happy, she'd replied.

This planet was testing that mental fortitude.

At one time this planet had an advanced civilization. The corridors and technology of the underground passages were impressive. Nobody knows what happened to the race. They must have been humanoids. The accommodations we had found fit a two-armed, two-legged species. But they didn’t leave much information about their race or what caused the permanent Arctic freeze of their world. We had a few basics we'd been able to decipher and not much more. We were in the middle of a continent in the northern hemisphere of this world. But the southern continents were not much better. Ice, snow, wind and nothing else. The North Pole conditions are everywhere on this planet.

There were huge caverns below the surface that could accommodate, by our best guess, several million people; but there was no sign of life. Nothing below surface and certainly nothing above it.

The two dozen members of my squad were assembling in a meeting room. They stood when I came in and walked to the podium. I waved hello and told them to sit down.

Ladies and gentleman, I don’t like to repeat the obvious, but I will this once. We have been on the delightful frozen paradise for two weeks and, as you have noticed, nothing has happened. I know most of you are wondering why we’re here.

Practicing for the Winter Olympics, major? came a voice.

The line brought laughter from the crowd.

The fact is, I don’t know why we’re here. As you know, we work for Belen Morganthal, who has a string of companies and contacts with the highest officials of the Federation. Ms. Morganthal has done favors for the Federation from time to time. I have a hunch this is a favor. But they did not tell her why they wanted an expedition to this planet. Knowing the Federation, it’s possible this is some type of huge mistake. But I was ordered to come here for an indeterminate amount of time, with the maximum stay at three months. That’s why I asked for volunteers. This is one of the few times we simply do not know what our mission actually is. Apparently, we are going to be up against boredom.

Some laughter came from the crowd, with a few anguished groans too.

However, I do know this. For the Federation this is a very important mission. The reason I know that is we are expensive. We don’t come cheap.

More laughter came from the crowd.

"So, even if you do nothing, you are being paid union wages, high union wages. Of course sometimes governments, since they’re spending other people’s money, can invest in boondoggles. Perhaps they have with this mission.

But beyond that, I know as much as you did. We will keep exploring and gathering scientific information. If nothing happens, we will return to base in three months, if not before. Meanwhile, we can organize baseball teams or something, I said.

Lieutenant Blackjack Curry raised his hand. When I recognized him, he stood up. Blackjack got his nickname for being an excellent blackjack player. He was good in poker and roulette too. He could have made a career of professional gambling, but he liked adventure.

Excuse me, sir. From what I understand, Ms. Morganthal is a very intelligent woman. Cunning too. And shrewd. But she gave no indication of what this mission was about? None whatsoever?

None whatsoever. If she knew, I think she would have told me. We’re friends, and our friendship goes back a long way. Whatever the Federation wanted checked out here, they held it close to their chests.

Probably nothing, Blackjack said. When could the Federation ever keep a secret?

Once in a while, I responded. That’s all I have to say. Wish it was better news. However, I was advised the hologram is up so you can amuse yourselves by watching the greatest baseball games in history.

Or watching Lt. Alvarez take a shower.

The whole squad laughed, including Lt. Carli Alvarez, a tall, strikingly beautiful brunette. She looked back toward the soldier who made the comment.

In your dreams, Ritter. The hologram doesn’t have me in its settings.

Great. Frozen world and defective equipment, Ritter said.

After a few more grumbles, the squad broke up. I was glad our supplies included ample amounts of liquor. Kayli Neugen, our Cajun Asian astrophysicist, walked up and saluted. We were a military unit but tended to be flexible about a great many things. If Kayli saluted, it was an indication that she wanted a serious talk. I saluted back.

Can we go topside, sir? I’d like to discuss a few things with you.

Would the cold, barren nothingness facilitate our conversation?

She merely grabbed her Arctic orange coat and put it on. Roughly translated, that meant yes. I put on my Arctic coat, my goggles and followed her.

The surface of the world hadn’t change much. Except maybe the wind howled even louder than it had previously. Tons of snow and ice still stretched as far as the eye could see. Towers, perhaps five feet tall, of blue ice dotted the landscape. With the howling breezes, I didn’t want to know what the windchill factor was. Even in my thermal suit, I could feel the chill.

Logan, this is not normal, she said.

Of course it’s not normal. Most livable planets have items such as trees and grass and oceans and temperatures that range from 30 to 90 degrees on most days. Most planets have polar regions only in the polar regions, I said. This is one vast North Pole.

It was not always like this. We know that. At one time this planet had an atmosphere very much like Earth.

A million years in the past Earth looked different too.

That’s the problem. When we first arrived I thought some terrible event had happened a long time ago and scarred the planet. Until then, the planet was a paradise. Or if not a paradise, the weather was a lot better than this.

So, what happened?

Kayli shook her head. I don’t know. I’m an astrophysicist. I’m not a meteorologist. Perhaps we should have brought some climate specialists along on the mission.

None of those guys or girls volunteered.

Belen could have persuaded one. She has a way of twisting your arm, but in such a nice way you don’t know you’re being pressured. She crossed her arms. Anyway, something changed here and something cataclysmic happened. And it’s still happening. You have noticed this planet is the fourth from the sun in the solar system?

For what it’s worth, yes, I said.

It’s only about half a million miles farther from this sun as Earth is from our sun. Just a half million miles.

I was getting cold and grouchy.

Cajun, I’m getting tired of this world and we’ve only been here two weeks. So please, remember that I have great respect and affection for you when I ask, ‘So what?’ Are we charting out a trip?

She chuckled, and the chuckles continued until her whole body shook.

How does Astrid put up with you?

I don’t know. I’ve asked myself that many times and have never arrived at a satisfactory answer. I merely attribute it to the grace of God.

Well, I reciprocate the respect and affection and, for that reason, I won’t smack you.

Thanks. Besides, you’re not supposed to smack your commanding officer. He’s really a very nice guy.

The reason why the mileage is important is because the sun should be melting this ice and snow. In terms of what we know about the laws of physics, this planet should be like Earth in terms of climate. There should be two poles, one on the north and one on the South, with most of the rest of the planet having moderate temperatures. This planet is contrary to all the laws of physics we know. That’s why it makes me very, very uneasy. I like the laws of physics and astrophysics. I am comfortable with them. With physical laws, you know what will happen. You can predict outcomes based on those never-changing laws. But this planet changes everything. She pointed down toward the ice we were standing on. The ice and snow should be melting. According to my calculations, this should be summer on this planet and the temperature should be about 85.

Could your calculations be off by about a hundred fifty-five degrees?

No. It looks like an ice age has hit here. The Earth has experienced ice ages, but there was always a scientific reason for it and there was scientific reason why the ice melted and faded away. I see no scientific reason for what is happening on this planet. Or not happening. Something is stopping the sunlight from hitting this planet, or deflecting it, or something. The temperature is 70 below when it should be 85 above.

I thought for a moment. That doesn’t make me feel any better, I sighed. That is... disturbing.

Darn right.

But I fail to see how it affects our mission. Of course, I admit that I’m still not sure what our mission is.

If the Federation is behind this — and I’m guessing it is — the team to send to this planet would be a shipload of scientists. This is a scientific puzzle of the highest magnitude. So why didn’t they? Send scientists, that is.

I shrugged, although I thought I knew the answer.

Shall I answer my own question?

Sure, Cajun. Go ahead.

She turned and looked directly at me. They didn’t send scientists because it would have been too dangerous for them. So they sent us.

Yes. Guess so.

Chapter 3

We stood silently and looked out into the blue ice surface. Flakes of snow flew by and smacked our Arctic jackets and our faces. With my gloved hands I wiped my Arctic mask.

There’s one more thing, Cajun said.

Oh, shucks! There’s always one more thing, isn’t there?

Sometimes it seems that way. When I arrived and started investigating, I assumed the cataclysmic event that caused the ice age happened hundreds of years ago. Now I’m changing my mind. Logan, I don’t think that event occurred hundreds of years ago. Or even a year ago. Whatever did this, it was done relatively recently. Two months. Maybe a month ago.

I frowned. I looked around, but there was nothing to see.

Cajun, my respected colleague. Even with my limited knowledge of advanced science, I know that’s impossible. If this planet was like Earth in terms of climate and weather, it could not have turned into frozen barrenness in just a few months.

What if it did?

"I know you’re in contact with scientists on the Intrepid and they’ve been running calculations. So what could possibly explain such a thing?"

I don’t know and neither do they. But I think it’s logical to believe that what occurred here was not a natural phenomenon. As I said, this is contrary to all physical laws.

I groaned again. I think I know your destination, but I don’t like where you’re going. Care to take a detour?

This is a wild guess, but I think we will find the inhabitants of this planet and their civilization below the ten miles of ice.

Tell me they destroyed themselves. Tell me they were trying some incredible experiment with the weather and it backfired and annihilated the planet. Please don’t tell me what I think you’re going to say.

No, the inhabitants here did not destroy themselves. This was an attack. An attack that somehow wiped out the planet's surface and caused an ice age to envelop this world. An attack that stopped the very rays of the sun from hitting the crust. An attack that we can hardly imagine, much less understand.

You’re full of good news today. I crossed my arms and leaned back against the entrance door. So some aliens attacked Sandeling and wiped out the population and the planet for that matter. The questions is: where are they now? Our sensors didn’t pick up any life here. Not just human life. No birds, no fish, no insects. No nothing. So the aliens can’t be here. Why did they attack? What’s the benefit in freezing an entire world? Why would they do that?

I have no idea, but it was done. And if the inhabitants of this planet had enemies, the chances are the Federation has new enemies.

The entrance door opened and Blackjack Curry stuck his head out. Major, you better come look at this.

An afternoon matinee? I said.

Not quite.

We rode the elevator in silence. Cajun’s theory of a recent attack at least accounted for all the functioning machinery and the lack of dust in the underground corridors. The temperature underground was pleasant, and the lighting and ventilation systems still perfectly working. It looked like somebody had left home in a hurry, forgetting to turn off the lights. I followed Blackjack as he walked through the winding tunnels. He stopped when he stood at the front of a vast cavern. It must have stretched for three miles. The rock walls were pulsating and flashing with colors. An odd hum came from the walls. For a second the room seemed to jolt, as if hit by an earthquake.

What’s happening? I said.

Have no idea, Cajun said.

Blackjack, get me Dr. Fincus. He’s over in the science section.

Yes, sir.

The bright red color faded and the walls flashed burgundy instead. The humming waxed and waned. I blinked. For a minute the walls seemed to be fluid, as if they were made of elastic. They expanded and then constricted. The colors changed into a dark blue.

Oddest thing I’ve ever seen.

Can this be a natural occurrence? I said.

I’d put the odds on that at about ninety-nine percent against.

I clicked on my mic. Headquarters, this is Ryvenbark.

Yes, sir. This is Ryan.

Mr. Ryan, is there anything showing on our scanners? Is there anything showing on anything?

His reply was immediate. No. Everything looks calm here. I’m in contact with the ship too. Their scanners are registering nothing.

The noise had transformed to a low hum accompanied by purple flashes from the wall. The voice came from behind me.

You wanted to see me, major?

I looked around and spied Fincus, head of our science section. His nickname was Panther because he enjoyed wide, open spaces. I don’t know where he picked up the name, but it had stuck. He was six-three with a thin build and a face akin to dark mahogany.

Yes. I want you to tell me what’s going on.

I don’t know. This is not the only section that’s lighting up and humming. We have another one on the fifth level. Same thing. Walls are flexing and singing, he said. It’s strange.

Cajun’s hand grabbed my arm when a dark figure appeared. It was only a shadow, but looked human. Two arms, two legs, a torso and a head. But like a shadow, it blinked away. It popped up a second time and then faded. About ten yards beyond the original figure, a second shadow appeared, but only for about three seconds. Then disappeared. A third shadow appeared about ten yards to the right of the second, but it too dissipated.

The hum gradually lowered into nothingness. All the shadows vanished. The colors stopped flashing.

Guess the show is over, I said.

I turned to Cajun and the Panther. I want some answers. So why don’t you two get busy and find me some? I want to know what has just happened.

Three minutes later I was at our small command headquarters and told Mr. Ryan to patch me into our communications system. For all our advanced technology, the system sputtered and coughed before Ryan gave me the thumbs up to speak.

This is Major Ryvenbark. We are now on full alert. You will consider this a battlezone. I want every soldier armed while on duty. We are seeing some strange things occur and I want to make sure those strange things do not become deadly things. Report anything suspicious to Sgt. Rabelais. That is all. I turned to Ryan. Can we get in touch with the Federation from here?

He shook his head. Not with this primitive communication system.

Then patch me into the ship.

Two seconds later Captain Ian Liddle popped up on a screen. He saluted. Which I thought was a nice gesture, but unnecessary.

Captain, dispatch a shuttle ship if you would. While I’m on the way up, get in touch with the Federation. I want to talk to them.

The screen went blank. Sgt. Rabelais wore his ragtag grin when he walked up.

Ian Rabelais Stone was a veteran of too many campaigns to mention. And a very good friend. I had never met a tougher, or more intelligent soldier. On more than a dozen planets, many enemies of mankind died because Rab had shot or knifed them. He had a closetful of medals and deserved every one of them.

I heard about the singing walls, he said.

Humming walls is more like it. Keep things in order until I get back. This shouldn’t take long.

Think the Federation knows something it isn’t telling?

I don’t know. It wouldn’t be the first time. When you’re a bureaucrat and sit behind a desk, there are two great errors you can make. One is you’re sloppy and incompetent and let secrets slip. The other is you guard them too closely and don’t reveal what you should. Few deskmen can walk down the middle of that road. Of course there is another possibility. Perhaps our friends in the Federation just don’t know anything. It wouldn’t be the first time for that either.

Chapter 4

An hour later I was sitting in an officer’s chair with Captain Liddle beside me and stared into a screen which held wriggly white and black lines. But at least it didn’t hum. Finally, it cleared up and I was surprised at the face on the screen. Danton A. Anson, vice president of the Federation, was looking back at me. A distinguished man, he had short white hair and a white goatee. Astonishing clarity in the blue eyes. He had a reputation for honesty and, for once, the reputation was correct. Anson did not play fast and loose with the truth.

Major Ryvenbark. I’ve heard of you. It’s good to meet you, so to speak.

Good to meet you, Mr. Vice President. I assume you know where I am and what our mission is.

Your mission is to scout the planet Sandeling and gather information about the planet and what may have happened to it.

Yes, we had a couple of odd events occur on the planet. Well, not really on the planet; about three miles below the planet’s surface to be exact. We proceeded on this mission with very little information and I was wondering if the Federation knew a little more than it let on. I want to know what I’m dealing with.

So do we, major, and that’s why you’re there. The solar system you’re in is out of the way but it’s not exactly remote. We have satellites, listening devices and telescopes in that area of space. We haven’t had a chance to explore it yet, but there are indications there was a civilization on Sandeling. Obviously, the planet had a livable atmosphere. We could even say it was a pleasant location. Then one day... He snapped his fingers. Nothing. Civilization disappeared. And the planet became one vast ice cube. Naturally, we were curious.

Naturally.

The Federation doesn’t have a great deal of information about Sandeling. There didn’t seem to be many building on the surface. Most of the inhabitants may have lived underground for some reason. There were no sign of large cities. But we believe there was a civilization there. That’s the extent of our knowledge, or the extent of our guesswork.

But you sent us, or rather you asked Belen to send us, not a science team.

He nodded. Yes, we did, major. We are on friendly terms with Ms. Morganthal. She has often helped us and we have occasionally done her a favor. We thought the incredible anomalies on Sandeling might be an alien attack. If so, then a scientific team couldn’t deal with it. He smiled. That’s why we sent our best men: Logan Ryvenbark and his Raiders.

I don’t think I smiled back. Lips may have twitched thought.

At my age, Mr. Vice President, I am immune to flattery, but I will tell my Raiders that you think highly of them.

Yes, we do. Our information was tentative, so we decided it might be best to simply tell you and your squad to keep alert and aware. We don’t know what we’re dealing with. Could be important. Could be nothing.

It’s not nothing. What could change the planet’s atmosphere that drastically and that quickly? And why isn’t the sun melting the ice?

Very good questions, major. I hope you will help us answer them.

So you would not know anything about flexible walls and the humming colors?

He gave me a blank look. I have no idea of what you’re talking about.

I sighed. I don’t like dealing with bureaucrats, even if they are honest. Yes, technically, Vice President Anson wasn’t a bureaucrat but...

OK, Mr. Vice President. Knowing the odds now I will not pull my squad out but I want a couple of Federation ships here, just in case. I don’t know what I’m dealing with and I want some firepower behind me.

I understand. The ships will be sent.

I don’t want any conflicts or bureaucratic turf battles either. I want command.

He took a bit longer to reply, but finally he nodded his head. I will agree to that, with the usual exceptions. Safety of the ship and crew, things like that. The captain will have authority to refuse your orders if he thinks the command is reckless or dangerous.

I nodded. "That’s fine. I’ll be looking for the ships. Is the Valiant available?"

I believe so.

I know the captain, Ramsey MacDonald. He’s a good man and a man I trust.

"If the Valiant is available it will be one of the ships we send."

Thank you. Have a good day, Mr. Vice President.

Chapter 5

When the shuttle settled down on the ice just ten yards from the entrance, it was still cold on Sandeling. Nothing had changed on the landscape. The ice structures looked like daggers stabbing the cold heart of the planet. The howl of the wind had changed into a more subdued sound, almost like a song, but a song you might hear at a funeral. I put on my goggles and thanked the shuttle pilot.

Any time, major, he said. I won’t take off until you’re safely inside.

Lt. Alvarez met me when the door slid open.

Status is unchanged, major. We’ve had one more wall wailing since you left. Nothing more.

Get the multi-color treatment too?

Yes. But nothing ominous, she said.

Good. I hope that continues. I really like that phrase. But nothing ominous.

I joined Cajun and the Panther as they stood in a doorway to a cavern. The walls stood solid and didn’t move. A hum resonated in the chamber, but it diminished until you could hardly hear it. The color of the hour was a light purple, but it faded as I watched it.

Figure out what this is? I said.

Not conclusively, major, Panther said. I can give you a guess, but only a guess.

Better than nothing.

He walked into the chamber and tapped the rocky wall. This is not rock as we know it. It’s a material but, as you noticed, it’s flexible. It’s meant to be a camouflage, disguising this chamber. Hidden behind these walls there are, I suspect, extremely sophisticated Artificial Intelligence machines that are doing their job.

And what exactly is the job of the AIs?

I’m not sure. The sounds, the movements you see is the machine trying to accomplish something, but I’m not sure what. The AIs certainly know.

If they are AIs, could we communicate with them?

We might be able to. I’m working on that. I have a tentative theory about this planet.

Let’s hear it.

The inhabitants here were very advanced, possibly even more advanced in science than we are and they knew they were facing a great danger. They had at least some time to react. And this... He swept his hand around to indicate the caverns and tunnels. ...is part of their defense. Maybe somehow their escape route.

If it’s an escape route, where did they go? Another ten miles into the planet?

Possibly.

If they were as advanced as we are, did they have space ships? Or transport ships that could take them to other planets?

Perhaps. But I don’t think that’s the answer. I think the answer lies here, with these machines.

When you figure it out, let me be the first to know.

We have one bit of information for you, major, Cajun said. These tunnels and caverns are underneath the entire planet, from pole to pole. Apparently they’ve been here for some time.

I took a last look at the cavern. I suppose we just have to wait and see what the AIs are up to. Keep working on that communication thing.

I will, Panther said.

Chapter 6

One of the drawbacks of being a commanding officer, even in an elite military unit, is there is a great deal of paperwork, or computer work. I had asked the few scientific personnel we had to send me e-mail reports of any information gained about the planet. Rarely have I given an order that was so rapidly obeyed. We had set up our computer communications quickly so there were still a few bugs in our system. I had to read fuzzy white letters on a puke green screen. At times the screen faded into an even uglier puke green and covered the letters. I had to wait about a minute for the screen to refocus.

The most interesting fact covered in the report was that the air in Sandeling had a toxin in it — a most peculiar toxin. Scientists could not readily identify it. At one time it might have been deadly to humans, but somehow it had been modified. ‘Although it remained dangerous, at least to other life forms, it wasn’t toxic to humans,’ Panther wrote. He couldn’t explain how it had been modified. But he said the substance wasn’t natural. Either the inhabitants of Sandeling had created it – although that was doubtful since it would have killed them upon being released – or aliens created it.

I looked up when I heard the loud humming. I ran down the corridor. Blue lights flashed from a doorway. Cajun and the Panther were standing just inside. The walls flexed and the lights became an even more intense blue. A shadow appeared, then blinked away. I frowned. It looked like the same old show.

Then a shadow changed and became a human figure. He wore a bronze one-piece outfit. The blue flashes gave his face a weird glow. But the figure didn’t have any substance yet. Akin to a hologram. Bits and pieces of him disappeared, then popped again into view. When the face solidified, he looked human. Except the skin was reddish. For a moment he became solid. He raised his armed and waved.

Then vanished.

What was that? I asked.

I’m guessing he’s one of the inhabitants of the planet.

Where is he coming from? From another location on the planet? From space? From a ship?

Panther shrugged.

I pointed to the cavern before us. How many of these structures are underneath the earth?

So many we haven’t bothered to count them, major, Cajun said.

I flicked my mic on and called Rab.

Yes sir.

I want a man or woman standing guard on every cavern in the area. I also want reports on any unusual events, say like a humanoid popping up and then disappearing again.

Chapter 7

Three hours later I had seven sightings of unusual occurrences in the caverns. Although in three of the sightings only a shadow of a man appeared — a dark form with arms and legs, but too fuzzy to reveal any features. He or she had little substance at all. Just a shadow falling across the hard ground. In two of the sightings the shadow, very briefly, solidified and looked — at least for about three seconds — like a man. Or, as might be the case, an inhabitant of Sandeling. In the other two sightings the object that briefly appeared didn’t look human. It didn’t look like anything. Just a dark blob.

The technicians on the squad who were studying the phenomenon said that if I wanted definitive conclusions within a few hours’ time I was being impatient and unrealistic. It might take days, weeks, months or even years to determine what was going on.

I was reminded that there are some alien artifacts on other worlds that humans have studied for decades without coming to a conclusion on what they were made for or what function they perform. Which was true, but didn’t help the current situation.

The Panther said his theory was somebody – he assumed the native population of Sandeling – was trying to communicate with us. Although where the native population was located remained a mystery. We had scanned and rescanned the planet and our computers told us there was no life on the ice – besides Ryvenbark’s Raiders. The Intrepid had scanned the solar system and assured me there was no other life form on the six planets circling the sun. There were also no friendly or alien space ships nearby. However, Capt. Liddel said the Federation had dispatched two ships that should arrive within three days.

So where was the Sandeling population?

The Eisenhower and the Valiant carried loads of scientists who would tackle the problem once they arrived. The Federation’s view was we had pacified the planet, so it was now safe for the scientific community. I wasn’t so sure. I had requested two dozen backup security people from the Intrepid and Captain Liddel had agreed.

I had just stuck a cigar in my mouth when Rab came in and saluted.

Any news? I asked.

No, sir. Everything is quiet. We have every cavern in the region staked out. Right now we’re seeing a few flashing lights and nothing else. Every soldier is on red alert.

Good. I sighed. I’m from the South. I don’t like icy climates. No native of Florida should be surrounded by ice.

I walked to my desk and pulled open a drawer.

Want a drink?

Don’t mind if I do.

I pulled a bottle of Ancient Age from the drawer, then grabbed two glasses and set them on my desk. I poured until both glasses were half-full. Rab grabbed one and swallowed half the bourbon.

At times I wonder why I picked this profession, I said.

Maybe it’s the great pension plan.

But on the plus side, I met Astrid, so I don’t regret it. But it does get frustrating at times.

Rab had eased down into a chair. You know we’ve been in freezing climates and have fought in temperatures over a hundred degree. Been in forests and been in deserts. Do you realize we’ve never been sent to an island with tropical temperatures and bathing beauties?

Which Astrid would say is a very good thing.

Rab drank the rest of his drink. Waiting is always tough.

Yes, it’s preferable to be shooting somebody. At least that’s not boring.

And we’re very good at it. We have to be or we’d be dead.

But I’m sure they would have given us a good eulogy.

Yes, I want dozens of women crying at my funeral. I think that would be a nice send-off.

I would say I only want one at mine, but Astrid has informed me she has to die first. She doesn’t want to be here without me, which I think is rather sweet.

I have two ex-wives who said they’d much prefer to be without me, Rab said.

I sipped some of the bourbon. You think we could ever adjust to what is called a ‘normal’ life?

No.

Well, it might take a little practice, but we might be able to slide into it.

Rab shook his head. We’re used to living close to the edge. But that’s only one aspect of our lives. We’re used to achieving difficult goals and we’re used to doing jobs that are important. Often we achieve great things. Could you lay that down and open a business? Could you sit around and collect coins?

I might be able to sit around and play golf a couple of times a week. I consider making a sub-par round to be greatness.

Whenever you tried that Logan, it didn’t work out.

Not yet. That doesn’t mean it never will.

True. Age changes us. Marriage changes us. The job changes us. I don’t think I could ever retire, at least not right now, but maybe you could. Besides, we like challenges. Some men run away from challenges. We run toward them.

I sipped more of the liquor. Perhaps. But that tendency does cut down on the life expectancy.

Rab raised his glass. But when we go, we haven’t led lives of quiet desperation.

Yes, we’ve led lives of frantic, hectic desperation.

And achievement.

Before I answered Rab, I answered a call.

Yes, this is Ryvenbark.

Major, this is Riley, third level. We have one. A man appeared in one of the caverns. But he’s in bad shape. He’s unconscious.

Get him to our medical room. Hurry! I said.

Chapter 8

In his medical cot, the unconscious man looked human, with the exception of skin the color of bronze. He had a skintight uniform that was also bronze. The green lines on the medical screen showed he was in good shape. Temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, etc, were fine. Brain activity, even though he was unconscious, was surprisingly strong. He had suffered a minor concussion and lacerations appeared on his forehead and cheek, with blood leaking onto his face. The laceration cleared up quickly. I suspected he had medical nanos or something very much like that.

Dr. Conroy Manning was standing next to the bed looking up at the green numbers and lines.

I have no medical experience, but I’m guessing the numbers indicate he will be fine, I said.

He should be. He suffered some type of trauma trying to get here. But he’s breathing normally and should awake soon. He got a minor bump on the head, but nothing that should cause long-term injury. I don’t know where he came from, but it looks like he had a rough journey.

That’s what I want to know; where he came from, and if there are any others like him.

Give him a little time and he can answer your questions.

I nodded.

Gunfire rattled through the chambers. The burst-burst of laser fire.

MacLean here so. Intruder dead. Level three. Reptilian creature, with a weapon.

Getting to be popular location, I said to Rab as we ran out.

Soldier Scotty MacLean was a six-foot three blond who looked like an Olympic gymnast even with the Arctic jacket on. He stood alert over the fallen intruder but gave a snappy salute as we walked. My reply wasn’t quite as snappy, but it was a salute. MacLean looked down at the dead creature.

About three minutes ago the lights flashed and the walls rippled. Loud humming from somewhere. A shadow first and then this thing popped up. He was holding a weapon and aimed it at me. But I shot before he did.

The thing before me had a face like a mutated lizard. Large eyes, big nose, teeth like a shark. Dark green in coloration. He had hands, but the fingers looked like short tentacles. Clothed in a dark uniform. MacLean’s laser blasts had blown two large holes in him, front and back.

An ugly thing, Rab said.

Sure is. Wonder if he came from the same place the other guy did. And he was carrying a weapon.

Doesn’t mean much. When we travel to a world we carry weapons, but we’re incredibly nice guys. He looked down at the green intruder. Although somehow I don’t think he’s a nice guy. See that mouth?

Don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before. How about you, Rab?

Rab had a cigar in his mouth. He took it out and looked like he was going to reply. Then he frowned. He stuck the cigar back in and walked to the dead creature. He knelt down as he puffed on the cigar. Ashes dropped and fell onto the creature’s face.

We’ve seen creatures like this before, he said.

Where?

Rab spit out some tobacco. Ten years ago. On Vanodor. We didn’t get a good look at them because they skedaddled when we arrived fully armed. Most of what we saw were their backsides, but their fronts looked like this. Remember?

I did.

A decade ago, a mini-league dictator decided to take over Vanodor; a nice, scenic, out-of-the-way world. Name was Conbor, but he liked to attach ‘general’ to his name. A brilliant guy, scientifically speaking. He could have legitimately attached ‘genius’ to his name. But the man lusted for power. The people on Vanodor were peaceful and lived a rustic, pre-technological existence. They didn’t have the firepower he did. He had won the allegiance of a bunch of lizard types who, for some reason, did whatever he wanted them to. Conbor had also assembled a bunch of rogue scientists around him; men who liked power as much as he did.

Rab was right. General Conbor’s lizard friends looked very similar to the creature on the floor. I hadn’t thought of it before. We dispatched them rather quickly so I never got a close view of them. Conbor, somehow, escaped. He was very upset at having his plans disrupted. He promised to kill me at an undisclosed later date.

I looked at MacLean. Good job, soldier.

Thank you, sir.

We’ll get two men to drag him to the medical room. I frowned. If there’s one of these out there, I’m guessing there may be a whole bunch of lizards somewhere out there too. I thought for a minute. I wonder if he was after our bronze guest. He came with a gun and the bronze guy was unarmed.

Could be. That’s logical, Rab said.

I checked with the Panther and Cajun, but they still had no idea where the bronze guy had beamed in from. Which made me uneasy. There are still a great many mysteries in space but, with our technology, we generally get detailed background knowledge about what we’re facing. The fact that two brilliant scientists knew nothing was bothersome.

I’m going to check all the caverns, on all three levels. Why don’t you come with me, Rab?

Always ready for a pleasant walk. But I’ll bring my weapon, just in case.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Chapter 9

The pleasant walk took about an hour. After our two visitors arrived, both the humming and the flashing colors calmed down. The cavern’s rock stayed silent and stopped the elastic bending. When I got back to the medical room, the bronze man’s bed was empty.

He was fine, so I put him in a private room. I thought you might like to talk to him, Dr. Manning said.

Yes, I would.

Before you do, there’s something I need to tell you.

I nodded.

The doctor crossed his arms. His name is Tarum, at least that’s a rough translation of it. Because he appeared to have a minor concussion I did a scan of his brain. What I saw was amazing. I confirmed my suspicions with him when he awoke. When you talk to him, major, he is going to have to speak very slowly because he will have to slow his brain down. He has the most remarkable brain structure I’ve ever seen.

So he’s intelligent? I said.

Yes, but it’s a great deal more than that. We are genrich. Our genes are perfect. We’re at an IQ level previous generations could only dream about. But that’s not what sets him apart. I... Manning shook his head. I’m not sure how I can explain. His brain simply works faster, much faster than ours do. He gave a sigh of exasperation. Let me give you an example. Let’s say you and a dozen member of your squad are on a planet, in a forest. Your soldiers are spread out but they are all connected, electronically, with you. You can talk to them individually.

OK, let’s say that. Your point is?

My point is Tarum could talk to them all individually and simultaneously.

It took a second before I realized what Dr. Manning was saying.

How could he do that without twelve mouths?

I don’t know, but I’m telling you he has that capacity. I also suspect his race is telepathic. Using his brain, he could ‘talk’ to a dozen people at the same time and not lose a syllable of the conversation. That’s what I meant when I said his brain is amazing.

That... is rather impressive.

That’s why he has to talk slowly to you. He has to slow his mind down to speak to humans.

Akin to us talking to a small child? I said.

That is a rough analogy but it is, to a degree, apt.

When I walked in, Tarum was looking at a computer screen where pages from a history book flashed by. Flashing by at an amazing rate. When I stepped in, he was to about 1750 in human history. A few seconds later he was in the 21st century. He turned his head toward me and smiled.

You are from an amazing race, major. You have made remarkable achievements in a short period of time.

We have a few things to be proud of. And, like I suppose every race, we’ve blown it a few times.

He turned around in his chair. I am Tarum. My race is called the Cappnids. That’s a rough translation into your language.

Good to meet you. I’m sure your race has many achievements to be proud of too, but right now I have no time and I need to ask you about other things.

He nodded. I have something I must tell you.

Where did you come from? I mean when you beamed into this place.

I came from Sandeling.

Where? There is nothing moving or living on this planet.

You are correct, major. I came from this planet, but not from this time.

I leaned back against the door and crossed my arms. Generally I have pretty good hearing, but could you repeat that one more time?

I came from three hundred years in the past, major. He raised his hand and gestured toward the outside. This structure you see, the caverns, are one vast machine. A time machine. Which my race had to use to flee the Soltarians or we would have been exterminated.

Are the Soltarians a reptilian race with large eyes and a whole lot of big teeth?

He looked puzzled and shook his head. No, they are about six-five, huge and furry. I’ve been reading your history. The Soltarians look a bit like Earth’s grizzly bears, but they stand on two feet. Their coloration is between orange and brown. Shorter nose than the grizzly. They do have stubby, hairy fingers, not claws.

The Soltarians did this?

Yes.

I stuck another cigar in my mouth and lit it. I was puzzled. The Federation knew very little about the Soltarian race. We didn’t even know where their home planet was. Their communications indicated they desired to be left alone. So the Federation