The Planet Machine
A Lokians short story by Aaron Dennis
New edition released February 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Hundreds of years ago, the Lokians, an insect-like race of aliens from worlds unknown, attacked the Thewls on their home world of Benut-Ill. It was thanks to the travelers that the Thewls, a peaceful people, were given a second chance at proliferation. Shortly after an easy victory over the monstrous insects, the travelers left as quickly as they came, leaving only twelve of their own kind behind.
The travelers, a very peculiar race of bluish ape-men, provided the Thewls, a cat-legged, tall, and intelligent race, with the means to develop the weapons necessary to defend their home. Once the team of twelve travelers completed their goal, they too vanished, and the Thewls were left to their own devices.
These strange creatures with a translucent membrane covering their bodies in place of skin required a peculiar band of light previously provided only by their sun. The travelers had bestowed onto the Thewls a means for creating that band of light artificially, and thus began the Thewls devotion to peace. For a time, the benevolent aliens sought only to rebuild what been lost, but there were many claims made that the Lokians would return, which meant preparing for war.
During the thousand years of peace, the travelers, and the Lokians, were reduced to legends until that sad day when the Lokians did return. By flying their alien vessels near the Thewlian sun, the evil aliens kept their machinations hidden. No Thewlian communication devices were designed to specifically receive transmissions from the sun’s vicinity, and the potent electron field surrounding it was a useful boon for the Lokians, so they attacked.
Pumping the sun full of subspace compactor photons forced the immense star to collapse in upon itself and ultimately crystallize. It was a short fifteen years before Benut-Ill became uninhabitable. The devices for artificial lightning were insufficient regarding climate control, and during those tumultuous times, the Lokians landed, slaughtered the Thewls, and harvested their invaluable Element-115, a stable element required for deep space travel.
The Thewls had no alternative but to pile into four Carriers—immense, spherical vessels—leaving millions to die. Relegated to a nomadic tribe, and recently allied with the Human race, the Thewls found themselves searching for a new home. After all, 200 years of traveling in four vessels was no way to live.
Let it be known to those who find these archives that the Thewls speak Thewlish, a sort of monotonous gurgle, and accentuate their feelings by color cues, or a subtle change in facial complexion. Regardless, this story has been translated into the Human language called English….
****
“Itsor,” Ung-Or called.
“Sir?” she asked.
“Help the scouting party unload the Explorer. I’m going to start the fusion generator,” Ung-Or ordered.
“Copy that,” Itsor answered.
It was warm on the new planet. Fresh with high levels of Oxygen, and a subtle, blue glow from the nearby E-class star—recently named Ret-Sylon—the new planet was the first planet intended for Thewlish colonization.
Until recently, the Thewls had attempted colonies on known moons or asteroids, and garnered little success. Sporadic Lokian attacks, viruses, and other diseases, were always detrimental. Things had changed though. When the Thewls and Humans united against the Lokians, and reduced the alien insects to a mere fraction of their numbers, the entire galaxy was a safer place, and the dwindling Thewls felt it was the proper time to set their sights on a new home.
The group, assisted by Itsor, relished the freedom of removing their black, battle armor in exchange for cloth robes. After unloading several crates, they worked on erecting base camp. Life for the Thewls during the past 200 years had grown highly militarized. It was efficient, but not always enjoyable. That day, on their new, prospective home, they were jubilant, displaying their pink faces to one another.
****
Two weeks passed quickly. With little time for rest, the crew of the single Explorer, whose mission it was to ascertain the relative safety of the new planet, built base camp around the Explorer vessel. Explorers, as the name implied, were used to explore both space and planets, but they also doubled as drop ships in the event that a platoon needed to be dropped off or rescued.
“Reshkig,” Itsor called.
“Yes, friend?” he asked.
The two Thewls had always been a little more than cordial. Recently, they had started a courtship, and as Thewls lived well over 500 Earth years, it was a slow process.
“How do you like our new home, our Yuritahd?” she asked him.
He replied with sputtering hack, something akin to laughter. “I like Yuritahd very much. It reminds me of Eon.”
“Yes, I’d forgotten you were there when the Ambassador met with the Humans…what a strange race they are,” Itsor said.
“And you? How do you like this new home?”
“Apart from that infernal ringing…I like it very much. The air is kinder than the stifling Explorer, and the blue sun is simply gorgeous.”
They grew silent, scrutinizing one another.
“Yes…that blasted ringing is very strange. I had not thought to ask the others if they hear it as well,” Reshkig muttered.
The following days consisted of survey trips. Armed with plasma rifles, and back in their battle armor, groups of Thewls combed the nearby area. Though they were glad to be cataloguing flora and fauna while mapping the geography, the incessant ringing grew more obscene. Many of the Thewls were so plagued, they often lost sleep. Complaints were passed along to the presiding C.O., Ung-Or.
“I know, it bothers me to no end, but it may be caused by any number of things; the proximity of Ret-Sylon, a strange, magnetic resonation, or perhaps something in the air…who knows. So long as our physicians maintain we are healthy, we will remain,” Ung-Or told them.
After logging several complaints, and more from the Thewls who lost sleep, he sent word to Admiral Jil-Tong of the Carrier. She replied by ordering no more complaints be logged unless someone died. It was a stern decision, but the possibility of a new planet to call home outweighed complaints.
****
One bright, blue morning, Itsor and a crew of seven packed up their mobile camp to continue surveying the ever expanding radius. Recently, her crew made it as far as a four-day hike from the Explorer. Amidst the hilly landscape and red shrubberies, one Thewl found a deep hole. He aimed his gun light into the large aperture. The light revealed only more of the hole, a deep blackness.
“Ma’am,” he called out.
“What have you found?” Itsor asked.
While her man’s face grew slightly blue—the cue for intrigue—Itsor’s turned slightly gray, concern.
“Uncertain. Perhaps we should investigate,” he suggested.
She nodded before calling others. When they came, she discussed the plan for further exploration.
“Let’s start by leaving a marker, in the event that others need to find us, or we need to return,” she ordered. “Six of us will descend. You, Poru, establish comms with Explorer camp, and keep vigil. Now, the rest of you, get in there.”
They readied jump cord, and as they pound
ed steel rods into the dense rock from which to tie off, the infernal ringing exploded to a high pitched cry. A rush of air assaulted the stumbling Thewls. Something dark had leapt from the hole. Itsor tried to look around and spotted more brownish masses flying into the gray sky.
“What,” one Thewl sputtered.
Several scuted disks halted in mid air. Then, they unfurled to reveal massive Lokians, complete with steel hoses, and mechanical additions. Propelled by thrusters, the alien insects dove into the Thewls. Two were impaled by long spikes protruding from the Lokians’ shield-shaped head.
“Fire, fire,” Itsor shouted.
While blue-green bursts of plasma soared from rifles, Poru screamed into his headset. “Explorer camp, Poru. Come in! Dammit someone answer me! We have Lokians!”
It was too late. The lengthy beasts scuttled behind him, took him down with their metallic appendages, and ripped him to shreds. Itsor and the last three Thewls turned to flee. They never made it back.
****
“So that’s the situation,” Ung-Or said to a very tall Thewl.
“Understood,” the tall Thewl replied. “Flem, Rew-Slaad, we’ll take the rover.”
“Korit,” Ung-Or called. “You can’t think the three of you will suffice.”
Korit, the tallest Thewl, and leader of the Thewlian strike force, which had aided the famed Human Captain, O’Hara, glanced at his comrades.
“Certainly, both Jil-Tong and Yew filled you in on our experience,” Korit argued.
Ung-Or’s face shifted to a subtle greenish-brown—embarrassment—as he spoke, “Well, yes. I’m aware you fought the Lokians on several occasions–”
“And the Grays, and helped to save Earth,” Flem interjected.
She was Korit’s second in command, and though Rew-Slaad was a new recruit, he too had helped defend Earth from the recent Gray invasion.
“My apologies. I guess you know what you’re doing,” Ung-Or sighed.
The Thewlian strike force piled into the large rover. “Uploading coordinates,” Rew-Slaad said as soon as he took the seat before the command console.
“Got it,” Flem answered.
She was at the wheel while Rew-Slaad rode shotgun, and Korit took the plasma cannon mounted on the rear. Several hours later, as night descended upon Yuritahd, they arrived at the scene.
“This ringing is something else,” Korit muttered.
“Agreed,” Flem said.
Hopping out of the rover, Rew-Slaad activated his helmet’s built-in camera to record the carnage. For the most part, the Lokians had eaten or dragged off their Thewlian prey. Some bloody splotches stained the ground. Plasma scorches peppered the area. Some limbs, organs, and pieces of armor were strewn about.
“They came from the holes?” Rew-Slaad asked.
“Evidently,” Korit answered.
Foregoing the common plasma rifle for revolving photon rifles, each Thewl carried severe firepower, enough to bring down even the most armored of Lokians. Gripping their weapons tightly, they powered on their headlamps, secured their jump cord, and started the descent into darkness.
****
In the cavern, swaths of light revealed uneven terrain, brown and craggy. The strike force led by Korit moved forward in cadence.
“There,” Rew-Slaad shouted.
“Hush,” Flem chastised.
“Apologies…I saw movement.”
Standing still for a moment, the Thewls kept their eyes peeled for more movement, for a sign of the slightest twitch. The sound of scuttling permeated. Spotting the threat, Korit unleashed bolts of white light from his rifle. The weapon whined as the revolving barrels spun.
Chunks of exoskeleton peppered the walls. Smoldering bits were all that was left of the six-foot, chitinous Lokian. The alien crew moved towards the sizzling corpse.
“I’ve never seen one like this before,” Korit said.
“Let’s keep moving,” Flem advised.
Korit nodded, and treading carefully, the strike force covered the next, several, hundred feet. Steadily, they traversed deeper and deeper into the pits of Yuritahd. Before much longer, they came upon several divergent paths. Keeping their ear holes open for sound, they heard more scuttling over the insistent ringing.
Korit raised a massive hand then pointed for the two to move forward at angles while he kept them covered. Three, writhing Lokians sprung forth from the darkness.
“Eat photon,” Rew-Slaad cried out.
His rifle illuminated the surroundings while unleashing high-frequency energy. Flem and Korit mowed down the beasts, reducing them to alien goo.
“Yeck,” Flem snorted.
Persisting forward, and deeper still, the team came to a hole in the cavern. Looking down, they planned for the next move.
“Our jump cord is secured to the way out,” Flem said.
“Then we scale down,” Korit replied. “Rew, retrieve our cord then meet us at the bottom.”
“Sir,” he answered before back tracking.
Lithely, the Thewls forced themselves down the narrow drop. With rifles slung over their shoulders, they remained erect by putting pressure against the rocky walls with all four limbs. It took them several minutes to descend, and all the while they puffed and groaned with exertion. Just as their taught muscles started shaking, they reached the bottom.
“Sir?” Rew-Slaad asked over the earpieces.
“We’re down. Get here now,” Korit ordered.
The two Thewls looked around, waiting for their compatriot to arrive. First, the cord dropped to the bottom. Then, Rew-Slaad came repelling down. He handed the other two their cords.
Pressing on, they came upon a small den of Lokians. The beasts yelped before marching towards their dinner.
“I don’t think so,” Korit admonished, unleashing white-hot fury.
With Flem and Rew-Slaad providing back up, they gunned down several, but one insectoid broke free from formation and floored Korit with its girth. Flem dashed over and delivered a powerful strike to its head with the rifle butt. The Lokian squirmed, so Rew-Slaad capitalized by busting holes into the creature.
Groaning, Korit came to his feet. Flem placed a hand on his arm. Their eyes met for a moment, and then the leader motioned with his head to continue. Shortly after, they arrived before a lift.
“This…this can’t be right,” Flem warbled.
“Strange,” Korit remarked.
“How did the scouting party’s instruments not pick up this anomaly? I mean, this lift has power, no?” Rew-Slaad asked.
“Not to mention they had told us this planet was never inhabited,” Korit sighed.
“Let’s see what’s ahead,” Flem advised.
They stepped aboard the steel platform, and she pressed a button. The lift powered on. Down into the depths, they descended. Flashes of green light from lamps built into the walls washed over the crew. Minutes later, they hit the bottom, and by then, the ringing was nearly boring into their skulls.
“So far down,” Korit said.
****
To their surprise, there were some Lokians carcasses just off the lift. Some of them were bipedal, others more insect-like. The strike force booted a few of the corpses. They were safe for the moment, but needed to resolve their situation quickly. Spotting a large, shiny door comprised of what appeared be exoskeletal materials, they approached cautiously.
“I wonder if this is what their home in subspace looked like,” Flem whispered.
“Only Riley and the Phoenix crew would know for sure,” Korit answered.
“Well…might as well say hello,” Rew-Slaad said, pumping the strange, chitinous door full of holes.
Once heavily damaged, the Thewls beat an entrance into the bay door. Beyond it was something like the interior of a massive computer; spires covered in wires, flashing lights, and whirring, organic machinery spanned the interior.
“The ringing…its coming from that thing,” Flem said, pointing at an oblong, glowing, shape.
T
hey approached vigilantly, keeping their eyes peeled for a welcoming committee. The glowing object before them was glass-like in appearance. As it brightened intermittently, the ringing increased to the point of severe discomfort. Swiftly, Korit pulled the object free from its pedestal. Immediately, the ringing subsided, but so did the power, and the green lights went out.
“What is it?” Flem asked.
“Some sort of power supply, evidently,” Korit answered.
“Well…whatever it is, we should leave,” Rew-Slaad suggested.
“Getting back up won’t be a simple task,” Flem stated. “Without power, the lift won’t likely operate.”
They all turned their gun lights back towards the door.
“Guess we need to find an alternate route,” Korit advised.
For hours, the strike force meandered about the alien construct. Locating a set of stairs behind a round door, they trekked upwards. Finally, they located a hole above them, and by positioning themselves on top of one another, Korit climbed. On level ground, he dropped his cord for the others to join him.
“Well, that was an ordeal,” Flem complained.
“Let’s get out of here,” Korit ordered.
****
Having surfaced during the chilly morning hours, Korit and his crew were surprised to find a familiar face, accompanied by a few unfamiliar faces, on the grassy plains of Yuritahd.
“Sasha?” Korit asked. “What are you doing here?”
“Sasha?” the raven-haired woman in pinstripe suit asked when addressed with familiarity. “No. You must have me confused with someone else. My name is agent Carter. The Bureau is here to investigate.”
“You don’t have any jurisdiction here,” Korit grumbled.
“Take it up with Adams,” she replied curtly.