Eric Olafson Midshipman Vol 4 Part 68 QUAGMIRE BOG
- 2 years ago
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We had launched the emergency beacon with a pre recorded message two days ago. To make sure my friends would not lose hope I kept them busy, collecting specimen. We had the robots built us a basic freight flier. With it we surveyed a greater area around the base. We had the P4 mounted on the flyer just in case.
Har-Hi was piloting the craft and Mao manned the Paralysator. Elfi was sitting in one of the passenger seats, her eyes closed trying to use her limited Psionics to scan for more of the Snake beings. So far she could feel nothing.
Krabbel spotted it first and pointed it out to us.
There about 25 kilometers away from our base we found the almost completely overgrown wreck of an old Saran planet lander.
I knew I wasn’t acting very environmental friendly when I had Mao hose down the area around the wreck with Paralysator rays, just to be on the safe side.
The main hatch was open and vegetation had made it inside the hull of the sixty meter craft. The hull appeared undamaged as far as I could tell at first glance. The ships landing gear had sunken into the soft ground and it was sitting in a steep angle surrounded by shallow water and vegetation. The power of the Paralysator was evident in all the animals either paralyzed or dead around the old Saran ship.
Mao kept watch with the P4 while Har-Hi, Krabbel and I approached the ship.
I said. “If we don’t make contact soon, I think we found our way off this planet. We got robots and a very talented engineer.”
My Dai friend pointed his blaster inside the dark opening of the access hatch. “Let’s hope we don’t have fight Nul in that thing.”
Krabbel scurried up the hull of the craft and said. “I think the Nul would be in for a surprise. I mean they never dealt with an angry Neo Viking and his crazy crew.”
“They did get a taste of it though when we faced those Nul fighters.” Har-Hi said and then turned. “Can’t see anything moving or dangerous inside, but I am not sure if the Paralysator penetrates all the armor of that thing so we better be careful.”
The room behind was full of vegetation and we found partial skeletons of two Saresii, the rest most likely carried away by animals.
My scanner showed a weak energy signature coming from the small crafts engineering section.
We completed the survey of the craft without any incidents. Not much of the vegetation had made it past the air tight doors of the air lock that led to the rest of the ship. We did find three more members of the Saran crew, all three mummified skeletons and all three had been murdered.
The engines were undamaged, not so the engineering section. Someone had smashed and burned most of the controls. There was a little energy left in the emergency batteries, but not enough to even operate the ships computronic.
We closed the hatch and returned to the camp. I was thinking about ways to get the ship back to the camp and repair it.
Almost two weeks had passed now since we had arrived on Quagmire Bog and we could neither reach the probe we had launched nor did anyone try to contact us.
During our daily meeting I said. “It seems no one heard our beacon signal. So we complete the base construction and add the facilities to strip that Saran Planet Lander and make it a working ship. We will also keep surveying this world. We still need to find out if there are more of those snakes.”
We started a concentric search pattern and launched two more mapping satellites. So far we did not find any signs of the Snake beings, but the Satellite images revealed several completely overgrown ruin sites, consistent with the temple we had found.
The day ended without anything happening. The construction of the base was making steady progress and the robots had finished with the foundation and had poured a solid floor inside the walled circle on which they now erected the main building of the new base. They were almost done with the first storey. The machines had to walk further now, to gather materials for the Nanite factory and doing so created a nice and wide open area, nothing could approach us without being seen.
I was confident in our security arrangements and did not think the snakes could do us any harm without us seeing them first. In a relaxed mood and near the midnight hour I climbed up to our roof post to relieve Hans from his watch.
I saw his hulking shadow in the darkness behind the P4 Paralysator and said. “Anything moving out there?”
Hans did not answer, but he moved and turned towards me. My eyes had adapted to the darkness and I noticed his bald head almost too late. At first I was not thinking anything about it, but then I realized he did not wear the pink wig that was shielding him from the Psionic suggestions of the Snake beings.
Hans howled words in his native language and swiveled the P4 around. In the faint light of a few stars I now saw one of the Snakes not far from him behind on the roof.
There was no way I could evade the invisible cone shaped ray of the weapon, or reach Hans in time to somehow prevent him from firing. Only because he was fighting the influence and did not react as fast as he normally could I was still there, at this distance the P4 would be deadly if it was set to maximum output.
Hans growled and I understood him now. “It’s time to die Verfluchter Wikinger!”
Acting on instinct I threw the knife I always carried under the uniform blouse on my back; when it came to react fast and without much thinking my reflexes went for knifes and blades before I thought using my guns. The knife flew true, I had not aimed at Hans, the blade would not do much to him. The blade struck the snake being in the throat right underneath its pointed maw.
At the same time I felt as if I was doused with boiling water, Hans had fired the Paralysator.
I didn’t lose consciousness, but I couldn’t feel anything to the right side of my body. Hans must have swung the projection cone out of the way in the very last moment and only grazed me. Still the effect was painful and my right leg no longer carried the weight of my body and I fell.
Hans held his hands to the sides of his head and kept screaming.
From my awkward position I saw Wetmouth coming on the roof. Hans grabbed the TKU that was leaning against the power unit of the Paralysator with the intent to shoot the Sojonit.
Wetmouth would stand no chance against that powerful weapon, and I was there seeing it all, and unable to do anything about it, the only weapon I had that could stop Hans was my blaster, and it was holstered to my right side. I did manage to pull it with my left hand, but I knew I would be to slow to prevent the Saturnian giant to fire.
Wetmouth was unarmed, so it appeared. Hans was an expert with all weapons and even if he missed at this distance, the intense heat of the blast would kill us both.
Something bright flashed from the eyes of Wetmouth’s mask and the seemingly unstoppable giant, dropped to his knees and stopped moving and screaming. It was as if he was a robot and suddenly lost all power.
Krabbel came on the roof right behind her, carrying four of the powerful TKU’s simultaneous and he fired blast after blast into the dark sky. The thundering, sun bright barrage illuminated a swarm of flying snakes. Each shot vaporized dozens of them.
I realized my tongue and my throat were paralyzed as well, and I could not swallow. Salvia had collected in my mouth and I wanted to get rid of it. I was gagging without the ability to cough, to move my head or do much of anything. I was suffocating, black circles hovered around my eyes as the lack of oxygen, the worst thing was the pain of not being able to cough.
I had experienced pain before in many forms, but being this helpless, to be fully conscious while my lungs tried to expand but unable to do so, hurt more than anything I could remember.
My friends were fighting the flying snakes, and I was lying there almost gone. I always thought I would die in a fight and now I would drown in my own spittle. If there was a Valhalla, how would I explain to all the other warriors how I had died?
Wetmouth rushed to my side and I saw her masked face hovering over me. To my surprise she produced a small knife and rammed it into my throat. She too was under the influence of the snakes despite her wig and it was her who killed me, these were the last thoughts I had before everything went dark.
I wasn’t dead after all. I came around lying in one of the beds of the outpost and could feel no pain or other ill effects. My right hand, my eyes and in the sweetest revelation my tongue worked fine.
Wetmouth was sitting right next to me, putting things and instruments back into the box of a field surgery kit.
She turned her head and her voice vibrated with emotions. “That was close, Eric. Very close, you almost died.”
I touched my throat where she had stabbed me and felt a bandage. “Tell me about it, I was halfway to Valhalla when you stabbed me.”
My voice sounded like a malfunction robot and every word was hurting.
“I didn’t stab you, Eric. I performed an emergency tracheotomy. I had to make an incision through your neck into the trachea so you could breathe because your upper airways were blocked.”
She then went on explaining what the trachea was and the significance of her procedure. Explaining things was her way of calming her nerves, I knew and I let her finish. I sat up and said with my rasping and hissing sounding voice. “What is our situation? How are the others?”
She leaned forward and gave me a tight hug. I could smell her wonderful perfume and heard her breath reflecting against the inside of her mask. She did not say a word, and kept hugging me for a long moment. “You should not talk that much. Let your wounds heal. We only have emergency medical equipment and I am not a MD.”
She did not let go as she continued. “Hans will be okay as well, no one else got hurt. Krabbel and Har Hi are on the roof sweeping the jungle edge and the skies with the Paralysator. It appears that there is a smaller flying variety of these Snake beings and they attacked in the dark, one of them managed to sweep the wig of Hans. They are more intelligent than we thought and it seems they have figured out, it is the wigs that protect us.”
I got up. “How is Hans and how did you stop him?”
My mask is more than a disguise, it has sophisticated weaponry incorporated. There is a needler in its nose, microscopic needles dipped in a very potent Shaill nerve toxin.”
I saw as she lowered her lashes behind the eye slits and added. “The toxin is deadly, but I hoped Hans is big enough to...” She stopped and then said.” I had no choice, Eric.”
“Hans is dead?”
“Oh no, he will be fine. I was able to administer the antidote in time. He will be back to normal in a few hours, but...”
I put both hands on her shoulders. “As you said, you had no choice. I hesitated too long and instead of firing at him, I threw a knife at the snake. You did what had to be done; besides it all worked out and we can add this to our collective experience.”
She just nodded, but I could feel her soft shoulders shiver underneath my hands.
I touched the tip of the mask’s nose. “I bet Hans pride is hurt more than anything else, brought down by something like that! You Sojonites sure are a devious bunch, I’d say.”
“One could say that.”
Har Hi had organized the defenses while Wetmouth was patching me up. Hans was sitting with a forlorn expression on his face in the common room and as he saw me coming in, he turned his gaze to the ground kneading his big hands.
I sat next to him and said. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. I am sure ten thousand men as strong as you fell for one of those Sojonit weapons. She only did it to safe herself.”
He looked up.”Oh I am not mad about that. Wetty did what she had to do and I am glad she did.”
“Then what is bugging you? I don’t know when exactly but I promise you we get of this planet eventually.”
“Eric I am not worried about that either, but I almost killed you. Har Hi seems to be a better friend to you than I am; he managed to aim to the side. I did not, I hit you. I always considered you my best friend, but it looks, like inside I am not strong enough.”
I put my hand on his truly immense underarm. “It was Psionics and not you, I hate these invisible powers. Hans do you trust me?”
“With my life you know that Eric.”
“Do you believe what I say?”
“I have never doubted a word you said.”
“Hans, I know you are my friend. I trust you with my life. I have no doubt you are a good friend as Har Hi. Besides I think you managed to pull that darn Paralysator away too. I was only partially affected, if I would have been caught inside that ray at that distance, we would not have this conversation.”
His eyes lit up. “You know maybe that is true. You should be dead.”
“Well I am glad I am not. So get up and let us get out there and assess the situation.”
The next day, one of our satellites identified an energy source almost five thousand miles from our camp site. It was located in a mountainous area, almost on the other side of this world and on a different continent, with less vegetation than everywhere else.
The energy signature did not match any known configuration, but then without having access to GalNet we could not compare it to more than what Wetty had stored on her PDD.
Har-Hi and I returned to our dorm and Mao greeted us.” Have you two decided to kill each other at a later time?” “Yes we decided to postpone that.” Har-Hi answered. “That is good. Because we are complete now and I am tired to be behind in everything.” I said.” We are complete in what and where are you behind?” “First things first.” Mao replied.” You got to meet the rest, just in case so you don’t bust furniture across someone else’s back.” Mao stepped into the middle of the dorm room.”...
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He remembered the last moments of his life quite vividly. They had led him up to the scaffold, after they had removed all his rank insignia. Commander Stone before him actually collapsed and the marines had to drag him to his spot on the scaffold. It took all his will power not to do the same and set one foot before the other. The solemn beat of the drums stopped and the Executioner asked him if he had any last words. He had none, the night before he had written a letter to his son Swybin and...
We reached Tabernacle 12 with next to empty tanks. We were expected and landing controls took over. The small planet looked very much like a dirty snow ball. Its own sun was nothing more than a bright star and its next planetary neighbor was almost eight light minutes removed. The landing beam guided us towards a crater and at its center was a set of large iris doors that opened for us. As soon as we had landed, Marines in heavy Destroyer Suits surrounded our ship. At least twenty Cerberus...
Here I was treated like a part of the crew. Aboard the Hyperion the only difference between enlisted personnel and officers was more or less only the rank pin on your collar. Captain Zezz treaded and acted the same around the lowest First Class Starman as he did around his bridge officers. He told jokes with them, participated in games and on board sporting events and most unusual. The ship used only one mess hall. Officers and enlisted ate in the same place. There wasn’t even a specific...
Pluribus was even more crowded and busier during Union week than usual. Egill had returned from Nilfeheim only a few days ago. He stood nor far from the Northern door and entrance into the Sphere of the Assembly, it was entrance he always used. From there it was only a short elevator ride to the Alcove of Planet Nilfeheim. The assembly sphere was a complete ball on the insie and only from the outside it appeared like a huge dome, meeting the ground at its equator. The outside area all around...
The commandant of the Newport Academy stood on the open balcony of his office, his hands wrapped around the railing. As it was his habit at this time of day he watched his Cadets run in cadence at the exercise yard. It was an exceptional well trained bunch this time and they would only need a little of his special brand of help to win the trophy this year. He was a short man, especially to Venusian standards, since natives of this Sol system planet tended to grow taller than the average...
The ‘American Spirit’ was nothing I expected a space ship to look from the inside. It was more like a luxurious villa, complete with garden, swimming pool and green lawn. We stepped through a glass sliding door under a blue sky with a single yellow sun and on the green plant surface he called grass, was a table with umbrella and a few garden chairs. Rolling hills with forests in the distance. “All simulated of course,” Alex explained. “The walls are actually only 30 meters from us, but I...
Sif woke, despite the sleep inducer that had been placed over her head. More out of instinct she rolled of the bed she was on and removed herself from the dazing and sleep causing Neuro-feed rays. Her mind instantly cleared up and she remembered.In her dreams she thought she felt a probing mind searching for her. In her dreams, Egill had not forgotten about her. But what would the old man say if he saw her like that? It was better he would never see her and besides those were only dreams of a...
Riding the Ammutherathi through the air made me feel, certain that I had ridden something big before, maybe in a dream. There was nothing to ride on Nilfeheim except Fangsnappers. While I was standing in the stirrups I received instructions through an ear peace. Where to go and what to do. The beast was at least thirty meters long and had two enormous set of leathery wings underneath tough looking skin were rock hard muscles worked these huge wings in a fantastic display of raw natural...
A week had passed since the big event on Pluribus and Union Week was over. I did spend a very strange and special night at the Saran compound, emerging myself in a dark and not openly discussed aspect of Saran society and culture, but I did learn a lot and I had been my female self. But I was glad we were back on the ship. While I enjoyed meeting my family and thrilled to see Narth again, the big party was not really my cup of tea.And what happened at the Orgie were memories for a different...
The Bowels It could have been any Maltyrian but I was certain it was Galmy. At the same as I said her name I realized she would not recognize me. She still had these inhuman big eyes and that translucent complexion. Her hair was the same midnight black as I remembered. She said. “You know me, Captain... ?” Her eyes scanned over my uniform blouse looking for my name tag. “Captain Olafson?” She was out of uniform so I could not see what rank she had attained since I seen her last. “Yes I...
The best day in my life was when I turned seven and I could go to Union school being away from the Burg and away from my father was like breathing lighter air. Everyone had to go to Union school. That was Union Law and it superseded local law. Union school was such a long part of our society that it too became an Old Tradition and therefore was good. At school I learned that Nilfeheim was a Water-World and that we all originally came from a Planet named Earth and settled here long time...
It was the last hour of our last school day. Mr. Walters handed out the final grades and said.” This is the last time I am doing this for you. When you return next year, a new teacher will try to pound some knowledge into your thick skulls. I am going to be transferred to another school, still on Nilfeheim but they thought I be best suited to try my hand on the even wilder Neo Vikings of the South Pole.” He then shook everyone’s hand and said a few words to everyone. When he reached me he...
I went down the narrow stair case to find out if there was a God living in the Old Man’s basement. Now I had reached the bottom of the narrow stair case and it expanded into a large natural grotto. The old man had a very large, and from the looks of it a natural Sub Pen under his rock. It was cold and moist and without my light it would have been pitch dark. There was no god and no mystery down here. At least there wasn’t any more garbage either. I did for a moment see a movement in the water...
Mr.Flensburger was now gone for a week and we had a new teacher. Mr. Walters was his name and he was much different to the jovial and gentle Mr. Flensburger. He was stern and had a no nonsense approach. This Monday morning, right by the main doors I saw Yngve Lofdahl waiting for me. He had a busted; bleeding lip and his left eye was swelling. Like me he was wearing a fur vest over a linen tunic that reached halfway to the knees, linen breeches and boots. Usually he always looked like he wore...
(List of Characters) Eric Olafson – A teenage Neo Viking leaves his home world for the first time. To travel and eventually to join the Union Navy Elena Olafson – technically a cousin to Eric, but since she was adopted by Eric’s father, she is now known as his sister. Isegrim Olafson – The current clan chief of the Olafson clan, and Eric’s father Lothar Olafson – Eric’s half brother The Ancient – aka Elkhart the Keeper. An old man claiming to have forgotten to die. Officially he is the...
I was still as tired as a Tyranno during Longnight when the lights came on and a voice barked via the PA system: “0400 hours Cadets rise and shine. 0430 is Breakfast. At 0500 you will receive your first class in the Elbhard Auditorium.” And we found ourselves in said Auditorium at that time an hour later. Clean, fed and still tired. Again I tried to find a place in the back, so I could perhaps close my eyes for few moments. The Pan Saran Officer was already there. “Good Morning Class.” We...