The Horicon Experience (3 page)

“If everything is stable after removing the collapsed walls of the superstructure, we’ll take up the floor slabs,” Dr. Kelly answered. “All evidence has been collected on the first level down, so it’s safe to disturb things.”

“Then we’re going to start opening the lower chambers?” another team member asked excitedly.

“Yes,” answered Dr. Kelly. A murmur of approval swept through the small group. They had worked almost nine months on this dusty dig to reach this point. Early exploration of the main ruins on Horicon hinted that there might be a treasure-trove of artifacts buried deep beneath the rubble.

To test the theory, the first teams had excavated minor structures on the outskirts of the ruined, ancient city. Their efforts were rewarded by the initial finds, partially revealing the mysterious Horicons. That no bone fossils of the Horicons themselves were ever retrieved made everyone wonder what the elusive creatures must have looked like and where they might have gone.

The archeological teams had systematically leap-frogged into the city itself, picking sites at predetermined intervals. Again, their efforts bore fruit as more and more artifacts from the extinct race were uncovered. The teams also documented a strong correlation between distance from the center of the city and the quality and sophistication of the artifacts. Simply put, the closer they got to the center, the better the prize.

A larger team was prepared to tackle the central building in the ruin’s main plaza. The records sections made every effort to record and preserve all of the evidence they found, right down to construction techniques and the composition of materials.

Now they could begin clearing away the heavy stone slabs and explore the level recently discovered under the plaza. Earlier attempts to scan the area beneath the plaza was blocked not only by rubble, but also by some sort or shielding material. As it proved to be part of the natural material used in construction, the only way to continue the dig was by taking the place apart the hard way.

They were determined to gain access, and excitement was running high as Dr. Kelly dismissed the crew to their assigned tasks.

∞∞∞

The driveway and side yards were full of vehicles as evening settled on the Hassel farm. The house was full to overflowing with well-wishers from up and down Big Valley. Unknown to Delmar and Stan, Agnes had made the final calls for the surprise party while the men were out shooting. She and Robert decided that it would be best if such a party did not occur the night before Delmar and Stan left for their advanced computer training on Mica. In addition, a party on the last night was to be expected, so doing it a couple of nights early would ensure that it was a real surprise.

Agnes peeked in from the kitchen to see how the two guests-of-honor were doing. Stan was discussing the exciting field of communications and advanced computer technology with Robert and a couple of neighbors. Delmar was still talking to Daren and RoseMary Sabeti about their farm which they had purchased from Delmar after the death of his brother Dorn. Agnes was so glad they’d found the young couple to take over the Eagleman farm after Delmar had gone into the service. They had proven themselves and now had the joy of a baby boy who was with a sitter tonight.

Delmar was still engrossed in the subject of crop rotation when he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. He turned around and found himself staring into the face of a trooper-first. “Mike Azor!” he exclaimed as he grabbed the man’s arm. Mike Azor had played a major role in settling Delmar’s legal situation when he had run away from home to escape his abusive brother. Now Mike was like a member of the family. You never knew when he would pop in.

“How ya doing, Delmar?” Mike asked, his face split with a big grin.

“What are you doing here?” Delmar asked, his face still showing astonishment. It had been half a year since he had last seen the trooper-first.

“Oh, I was in this neck of the galaxy when Agnes’ invitation caught up with me. So I decided to drop in,” Mike replied with false boredom. “I’m just on my way to the Officers Academy.”

“That’s great!” exclaimed Delmar. Turning, he spotted his friend and called out. “Hey, Stan! Come over here! I want you to meet somebody!”

Stan disengaged himself from his conversation with a particularly lively, not to mention lovely, young lady and walked toward his friend, followed by Robert. Delmar introduced his friend to the trooper-first while Robert and Mike greeted each other.

“Thought I’d check and see what the training center is turning out these days,” Mike said as he winked at Robert. Agnes appeared at her husband’s side. “I’m on leave before I report in at the Axia Officer’s Academy.”

“That’s great!” Robert and Agnes both exclaimed. Mike winked again and then turned to face the two young men.

“All right, troopers!” Mike barked. “Drop and give me fifty!”

Before they knew what they were doing, Stan and Delmar dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups. They had already done three before they realized they weren’t in basic training anymore. Rising to their feet, Delmar and Stan both blushed while the other veterans laughed.

“Looks like they still turn out a pretty good product!” Mike remarked with a grin as he looked at the two men.

“Reaction time was a little slow,” commented Agnes dryly. She turned and walked back toward the kitchen. Robert stifled a laugh at the boy’s shocked expressions.

“I heard you’re both going to Mica for advanced computer school,” Mike continued, himself tickled at Agnes’ remark.

“That’s right!” Stan answered with enthusiasm. Delmar nodded his agreement.

“Well, you two clowns keep your noses clean while you’re there,” Mike admonished. “I don’t want to hear about you getting into any trouble.”

“Yes, sir!” they both said together.

“Oh, give ’em a break, Mike!” Agnes said as she returned to the room. She moved beside her husband and came between Mike and his two victims. “They’re here to relax.” She then led Delmar away toward the other side of the living room while Stan asked Mike what he knew about the school.

While Robert watched, Agnes steered Delmar right into the center of a gathering of young single women from up and down Big Valley. Robert chuckled to himself when he saw the red creep into Delmar’s face.
Let’s see him get out of this one!
Robert thought when he saw the females surround the young trooper.

The party broke up much later that night. A few of the neighbors surprised Agnes by cleaning the kitchen while Robert, who was in on the plan, kept her occupied with guests in the living room. Not to be totally left without something to do, Agnes had Delmar and Stan straighten the living room while Robert walked with Mike out to his parked ground vehicle.

“What do you think of our boy?” Robert asked when they were out of earshot.

“I think he’s going to turn out all right,” Mike answered truthfully.

“After all he’s been through, Agnes and I were a little worried,” Robert confided.

“Don’t be,” Mike said. “I know he had a rough home life with the death of his parents and then the abuse by his brother, but he kept his head on straight. That boy has a lot of integrity.”

“I’m still amazed that he didn’t turn bitter,” Robert said. “I know I probably would have under similar circumstances.”

“That’s where many people underestimate Delmar,” Mike said quietly. “He has the same steadfastness and faithfulness that both his parents had, and they instilled it in him early.”

“It’s reassuring to hear that,” Robert replied. “Agnes and I tried to help him the best we could.”

“You two did great,” Mike answered with a smile. “He’s a credit to the service, and as far as I can tell, has good taste in friends.”

“We thought so,” Robert agreed. “Stan looks to be a good trooper, and they make a great team.”

“I think so too, and will say as much in my report,” Mike assured Robert. “What I worry about is what trouble those two might get into while in training on Mica.”

“You can say that again! They’re both good boys, but when you get that much talent together, there’s bound to be mischief.” Mike laughed his agreement and then clapped Robert on the shoulder.

“Well, you and Agnes take care, and I’ll be in touch,” Mike said as he climbed into his ground vehicle.

“You take it easy yourself,” Robert said and closed the car door. Robert stayed and waved while Mike pulled out and sped down the road toward Keeler and the spaceport beyond.

When the tail lights were finally out of sight, Robert walked back into the house. Agnes had already shooed the young men upstairs to bed and was sitting in her rocker waiting for her husband.

“You know,” she said, snuggling against his chest. “I think we did pretty well with him.”

Robert nodded his agreement. Taking one last look around to see the living room restored to its normal order, Robert reached over and turned off the lights. Hand-in-hand, the couple climbed the stairs to their room.

∞∞∞

Far out in the galaxy, a small patroller maneuvered into the docking bay of its mothership. The dock master’s face reflected concern while he watched the ship glide in.

He glanced at the sheet reporting its arrival. “Starduster,” he said to no one in particular in the dock control room. “Does anyone know anything about this ship?”

A round of ‘no sirs’ answered him. There had been no warning of its arrival and he sensed trouble. He looked out the window of his control room and could see steam pouring out of the ship.

When the ship crossed into shadow, he could also see a dull red glow radiating from the drive area. “We’ve got a hot one here,” he commented into his comm mic.

“I’m on it,” his assistant replied from his station on the docking bay floor.

While the dock master’s assistant instructed the pilot to hover, other dockworkers in protective suits positioned cradles to receive the damaged patroller. Picking up the intercom, the dock master called both the debriefing department and the repair chief and told them they were going to be busy.

As soon as the cradles were in position, the patroller settled down. Lights in the control room indicated that atmosphere was being restored to the bay, and as soon as it was safe, an all-clear klaxon sounded. While the dockworkers cooled the overheated ship and secured the lines to change its holding tanks, the hatch opened and a young, harried captain emerged. One look at his expression confirmed the dock master’s suspicions. It was going to be a long, interesting night.

Chapter Three

The debriefing officer looked up from the written report at Captain George Citti seated across the desk from him.

“I’ve read your official report, Captain Citti,” he began as he leaned back in his chair. “Now tell me what you didn’t say.”

“As you know, sir, I’ve been watching a certain closed planet for the last several months,” George Citti began, considering several factors. “I’ve mostly been observing their technological development, and I’ll admit they surprised me.”

“How so?”

“Well, sir, much of the planet has advanced industrial capability,” George answered. “Some of it is limited and spotty. But it’s a planet of nations, some more advanced than others. In the advanced nations, their rate of development is much faster than the norm. They developed laser technology and atomic power at almost the same time. As you know, these technologies are usually developed a generation apart.” The debriefing officer leaned back in his chair and nodded.

“It wasn’t long before I started recording their preliminary efforts at deep-space electrical transmissions. But they weren’t using radio telegraphy as one would expect. Instead, they developed a tight-beam transmission system decades ahead of the normal planetary growth curve. Early interconnecting power grids of enormous power appeared, and shortly after that, broadcasts of cosmic amplitude modulation reached into space. I was fascinated by their leaps in technology.”

Trooper Citti paused to gather his thoughts.

“But you would still say they’re quite a ways from even primitive space exploration and travel?”

“Yes, sir,” George said. “As a whole, sir. At least the travel part. However, taking into consideration their accelerated rate of technical development, it becomes hard to say.”

“Now, what are your gut feelings about what happened yesterday?” the officer asked. “And is it showing up consistently?”

“Here’s the thing, sir,” George answered. “It’s not a planet-wide progression as you’d expect. The progress is centered in one location as if they were being aided in their technological advancement.”

“That is interesting,” the officer agreed.

“Yes sir,” George said. “There are still whole continents on that planet that haven’t discovered elementary locomotion yet. There are tribal areas where people still live in caves and pitched huts.” George paused. “And here we have a central area that will have space-age technology very soon? Something isn’t right, sir. We may have to check this out a little closer.”

“I agree,” said the officer.  “We’re going to have to get a lot closer. Possibly send in teams on the ground. Anything else?”

“Early yesterday morning I recorded a directed tight-beam power transmission in the wavelengths the Axia uses, and that we know has been reverse-engineered by the Red-tails,” answered Citti. “Then late in the evening, I was hit with an extremely powerful signal of a similar nature. Almost immediately, some sort of attraction ray started pulling my ship from its stationary orbit. However, it was weak enough for me to overcome with my drive.”

“So you think it was focused on your ship?” the officer asked incredulously.

“Most definitely,” replied George. “As I was pulling free, I recorded a third signal that was on par with our older detector and levitation ray systems.”

“But that development would be several hundred years too advanced for that planet!”

“I know,” agreed Citti. “And from the brief readings I got, it has a range of nearly a quarter million miles.”

“Then it’s best we stay clear for the time being,” the officer decided. “They apparently know we’re out here, and now we have to figure out how to contain them until their social development catches up.”