ARC OF THE IMMORTALS Book 2

Time Rifts 58/ A Promise of Escape

Results of War — Collapsing Civilization

[TW: Implied mass genocides of humans on Mars and Venus. Atomic Devices exploding on Earth.]

Previous Chapter:

“Atmosphere-Eating-Viral Dispersal Units in Mars orbit are active and ready for launch.” The disembodied voice of the Newt (Grey) told Kurtz.

The hulking Kurtz looked at the scope and said:

“That back-up not needed. Six orbital platforms releasing toxins into the Martian oxygen atmosphere,” Kurtz stated. “Awaiting exponential acceleration.”

“Venus and Mars — all life destroyed — humanoids included. Estimated project projections,” the alien consulted his e-pad, “are ninety-five percent successful.”

Tommalar strode across the bridge of the Mu.

“Issue a recall of all personnel and civilians to the ship. Red Priority One, Code Blue,” he barked at the COS — Reypat.

“Yes, Captain. The inventory for functional hyperspace and jump drives on all ships will be in my hands soon.”

“Stand ready. We wait until more are on board.” Tommalar watched the long-range monitors as more mushroom shrouds appeared across the planet.

Shisla and Touzdae worked on the stabilization system of the hovercraft.

Try that, Touzdae shouted the thought from speech habits. She removed herself from the engineering compartment.

Amazing, systems nominal. Shisla thought.

Not much time. Touzdae said.

Shisla responded with a patient peace. A body, mind, emotion communion with Touzdae in one second.

The craft rose and rotated completely as it ascended. Forward thrust — not functional. He used the attitudinal jets to point the bow toward the vibrating water below. The hovercraft moved forward into the streamer. It was jarring and bumpy. The vibration began to attack the ship at a sub-atomic level.

Shisla adjusted the controls to compensate.

“Where is he? He should be back by now,” Touzdae exasperated.

Shisla adjusted the craft to a perpendicular position for stability. He checked the horizontal parameters and flipped the craft on the level. The bright light of the Tu Mai and Jac dance ceased. Jac twirled upwards above the craft and was suspended there for a few moments. He fell into the cargo bay of the hovercraft.

Streams of energy were moving up from the bottom of the arc as it began to destabilize. Shisla’s hands and fingers danced over the controls making minute adjustments. The jets caught and released in the upward currents of the arc. The ascension was tedious and slow with bumps and jerks.

Immobilized and on sensory overload Jac slid to the deck. He remained catatonic and unresponsive.

You’re not using thrust? Touzdae was incredulous.

This is a ground-effect hovercraft and cannot maintain thrust for extended periods. We need the greatest thrust for orbital insertion. Needlecraft needed once in orbit. Minimal vacuum exposure. Shisla delivered thought fragments.

Jac in shock. Something can do that? Touzdae reducing words in telepathic streamlining.

“Yes.” Shisla pushed two overhead buttons. A flexible tube fell from an overhead compartment. Bending over he rushed to Jac’s side and Touzdae joined.

They draped the flexible substance over Jac. Thoughts flew back and forth between Touzdae and Shisla. He returned to the cockpit in haste. Touzdae watched as the tube shaped itself around Jac.

Tube help. Shisla’s thoughts fleshed out a picture of the tube’s function to Touzdae.

The vehicle began to gain momentum as it circled inside the beam of the decaying arc.

“Can you use the transdimensional portal to put your ship into orbit?” Shisla asked aloud.

Touzdae brightened.

“Yes,” she said and she fitted herself into the transdimensional control matrix.

The hover vehicle rose and fell several times. It went higher, again in jumps and falls.

Touzdae accessed the transdimensional cockpit on the Needlecraft. She put its drive on standby. And checked the landing dock. The docking clamps held the Needlecraft in place. She opened the automated com to contact the dome security. And put in a request for release. Dead air — no response. The external temperature sensors indicated high heat.

“Lemurian defensive air strike has been launched.” Kurtz said as he peered into a scope. The blonde woman and the Newt-Greys looked at the mushroom clouds. They dotted the planet’s surface below on the larger holographic venue.

“The final destruction is on target. Unfolding according to projected statistics,” the Newt-Grey reported dispassionately.

“We’re clearing the way for the future we need to craft,” The blonde woman said as if she were trying to reassure herself.

Tommalar sounded the full recall again.

“Numbers?” Tommalar was impatient.

“Two-thirds of disembarked crew have returned. One-quarter of civilians approximately. Some are not responding,” Reypat reported.

“Make preparations to abandon ship. We may have to leave sooner than anticipated.”

“Aye, sir,” Reypat said.

“Precautions,” Touzdae said aloud and raised a multi-layered shielding system. She switched on the weapons array. She began cutting through the last two landing restraint locks.

Automatic particle weapons from the top of the dome deflected from the shielding around the Needlecraft. Touzdae continued to cut through the fourth clamp.

Shisla struggled with a rapid up-and-down motion in the arc within entry into the mesosphere. The rapid decrease in temperature played havoc with the maglift shoes. Shisla applied the internal heaters to the shoes. Stabilization was intermittent. It created rapid intermittent electrical shorts. Blowing breakers.

Touzdae made quick work on the fourth clamp and set to work cutting the last port rear clamp. The hover vehicle shuttered.

“What was that?” Shisla shouted down at Touzdae in the transdimensional chamber below. No answer.

The ground and the dome shook. A firestorm raged over the dome and debris from other structures impacted the dome and cut into it. The ceiling began to melt and collapse.

“We are losing altitude, systems failing.” Shisla.

Touzdae angled the sensors on the ventral and dorsal sections of the ship. Fires raged overhead and a series of explosions shook the ground. Fire blotted out the sky. The earth outside the spaceport was splitting apart. The ground began its collapse.

next chapter:

Contents:

Thank you for joining me in the adventures that span lifetimes and worlds. Blessings, Passion, and Grace on your journey. May whatever your looking for — find you.

[This is a fictional story. Like all fiction, elements of truth are present.]

(If you do NOT wish to be tagged, let me know, and I’ll tag you not):

Bruno T. | Mawde Olssen | K. Pearson Bradley | Rebecca Romanelli | Joseph Lieungh | Dr. Preeti Singh | Dr Mehmet Yildiz | Kris Bedenian | Alberto García 🚀🚀🚀 | Blaine Coleman | Lee David Tyrrell | DL Nemeril | David Price | Rip Parker | Annelise Lords | Libby Shively McAvoy | Vlad Casian |