Page 257 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

“They are small enough to use the Pneumatic
Tunnel ships” Zuul noted “That’s how they get
about this planet so quickly” he added. The area
they were in was next to a huge lake system; and
the buildings nearby reminded Leeson of old
fashioned Nuclear Fission reactors; but in reality
were advanced Polaron reactors, far more powerful
and relatively safer. There were three of these near
one of the lakes. A fourth seemed to have been
almost totally destroyed in a massive blast. It
explained the residual radiation in the area being
higher than elsewhere. Even so; it was nowhere
near dangerous levels. The Trask seemed to be
happy doing the work so they left them to it and
headed for a low squat building that Bexar said was a control centre. Leeson recognised a Library
console of a type similar to a Kryst unit. He and Myra set about getting it operational. Zuul and Bexar
busied themselves with the main beam console. It appeared to have been left in a state of repair.
Perhaps the radiation levels had risen too quickly for the operators to continue their actions.
“Midas; T’luha, I’ll get two of the Trask to take you to the parts stores. There are a lot of circuits that
need replacing. The Trask will know what they are and will help you get them. Zuul and I will
continue to pull out the damaged parts till you come back. If any other items are needed I’ll
telepathically send orders” Bexar said and two of the Trask took the bewildered pair off down a
corridor in search of the parts stores.
Myra; Miah and Leeson managed to power up the Library console; during which procedure
Leeson accidentally activated the units’ telepathic linking circuit, much to the annoyance of one of
the Trask that was helping Zuul and Bexar. She stormed over and hit a sequence of buttons and
glared at him. Much to Leeson’s surprise she had activated the console’s translator and the display
now showed script and instructions in Interlac. Miah laughed.
“You should be a little more careful. The last recorded message was telepathically sent and was
quite rude in nature. It seems she knew the recorder” Miah explained. Leeson took a little more care
thereafter.
“That entry there looks promising. The time stamp is just before the disaster. It’s a holographic
recording of a Human technician?” Myra said. Leeson selected the file and directed the output to a
central viewer. It seemed to be a personal log.
The person who recorded the entry was a Human female in her late twenties early thirties;
blonde haired and had a pale complexion. She appeared to be standing roughly where Zuul and
Bexar were at that moment. The audio wasn’t present for the most part then she remembered to
switch on her microphone on her headset.
“… Sorry about that; as I was saying. I’m about to go back into stasis and the Untharans are uneasy
about the risks involved in this experiment. The theory seems sound enough; from my limited
understanding. They are building up reserves of power for the first test. The Jungva and Lingva are
doing this because they are desperate to get contact with “Home World”. The last communication
they had was short and has them edgy. I don’t mind being in stasis; besides we’ll be protected if
anything goes wrong. The new generation of Trasks are being given instruction as to maintenance of
all the systems should the test fail. We may be in stasis for quite some time if that happens. It’s for
the best really as the Jungva and Lingva would have to take the Hyper-drive ships if they go to the
system to find out what’s wrong…” A small hand was tugging at her sleeve “… Ok! I’m signing off.
Helen 8338-Terra last message to personal log before Stasis” she said and the recording ended.
“I wonder who she was.” Myra mused out loud “She must have been from Old Earth judging by the
clothing; probably around the early part of the Twentieth century old calendar. She must have been
what they used to call an “Abductee”” she added