Invasion Earth

Invasion Earth

  A Story by

  Philip R Benge

  ***************

  Published by

  Invasion Earth

  Copyright Philip R Benge 2015

  Cover Art courtesy of NASA camera on the Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite.

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  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Invasion Earth

  Chapter one

  The Magentans

  The new science institute, was housed within a rather ugly modern building, one constructed of glass and steel and designed by an architect without any sense of beauty. It lay in the suburbs of the small city of Chryst, a city filled with old world charm that lay on the eastern seaboard of the large central continent of the planet Magenta. Inside this modern building, in a large room set on the top floor of the six-storey building, a man and a woman were looking at a large monitor set on the wall before them, they were astronomers, and they were working late into the night. The monitor showed a planet that was five light years away from their cosy little planetary system, the picture coming from the large telescope situated on the dark side of their planet`s small moon. Violently ejected from its planetary system, the nomad planet they were studying moved rapidly through space, although this would not be apparent to someone entering into the room and looking at the monitor, to them it would appear to be an average planet moving slowly around its sun. The two astronomers first noticed the nomad planet when it appeared at the extreme inside edge of a large red giant star, some three light years behind it, which had been their actual target some four weeks ago, now though that had changed, and tonight`s viewing provided their fifth batch of data. Up until this time this nomadic planet had been hidden from view within the large Boracic dark nebula, however, when it finally escaped from the nebula, the Magentan sun had hidden it from their telescope upon their tiny moon. It was only after it had moved clear of their sun that its presence in space became noticeable, and it was only luck that two astronomers were looking in the right place at the right time.

  “Manse, its position in relation to Magenta has definitely changed since our first reading; it is now nearer to us than when we first sighted the planet.” Pet Aryl cried out in excitement. Aryl was a young woman just out of university, with flawless grey skin and a petite body; she was not tall, even for a Magentan, being only four feet seven inches in height. Her very being exuded excitement, for she found herself in the middle of what could be a class A astronomical discovery.

  “We have enough information now to map its expected trajectory; it should appear on the monitor in a moment.” Manse Dahry replied in his usual calm voice while tapping in instructions to their computer. Dahry was used to such things, they seldom amounted to much in his experience, which was why he had not used the preliminary data collected over the last three weeks to work out a possible trajectory, even though his junior colleague had begged it of him.

  On the monitor the map of the nearby space appeared, it showed the planet that they were interested in, and the nearby planetary systems including their own. Dahry`s calm instantly disappeared, to be replaced by a controlled panic. Pet Aryl was younger and she screamed out in fear as she saw the predicted trajectory of the rogue planet.

  “Manse, the bloody planet is not just moving closer to us, it is speeding towards us, it`s heading for our solar system, in fact it`s heading straight for Magenta!” Aryl screamed in fear.

  “Pet.” Manse said in a slightly calmer voice as he attempted to check the rising panic in his young colleague, as well as in himself. “If you will check all the data that we have amassed regarding the damn planet, I will check out the computer program, to make sure that there is not yet another problem with the software, it would not be the first time that it has happened.”

  This fact calmed Aryl down; yes, for she already knew that the software had provided them with one or two shocks since its installation two years ago. Two hours later and they were ready to re-run the computer simulation; however, the results were the same. In one hundred years and a few weeks, the rogue planet would crash through their planetary system, and it would finish all life upon the planet Magenta.

  **********

  Twenty grey humanoid creatures sat around a long heavily polished table, it was set in a magnificent room adorned with photos of past Magentans of note. The creatures were small compared to humans, their average height only five feet tall; however, their technology was in advance of that of Earth. The Magentans around the table were the planet`s grand council, elected by the people for the people, or so the council told the people.

  The people of Magenta had just begun to explore deep space, although without any notable success, but they were not about to discuss the massive costs involved, they were meeting to discuss the end of their world.

  “Members of the grand council. Let me reiterate the problem facing our planet. Our scientists have discovered a terrible truth facing our planet; it faces destruction by the fast moving rogue planet, the one that our astronomers discovered just two days ago.” President Charlis stated in a grim voice.

  “Mr President, we are all well aware of the problem facing us, what we want to know is ways to deflect this rogue planet away from our planetary system, we have one hundred years in which to accomplish it, surely our technology must be up to the task?” Councillor Stannis asked anxiously, Stannis was the oldest member of the council.

  “I am afraid not Councillor Stannis, I have been told by the two astronomers who first located the rogue planet, Manse Dahry and Pet Aryl, that the mass of the planet is far too great. They estimate that it is the equivalent to two hundred planets of the size of Magenta, while the diameter of the rogue planet is thirty percent of the diameter of our sun. It is a very large gas giant, almost a proto star, so we would be unable to land on it, and it would simply swallow up any atomic weapons sent against it and ask for seconds. The other astronomers of Magenta are cross checking all this information, but unfortunately, their preliminary results are in agreement with those of Dahry and Aryl, however, the confirmation regarding the trajectory of the rogue planet will take another three to four months.

  “I think that we can take it as read that their results will match those of Dahry and Aryl, don`t you Mr President? And why will it take the other astronomers so long to come up with their answer, it did not take Dahry and Aryl that length of time?” Consul Mortise asked grimly.

  The councillors all looked to their president, waiting for an answer to the question asked by Consul Mortise.

  “It will not, but to be absolutely certain of our facts I have despatched a starship to the rogue planet, it will follow the planet for a period of three months, they will report back their findings each month, and the trajectory of the planet will be a known fact. They will then release an automated drone, and this craft will relay information regarding the rogue planet for us long as the drone stays in operation.” Charlis stated grimly.

  “Why have our astronomers only just seen the planet, they have spent enough Magentan dollars over the last couple of decades, what with all the new space hardware they have acquired?” Mortise asked, his voice reflecting his concern at their people`s future, and his anger at the scientific community in general.

  “It is unfortunate
that it has come from that area of space that is comparatively barren. Much remains hidden within the large Boracic dark nebula, and the planet passed through that for a considerable length of time, hiding it away from our telescopes.” President Charlis paused for a moment while he had a drink of water from the glass before him, then he continued with his briefing.

  “I am given to understand that when it emerged from the nebula it was then hidden for a period of two months by our sun, only emerging now from behind its concealing disc. It is indeed unfortunate that in the one hundred years since our people acquired the star drive, our mercantile fleet has explored the other areas that are near to us, as they appeared to offer the hope of better returns. We would have got around to this area when the time was right; unfortunately the costs incurred held us back, and we took too long to do so, although the end result would have been exactly the same.” President Charlis replied, and as no one else chose to speak at that time, he continued speaking.

  “I have thought over the problem before us, since it was first brought to our notice just four hours ago, and I have come to the conclusion that we must manufacture five small but fast automated space probes. They would then be sent out to the planetary systems, both near to us and further away, to search for a new home world for our people, and one which will not be in the path of the rogue planet. I spoke to the president of Magentan Space just an hour ago and he guaranteed that the first of the probes could be ready for launching by the end of the year.” President Charlis declared, smiling at his council and awaiting their approval, which came, although a little muted, for the council was still in a state of shock, having finally accepted the facts.

  One of the younger members of the council did not feel like complementing his president though, he was the first to shrug of the effects of what he had just heard, and his mind quickly provided him with a compelling alternate strategy.

  “Why are we waiting on the automated craft to start our search for a new home world, when we would only be able to send them as they become available to us? We have a fleet of starships at our disposal, they may not be the ideal type of ship to search for a new home world, but we should use them while we build the starships that are up to the task. So while I agree that we despatch automated craft, when they are ready, I believe that we should start the search now, a year is a long time to wait when the lives of our people, our civilisation, is at stake.” Councillor Phairlis declared angrily.

  Phairlis was a very ruthless man who would stop at nothing to succeed, today something was telling him that the presidency could be his, if he played his cards right. However, there was the question as to whether he wanted it right now, for with the present emergency, whoever was president was in for a rough ride from the citizens of Magenta. The longer a solution to the problem took, the more violent the repercussions. He would first have to assess if the time was right to push for the post, only if he decided that it was would he ensure that he was in the right place to take advantage of the opportunity, when it presented itself, no matter whom he had to tread on to get there. Today he was lucky, for his fellow councillors joined in with his demands, he did not need to show his hand, however; Charlis shouted them down.

  “The automated probes will be able to travel further and faster, as they do not need to carry a crew, one which would require food, water, extra fuel, and also an environmental system to keep a crew alive. Furthermore, the probes will not need to return home to re-equip themselves with all that a crewed starship will need to ensure that the crew`s continued survival. An automated probe would also be more cost effective, and at a time when the need to economise has never been greater. We could then use our remaining resources to much better effect.” Charlis argued. Totally disregarding the argument put forward by Phairlis.

  “I for one do not propose waiting for a year to pass us by, I will beg our large fleet of starships, large or small, to travel into deep space and begin the search. I will use my wealth to pay for their hire and provisions to see that it happens, rather than waste valuable time.” Councillor Phairlis declared, and the wealthier members of the council declared that Councillor Phairlis could count on their fortunes as well. Phairlis had to work hard to stop the smile appear upon his face. ‘How easy it was to get others to help propel you to your chosen goal’ he thought.

  “Councillors, I am forced by your generosity to agree with you, and I will go further, I propose that the government match whatever funds that are made available by private funds.” Charlis said in a more conciliatory tone, for he saw that he had badly miscalculated and played directly into the hands of Councillor Phairlis, the most ambitious of his councillors.

  “However, I propose that we commence the manufacture of the fleet of five fully automated space probes immediately, for I still believe that they will be our best option in the search for a new home world.”

  The grand council accepted the president`s proposal unanimously, and Phairlis was more than satisfied with his day so far, for the president looked less than satisfactory to his fellow councillors.

  “When will we commence to build the armada that will be needed to take our people to safety, there are now two billion people on our world, it will take a vast number of ships, and many decades to produce them.” Councillor Stannis asked anxiously.

  “My dear councillor Stannis, we will be lucky if we manage to find places for just tens of thousands of our people, and even that will stretch the necessary resources of our planet, and our new home world. You and I will certainly not be amongst those who go; we will be far too ancient when the time comes, as will many of our citizens.” Charlis replied sardonically.

  Stannis looked shaken by the president`s statement, but when no one else came forward to protest, he sat back, and suddenly he felt much older, and much nearer to death.

  Councillor Remat was another of the aged members of the council, Remat was a medical doctor first and a councillor second, and he had stayed quiet during the debate, but now he spoke. “There may be a way for more of our people to survive, by proxy that is, if we were to manufacture, say, three large space arks, they could carry up to one million embryos in cryogenic stasis, they could be unfrozen in phases and placed inside suitable hosts, once colonisation is under way upon our new home world. This will guarantee a much wider gene pool, and that will aid in the rebuilding of our civilisation.”

  Everyone within the room applauded his suggestion as a suitable compromise, one that Stannis was happy to agree to. The President and his councillors decided that the manufacture of three large space arks would commence as soon as suitable plans were ready.

  **********

  Within one month of the council meeting, the first starships were heading out into deep space in search of a new home world; they were a mixture of ore ships, mining ships, a freighter, a space liner, and even one space yacht. The fully automated deep space probes took over the task as they became available. The government however did not send any of their small fleet of military vessels to join in the search, ones used to police both the home planetary system and the nearby systems where private corporations were busy extracting the mineral wealth of the galaxy. They wanted these craft handy in case lawlessness began to raise its ugly head, as soon as the awful truth sank into the minds of the Magentan people.

  The starships first began to make frantic searches of the nearby planetary systems not yet visited, however, they quickly realized that they needed to search planetary systems ever further away, and so the search dragged on. Thankfully, after five long years they finally managed to find six likely worlds that were close enough to Magenta to colonise. The five closest planets were not ideal, for only a limited number of colonists would be able to dwell upon them. The sixth world though, was quite similar to their own doomed world; its atmosphere and gravity being almost identical; give or take the odd pollutant. An automated probe had discovered the planet, and at a time when many Magentans had given up and could see only a premature death awaiting their des
cendants. Unfortunately, there were problems associated with this world; for one thing, it was seventy light years away from Magenta, a journey of twelve months for even their newest starships. However, there was an even greater problem with this planet, it was already populated, there were well over nine billion people living upon it.

  **********

  The president of Magenta immediately ordered the despatch of a cloaked starship, aboard the vessel was a team of scientists, there to make an initial investigation of the civilisation living on the sixth planet. Initially the investigation would be conducted from space, although a small reconnaissance team might be sent down to the planet if necessary. This starship was joined by a second ship, one sent by a small group on Magenta which was quickly winning more and more converts to an extreme agenda that promised the people of Magenta all that they hoped for, a new home world of their own, inhabited or otherwise, a group who called themselves the Chosen Ones. To this end, along with the crew of the starship they sent yet another team of scientists, there to amass a mountain of information that would prove that the sixth planet should belong to the people of Magenta. The leader of this new group, Orebetus Phairlis, and now elected to the rank of consul, a rank second only to that of the president, owned one of the daily newspapers of Magenta, and he published a continuous stream of managed information, information that was streamed back from his starship. The adjusted news gave them all the data they needed to unite the Magentans behind them, and to allow them to plan an invasion.

  The majority of Magenta`s more moderate leaders wanted to concentrate on the other five planets that they had found, while they searched for a seventh planet, even though it might condemn their own civilisation to existing rather than growing. However, emotional arguments against this view soon swept the planet, arguments that were seized upon and vigorously supported by the Chosen Ones and their fanatical followers. President Mortise had replaced President Charlis, who had resigned following a long bout of ill health brought about by the crisis. Mortise realized that he needed to speak to the citizens of his doomed world in an attempt to quell the growing unrest, and he would do it on television. He would have to explain why the sixth planet was not under consideration as a new home world, for the information he was receiving back from the starships still in orbit about the sixth planet was not at all good.