Earth Star(99)

‘Only an alien artefact, Rono. We haven’t got any actual living aliens, there’s just an automated probe up in Earth orbit.’

He gave a huge laugh. ‘Only an alien artefact …’ He turned to face the others and yelled. ‘Cassandra 2, are we in this?’

‘Chaos yes,’ called back Stephan. ‘I was in hospital and missed the last trip. Dig Site Command, sign us up!’

After that, there was pandemonium, as everyone started talking at once.





30





The Eden dig teams must have been the happiest people in Ark at this point. They were people who liked action, something incredibly important needed doing, and they were going to help get it done. Dig Site Command automatically started work, making a list of teams who wanted to help, and mailed it to me.

The Military Command Support team had also sent me mail, giving site location details and logistics information. I sent Dig Site Command’s list of personnel on to the Military, and sent the Military information on to Dig Site Command and all the dig team leaders. This seemed to give everyone the delusion I’d competently arranged all this myself, right down to the details of the aircraft flying in freight-sized portals to Eden and Zulu Dig Sites.

‘You’ve chosen a very clever name for the excavation site,’ said Rono. ‘I love the way Zulu is in current use as a letter designation for the Military, but also has historical links to Earth Africa. Cassandra’s original colonists came from Earth Africa, so I take a special interest in its history.’

I knew Command Support had just randomly named the excavation site after our Military base, but I smiled and accepted the compliment. It all helped build up the fantasy this had been calmly planned for days and I knew what I was doing.

One of the people clustered around the Dig Site Command desk raised his head. ‘Will you want to set up temporary domes on site, Major, or portal people back to Eden for rest breaks?’

It was the first of what could be hundreds of detailed questions, and I’d no idea how to set up a large-scale dig site operation. I remembered Colonel Torrek’s advice. If I didn’t know the answer, I should recruit an expert, and I knew exactly the man I needed.

‘Before we get into detailed decisions, I’ll need my site leader involved. I’d ideally like that to be Pereth, given his experience running the Solar 5 rescue operation. Anyone know where he is?’

‘Earth 2 were working on the California Rift,’ called a voice.

Dig Site Command Eden promptly called Dig Site Command California. One minute, and two call transfers later, I was speaking to Pereth. This was the man who’d managed the incredible feat of running an excavation with 24 teams working simultaneously in the chaotic conditions of a solar super storm. I hero-worshipped him, but I had to hide that and be the efficient voice of the Military.

‘Major?’ Pereth seemed bewildered by events. Hardly surprising. He’d only just learned about the aliens, and now he’d been told a Military Major wished to speak to him.

‘Thank you for speaking to me, sir. I assume you’ve seen the news.’

‘Yes. This is about the aliens?’

I recited approximately the same speech I’d made to the Eden dig teams with an extra addition. ‘I had the honour to be part of the Solar 5 rescue, and I’m hoping you’ll agree to be my site leader and handle the details of the Zulu excavation for me.’

‘Jarra from Asgard 6. I hadn’t realized … I’d be delighted to assist the Military. Can I bring my team? I’m used to working with them and delegating some of the tasks.’

During the Solar 5 rescue, I’d been awed by Pereth’s superhuman ability to watch half a dozen different things at once. I should have realized some of his team had been helping him.

‘Their assistance would be very welcome.’

‘We’re just …’ He paused and turned away for a moment to glance at someone out of view of the lookup. ‘We think it’d take us about an hour to walk to your location. Should we come to you or …?’

‘That would be ideal. I’m sending you logistics and site location information right now. Take a few minutes to scan it, so you can make plans on your way over here. Unfortunately, Gaius Devon’s ego trip has rushed us into going public ahead of schedule and created a lot of unexpected problems, but I know I can count on you and Eden Dig Site Command to take most of the excavation arrangements off my hands.’

Pereth nodded. ‘We can handle an excavation, no problem, but … should we take any special precautions?’

I was probably still paranoid after the accident that had nearly killed me and Fian, but if the alien device really existed, we’d no idea what technology it might use, or what it might do to impact suits and lift beams.