Page 42 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

Race can be. Our people encountered a race of Amphibians on a system near the galactic core that
was so stubborn; they vowed to die out than accept help from “children”.”
“I know some Humans like that today. Take a look through our history and you’ll find many
examples. Stubbornness seems to be a universal prerogative of the old everywhere life has evolved”
Fenton responded. “I hope we never end up like that in our dotage” and he chuckled. She gazed
deep into his eyes.
“You really mean that don’t you. I can see it. I see now why I was drawn to you the very first day we
met. The choice I made that day was the right one.” She said and ruffled his hair
“Oh; and what was the other option may I ask?”
“You don’t want to know” she grinned showing her incisors and then bit hard on a long strip of dried
meat…

“Operation Gandalf”

The “Seeder” device was to be tested in just over an hour. Some microbial life had been
made ready as had an area on the largest equatorial land mass. It was agreed that the Mechanoids
should conduct the test. If all went according to plan, the effect of the devices emissions should be
observable about an hour after that. The microbes had been put in three brackish pools of iron oxide
rich water formed in shallow depressions. It had been raining acid rain for about two days solid. A
break in the weather had allowed the setting up of the equipment. The atmosphere was still
polluted with sulphides and carbon dioxide, and low oxygen meant the choice of bacteria had been
obvious. The mechanoids were shielded from the worst the planet could throw at them by the alloys
they were made of so could remain to record and observe. The others had left to watch proceedings
from the safety of an Orbiter.
“Who came up with the name for this test?” asked Lisa
“Councillor Edmunds of the Terran Federal Conservatory; He liked the name of the Wizard in
Tolkien’s Lord of the rings. No one wanted to go against him” Norvik replied.
“I suppose we can put up with that, I’m not one for historical works myself” Humerus added.
Alicia was poised finger over the button that would start the whole shebang.
“Initiating device, all Mechanoids retreat to the safety bunkers, just in case this all goes pear-
shaped!” She said over the Comms. “In three, two, one…” She pressed the button and…

On the surface the device began to whine in build up to what was hoped to be a cycle of
bursts. The air around the device became highly charged, sufficiently so as to form a haze of blue-
green Saint Elmo’s fire. Under the dark, sullen sky it seemed like a bright sunburst had punctured its
way through the murk. One of the observing Mechanoids mumbled “Let there be light”. At that
moment the full force of the first burst erupted… There was no sound initially as the expanding
dome of energy waves blossomed out. The light was so intense that the Venusian Globes shut their
visor cells. The Mechanoids too found the light extremely bright. Then the shockwave hit the remote
vid units and shook them violently. One of the Mechs turned around and the view relayed to those
on the Orbiter showed a wall of hazy brightness shooting away into the distance. The Globes and the
vid units then focused on the pools. Sensors showed a sudden and marked rise in oxygen levels,
rapid increase in Nitrogen and other gasses. The pools began to change colour with deposits of
sulphides and phosphates. The bacteria were multiplying at a terrific speed. They were extracting
Carbon and other elements and producing mineral deposits. They were behaving like stromatellites.
The rate of growth was so huge it was visible to the naked eye…
“W-W-WOW; and that was only at 20% power!” Humerus stammered “I-i-imagine what’s going to
happen when we seed those inland lakes and seas!” he added wide eyed
“I think we can definitely say that was a success” Alicia managed to say after a brief silence “Those
“World Builders” really knew their stuff. Wait! The Bio monitors are showing something odd, Lisa
pull up units seven through twelve”. Lisa did as she was told. On the screens before them some of
the slimy microbes appeared to be undergoing a change.