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

“That can't be or should not. These plants are the same as on Earth. Did you come to the same conclusion and what's with the microbes?” she asked to the other scientists.

“Yes, we have the same conclusion. They must be taken from Earth or does life always evolve the same way. None of us thinks so. The microbes seem also be the same. Still we done only the fast analysis. But if the genetic tests tell the same we have to assume someone planted this. Maybe we should search for the oldest trees. Take probes from the oceans and dig deeper,” one of the scientist replied.

“Well, yes. We have to take further specimens from over 100 till 1000 years at least. I can't believe this is a normal evolution. This had to be planted or let's say terraformed. I report to the Captain. At least we can say the landing zone is like Earth.” Watkins turned back to the terminal and called for the Captain over the communication officer.

“Yes, Dr. Watkins you have a report?” the Captain came to the screen of the communication officer.

“The landing zone is like Earth, there is very low risk breathing the air or touching the plants without protection. We still have to wait for the genetic analysis to be 100 percent sure. But such a discovery we made is very unlikely. We suggest that the area has been terraformed. Therefore, we need to get more probes of more time periods from the past,” she reported.

“What about the area of the facility. We saw around it different kind of plants and how long will it take getting the probes with what resources?” the Captain asked.

“I will still recommend using the protection especially near the facility. These plants there are not tested yet and we don't know what the facility is exactly for. From the satellites scans these plants could have polls. With the mountains around those polls wont travel to the landing zone. So we have a different environment around the facility. Now to the tests I need to do. I need two shuttles. One for a beach near an ocean and another back to the landing zone. For the drilling we need I guess five hours. But if all works well it will be three,” Watkins answered.

“I inform the ground troops that in an emergency removing the protection can be still risky. At least in the landing zone it has a low risk. Also I mention the terraforming theory which suggest that the facility has something to do with. How many scientists will you take down?” the Captain tried to verify that he had all information he needed.

“Correct. It will be three scientists in each shuttle including me,” Watkins replied.

“Good. I have two SW teams as replacement. They will escort you and cover your operation. Try to meet the three-hour window. Report when you are ready to go,” the Captain informed her.

“Yes, sir.” She at once selected the teams for the operation and went to the equipment room. Two scientists were left and continued the work at the Icarus lab.

“Prepare five fighters and drones for launch. They should escort the shuttles. Three fighters replace the current two on the planet. Three drones reinforce the current landing zone the other two drones also reinforce after the escort is done. Use the drones also to patrol around the mountain and scan the area,” the Captain ordered.

“Yes, sir,” came it back from the drone control officer. He was just the head of a five-man team taking care of the drone operations. The rest of the team was down in the middle of the ship near the analysis offices. These drones could also take order from nearby crafts. But the main operation objectives and rules had to be entered via a wired link. This was needed to secure them from getting wrong orders from an enemy that knows how to command them. So in an extreme case the taking order via wireless link could be turned off.

“Did we use the drone commanding yet?” the Captain asked.

“No, sir,” the drone control officer replied.

“Good. Then we continue with the limited wireless command option,” the captain ordered. This option let a friendly nearby craft give some limited simple commands which would help in an attack situation and also let the drone be recalled by the Icarus.

“What options do we have now?” Ryan asked Newman.

“I figured out how to connect to the fiber optics. This means first we can listening what is there. Then we have the option to interact if we understand their communication system. We have a bit experience from the captured ship how it works. Hopefully it is the same. This would speed up things.”

“Do we have to stay at that service panel?” Ryan was worried.

“Only as long as I need to plug in the connector. It has a wireless interface. That means about five minutes then we can retreat again,” Newman explained further.

“Very good, then we do it. Caine get ready. We do the same thing as last time. Owens you cover here and Archer checks the link from here or the door what's best,” Ryan informed and waited for a reply from Newman.

“Well, it would be best if Archer is in speak range unless we want to use our wireless communication.”

“Yes, it's better not to expose our communication frequency and encryption yet. At least the spy link works a bit different as I know. Let's go,” Ryan led and Caine followed. It worked as last time, there was still no one to spot. Ryan did not further check the other hall. Newman finished the job and Archer verified the link. They went without encounter back and started the investigation of the foreign network.

Meanwhile the other teams also had arrived. SW-2 took a side cover position. While SW-3 and 4 checked the surroundings of the facility. This would take a few hours because they had to stay hidden in the forests around the facility.

“We could make out some infrared signals that could be from our teams. But it's not enough to tell anything specific or even identify someone. But we can guess they are in the area of the facility and are investigating it. At least something can we see now in the forest,” Clark informed as he tested the new algorithm they had now.

“Good. They made already two attempts entering. Still no communication that means they encountered no one. Those aliens must know we are there what are they up to?” the Captain was thinking loud.

“Doing nothing and stay hidden means to buy time, sir,” Clark suggested.

“Buying time. Yes. But doing nothing I don't believe. What about our science teams?” The Captain looked at the satellite feed, made a split screen and showed both locations.

“They arrived and started their work,” Clark replied.

SW-3 and 4 were back from their tour. They mentioned the bigger last part of the building and identified it as a hangar. At least they found a huge door that could be opened. But they found no input panel to do that. It was the same information as the prior drone scans which were more detailed. Further they found nothing in the surrounding forest.

“Do we have access to other doors?” Ryan asked Newman.

“No, there is not much traffic we can listen to. It seems they just register the door action. There are encrypted streams. Probably of cameras around the entrance door. This means we get nothing from other locations.”

“Well, it's seems they are observing us for now. This means we should act and investigate the facility. All teams are here so we can do the next step. They should know of us, SW-5. The others should not have showed up yet. I suggest we go in there. Owens, Newman and Archer secure at the corridor. Caine and me do the investigation. Newman an Archer will aid us with drones.” Ryan waited for any comment.

“It seems that's the best plan we have. Optional we could cut the link to the cameras and move more teams in, but I guess it is better to cover this position. We can always advance if needed. I have no objection from my side so go on Major,” Knight replied after a short pause of thinking.

“Good, let's move!” Ryan took the lead.

They went to the door as group this time. Then Ryan and Caine walked to the corridor and signaled the others to advance. Arriving there Newman started the first drone. It moved silently to the bigger hall and checked the rooms there. No one was to see. But there were terminals or computers and other technical devices they could not identify. The drone went to the opposite corridor. There were two doors left and right at the middle of it. At the end was a wall of another corridor leading left and right.

Ryan and Caine advanced to the opposite corridor. The second drone was following them, then passed and moved to the doors to investigate. There was a panel on the right side of each door.

“Could be a lift,” Newman guessed while checking the sensor readings of the second drone. Then he went back to control the first one and moved it to the right corridor part.

Ryan followed the drone feed on his transparent helm display. The drone went around the next corner to the left and there were more doors and a hall at the end.

With the other drone Samuel went to the left. There was also a corner leading in the same direction as on the right side. It looked quite similar.

Both drones went to the hall. The right one was first. It was as big as the hall below the tower. Opposite and at the front there were bigger doors. The doors all there were not rectangular formed. They looked more like a trapeze with curved part at the top. The huge door was in the middle, to its opposite there was the same door type. Also two normal sized doors were on the sides of the hall.

Ryan moved forward to the probable lift doors. He tried to activate the panel. Nothing happened. After two minutes of trying both panels, he moved on to the right corridor. Caine followed. The second drone went back to observe the corridor with the possible lift.

Ryan moved to the next door around the corner. It had a similar panel. He tried to interact but also nothing happened. After waiting a minute, he moved to the next door and made the same procedure. There were two doors to the right and one to the left. They seemed to be centered in the corridor.

The first drone investigated the panel of the bigger door which led further away. As the drone went very close the door opened slowly.

Ryan was close by and Caine immediately moved to the left side to cover. The drone went in there.

It was a hangar. In there was one of the triangular ships and a bigger disc like one. In the middle was