Favorites » His Blog
-
-
The Eulid Captain; Draal, sat on the roomy, dimly lit bridge of the research vessel. He was still weary from his long cryogenic sleep. He eyed the star on the large panoramic view screen; then swivelled his chair around so he could face his science officer, Lieutenant Atrel. The two short antennae on either side of Atrel's face started to move forming geometric shapes. Captain Draal watched them closely. Both captain and science officer looked quite insect-like but their DNA sequences matched no Earth life. Both beings were bipeds and vaguely human shaped. They were covered in a jointed iridescent exoskeleton and what little clothing they wore consisted of various belts and straps holding items of electronic equipment.
Draal glanced back at the screen then turned back to Atrel. He started waving his own antennae. If the movement of those appendages could be translated into English, they would have meant something like, 'So you think this is the wrong star system, Lieutenant?'
'Well there are a few rocky planets close to the star, but; from our atmospheric readings, they're unpromising. The radio signals did emanate from this direction, but that does not give the distance. We may have to travel several more light years before finding their source,' Atrel signalled back.
'Throughout our entire history of space flight we have searched for sentient life and found none. I thought we really had something when those radio broadcasts were picked up. It looks like we're going to be disappointed yet again,' responded Draal.
'Life or no; I think we should at least give some of those worlds a look over. We've been in cryo for a long time and some exercise would free up my carapace and joints - besides, I'm interested.'
'Me too,' answered the captain. 'Bring the first officer and a security team out of cryo.'
* * *
President Byron waved to the crowd from his seat in the car as it hovered twenty feet above the plaza.
A huge vu-screen slid upwards out of a slot at the far end of the square. A 3D image of a news caster appeared on the screen. He announced that the extra terrestrial ship was entering the atmosphere. Byron stifled a yawn as orbital cameras tracked a large glowing object moving towards the east coast of America leaving a bright incandescent trail behind it. The bright object dimmed as it descended into thicker layers of atmosphere. The screen went dark and returned to its slot. The speakers positioned around the outside of the square emitted a short two tone blast of sound to get the crowds attention; then the voice of a technician announced, `the extra terrestrial craft approaches - watch the skies.'
Byron signalled the pilot to land the car.
* * *
|
his Favorites
Add him as a friend >
