Book I of The Dream Seers
The Gatherers
By Nathan Skaggs
BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Munich, Germany
© 2013 by Nathan Skaggs.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.
Second edition
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
BookRix GmbH & Co. KG has allowed this work to remain exactly as the author intended, verbatim, without, editorial input.
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The Evasion
Deep in intergalactic space, two alien vessels were engaged in a battle. The first ship to appear was the Interceptor, an enormous and stealthy ebony wing. The Interceptor was pursued by the Menagerie, a colossal silver colored disk. The Interceptor’s crew appeared. They were Chiropterans-human sized bats with white skin. The Chiropterans were on course to the Clouds of Magellan. As the Chiropterans fled towards the Large Magellanic Cloud, they fired upon the Menagerie’s weapons. The Chiropterans soon disabled all of the Menagerie’s weapons and tracking systems. Unfortunately for the Chiropterans, the Interceptor’s propulsion system was damaged in the battle.
“Helmsman, the battle’s a stalemate. Keep us away from the Menagerie for a few more seconds! Navigator, we can’t escape the disk, but we can find a hiding place!” Brigadier General Pirro of the Interceptor ordered.
“Sir, we can seek refuge in that nearby spiral galaxy!” The helmsman reported.
“General, scanners have located a tiny blue planet in the far edge of one of the galaxy’s spiral arms. It’s in a solar system of nine planets!” The navigator interjected.
“Helmsman, you heard the navigator! Take us to that planet! Fastest possible speed! Navigator, scan the planet’s atmosphere, life forms, and technology.” Pirro ordered. “This planet’s technology is primitive to ours.” The navigator responded.
“Perfect. We’ll seek refuge in this planet’s orbit while we make vital repairs to our ship.” Pirro stated.
Damage to weapons and tracking systems forced the Menagerie to withdraw from battle. As repairs were under way, the elusive Interceptor escaped. Inside the disk was a crew of giant, bipedal, white, tailless, salamander like amphibians- the Caudatans. Even their eyes and blood were white.
“I need immediate status reports from all areas of the ship! Navigator, estimate the Chiropterans’ last known heading.” Rear Admiral Mandra ordered.
“Admiral, the damage is extensive, so the repair time will be substantial.” 1st Officer, Captain Sophia stated.
“Once our repairs are complete, we’ll resume pursuit of the Chiropterans. We can only hope the Chiropterans will not complete their repairs before ours.”
“Fortunately, our precious cargo is unharmed.” 2nd Officer, Commander Charlon stated.
Engineering crews rapidly began repairing the Interceptor’s damaged thrusters. Pirro knew Mandra was equally cunning and tenacious so he summoned the 1st and 2nd Officers to his briefing room.
“I just sent a distress call to Chiroptera since the Menagerie is still out of tracking range. Before the Interceptor is at full capacity, I wish to survey the planet.” Pirro stated.
“I’ve already selected a 10 member survey party to scout the planet. The survey commander, Major Tirrus, has selected a sparsely populated agricultural area to be surveyed under the cover of darkness. With stealth technology engaged, neither the Menagerie nor native sensors will be able to detect the Interceptor.” 1st Officer, Colonel Murci responded.
“Ma’am, Major Tirrus is reporting.” 2nd Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Marea stated
“The survey party is ready for lightning transport to the surface. Our force fields are at full strength.” Tirrus said.
“As a safety measure, I’m generating an electrical storm to mask your arrival. The transport will appear as normal meteorological phenomena, thus thwarting the Menagerie’s search attempts.” Marea stated.
“I want a secure communication link at all times. Good Luck.” Murci said.
The Arrival
Moments later, the survey party was transported to an altitude two miles above the planet’s surface.
“There are two nearby settlements. We will focus our survey on the creek and the woods halfway between the settlements. Since I’m an exobiologist, I will observe the native fauna. My wife and alien planet expert, Major Elaga, will perform geological research.” Tirrus said.
“Tirrus, an early Chiropteran ultra light speed expedition charted this planet eons ago, but they never made any landings. The inhabitants call it Earth.” Elaga stated.
“So we really are walking on new territory!” Captain Nato exclaimed.
“Yes we are. Captains Nato, Timo, Melana, and Volan, you will catalog native flora. Lieutenants Talon, Xenon, Surin, and Zabine will study atmospheric conditions. I’ll monitor the various media, so I can program our language translator system. Tirrus said.
In the early Saturday morning hours of the 1975 Columbus Day weekend, Jason Daryl Maze was having a vivid dream. In the dream, it was the perfect fall afternoon. Jason and his wife, Xenia Rosa Lago Maze, enjoyed a delightful match of badminton. Even though they had been married for 13 years, Jason still found Xenia as attractive as the day he
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 27.06.2013
ISBN: 978-3-7309-3438-8
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