Solar Warden by Jakob Waechter (best authors to read TXT) 📕

started to fire with its microwave gun while closing in on the target. The alien ship fired again and missed the first combat drone which also used its microwave gun. It seemed nothing happened with the alien ship which fired again and destroyed the first drone. The second drone had accelerated, switched to the railgun and fired, while the alien ship started to target scan. The light was visible again. At once the combat drone stopped the shooting and switched to evasive maneuver. Unexpected the light went off and the alien ship changed the course a bit while slowly rotating.

“It must been hit,” Clark guessed.

“That won't stop the drone from attacking,” the Captain replied.

Further shots were fired from the drone. At that distance they were now the hits could be seen with the target camera. Also the hits did alter course and rotation of the alien ship. Finally, an explosion occurred and parts split off. The drone seemed to register that and headed for the next satellite as it was programmed to act after an attack.

Two hours later all satellites were destroyed. The stealth probe was in its orbit scanning the surface in an active mode. While the combat drone was on the other side scanning and after nearly quarter of the planet returned to sight for the transfer of the data.

The shifts already had changed on the bridge. Office teams in the middle of the Icarus analyzed the incoming data stream. An algorithm marked an area which the analyst checked and immediately knew they have found what they were looking for. He forwarded the information to the bridge.

The XO was on shift again he checked it. Then gave the order to further investigate option for proceedings. There was no need to wake up the Captain. Everything went as expected and further action will take place in his shift.

The time passed and the facility they found was on the sensor sight of the stealth probe which was for sure not stealth anymore with its active scanning. Now they had real-time view of their target.

The shift changed and the Captain was in a briefing with the SW team leaders again. The facility view was on the screen.

“We still have no answer to our message and I guess we won’t get one. There is now only one option left to continue. After the meeting we will jump near the planet release two more stealth probes to fully survive the planet. As soon your teams are ready SW-1 till 5 will enter the planet on the backside of the facilities location. Then you approach as fast as you can the mountains and land near the canyon here. SW-5 will follow the river and then cautiously close in to the facilities probable entrance. So SW-5 has enough time to figure out the possibilities entering the facility. You can already study our data on your way down. You also get updates over satellite broadcast if needed. Keep radio silence unless you are discovered. Any questions?” the Captain looked at Ryan.

“Yes, sir. Our attempt to communicate failed. Now it's for us much more difficult to make a peaceful first contact or to evaluate the situation correctly. Do we have here any directives?” Ryan asked.

“Sadly we have to assume it's hostile. Denying the first shot can cost your life’s. Sure we won’t fire on unarmed and as long we are undetected at all. But this is now a standard infiltration mission,” Commander Knight noted.

“Well, standard is relative. We know nothing about the alien abilities down there,” Ryan objected.

“Anyways Ryan's team has the best capabilities to evaluate alien technology. It is a bit dangerous to let them take the lead. Because if captured or killed this will be a hard loss to our capabilities,” Knight added.

“Yes, that's why they should wait for you before trying to enter the building. The other teams are fully capable to give them any military support if needed. But yes, it is a dangerous task for Ryan’s team. What exactly you will do, you have to decide at the target side. Commander Knight you have the command of this operation down there. So you can adapt to the circumstances as needed. Any questions?” Fisher asked.

“No, sir,” all replied.

“Then good luck and Godspeed. Dismissed.” Fisher finished the briefing.

Ryan was in the hangar with his team except the pilots.

“We are now going down to the planet. The pilots are discussing now the optimal approach. When we are landed Watkins will take probes and flies back with Taylor for analysis. Owens will join us and we will use these anti-gravity bikes, short G-bikes or just bikes, to get to the target side. We use the river where we can speed up. Then close to the side we slow down and move through the forest. If our observation takes longer than expected, we head back to the shuttles. Two SW teams can reinforce us from the ship. That means they will take over the observation while the other teams rest in the shuttles. But staying that long has risks. It may be possible that also the aliens get reinforcements. However, given the time of our journey it would be very unlikely that they arrive in the next three days. Also we don't want stay longer. Ok, get your gears. We will depart within the hour.” Ryan went for the weapons locker.

Newman was getting two scout drones not bigger than 50 centimeters and packed them into the trunk of two bikes. He went also for some other technical equipment. Samuel packed an additional combat laptop in one of the bikes with a drone, while Caine got some C4 and ammunition. After finishing packing they brought three bikes up into the shuttle.

Meanwhile the Icarus exited the hyperspace near the planet. The stealth probes were dispatched. Then the Captain waited until they reached their orbit position and launched five combat drones with three fighters accompanied.

Ryan and his team were in the shuttle. They checked the lockers again.

“OK. We are ready to go,” Ryan informed the pilots after he closed the backdoor and airlock.

“We are waiting now for the start signal from the bridge,” Taylor informed.

After seven minutes of waiting Taylor announced. “We are clear to go.”

Then Owens headed out into the space. They formed a V-Formation with them on the right back side. The fighters and the combat drones were in front of them, now heading all to the planet. It was dark there and the facility was located on the other side where the sun was shining.

“We are closing in into the atmosphere. It will be a rough ride. Fasten your belts. The artificial gravity will be reduced and also the dampening effects, because we need the resources for our high speed approach,” Taylor informed.

As soon as Samuel fastened his belt he already felt getting lighter. But it was a slow effect nothing compared to a roller coaster.

The ships went into the thin part of the atmosphere. A half bobble around the ship started to glow but did not reach the hull. The ships decelerated a bit. Then the nose went down and it looked like meteors in formation were going down to the planet.

Now Samuel and the others had the full roller coaster feeling but still it was kind of smooth. Just a simple dive.

The ships went down and into the thicker part of the atmosphere. So the intensity of the fireball around them grew. Turbulences started to shake them around now.

“Losing satellite signal. We should slow down,” Taylor suggested.

“We don't need to. I'm focusing to keep formation. So it's up to our leader. If I lose sensor sight to them or the ground, I will pull up and slow down at once. Till then we hold the wide formation,” Owens replied which used the virtual sight enhancement of his helm to see through the plasma firewall in front of him.

The ships further went down and flew now 1000 meter over an ocean. The noses were now nearly horizontal. They decelerated a bit and the fireball was now transparent, getting more intense on the middle to the back, where it didn't matter for the sight. The altitude was decreasing slowly. On the horizon was no land to see. At 100 meter they stopped descending. A land mass was now in sight.

Samuel and the other followed it on the screen. It still was a rough shaking but they felt the gravity of the planet at least, which was 92 percent of Earth. Near the land they decelerated harsh. They could not see the water wave created behind the ships. The fighters and the drones were far ahead and vanished. They had to secure the landing zone.

The mountains came to sight. They flew about 150 meter over ground and closed unbelievable fast in to the mountains. Another fast deceleration slowed them down. Leaving hypersonic speed let most of the plasma vanish. Sort before they left supersonic there were nothing of the heat bobbles to see. The nose came a bit up as they finally left supersonic. Then gravity dampening worked again and it felt smooth.

“Leave formation and prepare landing,” the leader informed over nearfield communication. Behind them was the approach visible in the vegetation.

The landing sides for each shuttle were virtual marked on the display. It was a very fast approach. But with the dampening there was nothing of it to feel. The landing gear extended and finally they touched smoothly down.

“We have arrived prepare to leave,” Taylor informed.

Ryan went up first. He went with Watkins to the airlock. They opened the backdoor and checked the air conditions.

“Seems like Earth and even a bit better. Very clean air with 21% oxygen. The usual nitrogen. Less of the minor stuff and no smoke or any other pollution particle,” Watkins reported.

Ryan went to the locker to get his gear. Watkins followed.

“Watkins and me go first. We inform you. You can get your stuff meanwhile. The further testing won't take long,” Ryan informed.

They went into the airlock then left the shuttle. Watkins used her scanning device for further analysis. Then some steps away to the ship she built up a measurement point. The device used LIDAR laser to analyze the air and compared it with the data of the shuttle sensors.

“I have no problem to breeze and it feels even better than on the Icarus clean air,” Ryan noted.

“Yes, I see no problem. The higher humidity must be it that makes the difference. In principle we wouldn't need the air filter of the helm. But you know safety first,” Watkins told.

“Well, good to know we have the option to remove the helms,” Ryan replied.

“Yes, but we have to do long term measurements for that. Also the helm protects you from other stuff. For viral and bacterial testing, I start now to take probes. Also I will analyze the plants. From what I can see they could be from Earth. Which would correspond to the US east-coast or Europe. The operation with suite is now verified. You can start the mission,” Watkins informed.

Ryan went back to the shuttle which was less than 100 meter away and activated his near field communication. He stepped through the high grass which could hide a lot of things.

“We are clear to go. Move!” Ryan ordered.

The airlock opened and the rest went out. Three of them moved the bikes to the ground. Taylor went to Watkins. The others checked their equipment. Then Ryan stepped on his bike. Owens was the driver of the next with Newman on the back. Then Caine and Samuel where Caine was the driver.

Owens had a bit problems to store his machine gun.

“Tell me what do you expect we encounter?” Newman asked.

“Well, a bit armor piercing fire power is just the right choice to go into the unknown. Not that I think of something special. I mean the bodies that we know of don't need such a weapon. But maybe there grow armored cats in the woods and I hate reloading,” Owens justified.

“I thought for