STAR ISLAND
BY ALFREDO JUILLET FRASCARA.
June 2002.

Ship "Verugongo", Federation Alliance Vessel.(200x30x39).Color:metal
black. Crew of Seven.

OFFICERS
Commander Gailbraith Orosembes.
Captain Mario Lizama
First Officer Farum Rashid
Pilot Pedro Fontova
Copilot Gunner Julio Aliaga
Communications officer Jaime Fuenzalida
Radar man Ricardo Palma
Officer Assistant Sonia Silva
BLUE SUITS
Stanley Bedford
John Berrens
Dwight Isenower
Lurid Beoke
Raste Cotero

Spaceship Cruiser "SILVERADO"
Commander Roda Picard
First Officer Gorbato
Pilot Jubani
Transports Saknar
Tech & Cook Foshan
Comm. Officer Hokar
Transport Room Greg Filarmon
Crew Smith; Hinkton.

Battle Cruiser NSA "Protector". (Motto: Never give up, never surrender").
Commander Peter Quincy Taggart
Lieutnant Tawny Madison
First Officer Doctor Lazarus
Chief Engineer Sargent Chen
Lieutnant Laredo
Blue Suit Crew:
Crew Nš6 Guy Flegman

Federation Orbital Base "Bachelor"
Populace 39.994 .
Commander Bisgungo

Synopsis.
Gailbraith Orosembes sole survivor from the Ship Verugongo ,7 crew
members; 5 killed by a dinosaur at planet 3 in Star 93. From there he flew
alone to star 299, 16 hours trip. Best planet GOBIO, terraformed in 3.230
CE, several big cities, One Government. Populace 3.290.009.222 hominids,
Hispanic Stock. From there, as Commander, to Dinoworld, where they fight
Dinosaurs, and capture some of that fauna to bring entertainment to Earth;
where they arrive after some killings.

CHAPTER ONE
- We have a Go.
- Roll in!
The starship descended to the planet below ,with a swift movement; soon it
was traveling through rows of clouds, to the West .
- Mountain ridge ahead-
- Rise .-
The ship made a swift turn, and flew over the ridge; at the other side, a
emerald ocean was present.
- Land on some place near the shore-
- Landing.
The ship turns a couple of times in the air, reducing speed; then, he almost
crashed to the ground, but manages to slow down at the last meters; the
trifid landing "legs" resisted the impulse; the ship lay still.
- The "Verugongo" has landed. "
- Right.-
They - six of them- unfastened their seat belts, and walked in the direction
of the Shaft.
- Air?
- Breathable.
- Temperature?
- 20š Centigrade. Soft wind from the south. Summer time ."
- Fine! Let's see what we get.
They walked outside, and felt the earth under their soles. One of them takes
a little dirt and smelled it.
- Like corn.- He said.
They walked some 300 meters, where some trees were standing; they turn
around, looking at the ship. The 200 meters long, 30 meters wide and 39
meters high of black polished steel were glittering under the sun.
- Nice ship. Guess we can be proud of it.
- Certainly.
They walked in pairs, looking every tree, flower, insect they encounter.
- Attention! Some creature is approaching.
- Arms out! Stand in attention!
They looked around ; the place has the trees, the grass, and the ship,
towering everything they could look upon. Soon a certain tremor begins, and
the creature appeared.
- Don't fire!"
The creature opened his mouth, showing rows of large teeth; he was
walking upright, with two hind legs; he as two arms with large paws ending
in black nails ; the creature was hungry.
- Fire!
The six of them used their C Beam Ray Guns, and the creature was loosing
big chunks of flesh with each fire; soon it was almost red , lost the major
part of his hide.
- Take cover!
The animal, unhindered, walks among them, smashing bodies and snapping
his mouth on torsos.
Gailbraith Orosembes was running down-hills with leaps on the air; the
creature looked on him, thinking about a chase; he decided not; he was
testing the flesh of those little creatures and he was also in pain; no need
to leave all this meat to the big birds of the sky!
Gailbraith stopped, some 300 meters away, and looked up to the fringe of
trees; there he could spotted the busy head of the Tyrannosaurus-plus - X
that was eating the (once) proud crew of the Verugongo".
He was almost trembling with fear, but he forced himself to walk round the
place, and at last, he faced the "Verugongo" from the other side.
He looked at the Dinosaur, who was kneeling strangely in front of the
trees...
- He is dying!"- Said he.
He run to the hatch, opened it, and slammed shut.
- Safe- Said he.
He walked to the controls; he very well could use now the Seat of the
Captain; a high chair in front of the big screen, with the rows of other seats
down below.
- Set a course to the nearest star system; send a distress call in all the
known waves!
- Set course to 299; distress call in course. All bands.
- Good. Now, see you didn t mess it all up! I need to rest.
- Ship in due course. All systems in alert.
Gailbraith- Gail- smiled; it was a good thing to be alive; a sad moment, of
course, when remembering his friends and companions. And also, this could
very well means a Discharge with Honors; or perhaps , to be in charge of
the "Verugongo" when the Investigation Team could end their work.
Not his fault, the dramatic episode! He was just Crew Number Six, and he
was in charge of the Second Shaft; now, he was the Captain and the Crew!
At the Captain's cabin, he smelled the rich air- the Captain uses the most
expensive Air Conditioner ,ever- and he lay on the big bed, soft as a
feather...
- This is going to be a good trip!- He said to himself...
After a 9 hour's sleep, he takes a bath, put Captain's clothes over his 1.70
meters high, and walked briskly to his Seat.
- Time to arrival?
- Sixteen hours, Captain.
- Tell me about the best of the planets.
- Terraformed in 3.230 C.E.; several big cities, one government. Name of
the Third Planet is " GOBIO." Population 3.290.009.222 hominids; Spanish
stock.
- Good and bad! I dislike Spanish people! Also, I don `t like the Spanish
tongue! Tell me, is there a Federation Base , there?
- In Orbit 32; name: "Bachelor", 39.994 crew members.
- Send them a message! Told them I am the sole survivor of the
"Verugongo"; I am arriving in 16 hours more; I will explain matters in
person, to the Commandant. "
- Message in progression. Message finished.
- Good.
- Message incoming. Message received. Did I read it?
- Read it.
- Base Bachelor 32; Commandant Colonel Bisgungo; to the Captain of the
Verugongo, Mr. Gailbraith Orosembes; Message received; mission
unknown to us; please explain your approach."
- Tell him I am the sole survivor of a deadly encounter on planet 3 ,Star 93;
creature attacks on us, I managed to escape. All crew members lost."
- Message ended. Message incoming.
- Read it !
- Base Bachelor 32; Commandant Colonel Bisgungo; to the Captain of the
Verugongo, Mr. Gailbraith Orosembes; Message received; Question:
Explain former exploration on planet 3."
- Retrieval of specimens; soil examinations; planting of vegetal from Terra. "
- Message ended.
Gail was looking into the main screen; the star 299 was almost invisible; the
ship was gaining speed; the parsecs were being counted in the velocimeter
as raindrops in a gale.
Gail went to see the crew chambers; he takes every credit card he could put
his hands on, and went busy transferring the amounts to his own; the ship `s
main computer will do the transactions in due course; he was as sure as he
was breathing that all that dug were going to be in his account in just a few
seconds after...
He went to sleep, in order to be fresh when the time of the arrival comes.
The ship was in automatic- almost as usual- and the eight hours sleep of
Gail diminished the 16 hours to seven; he uses five hearing the TV
transmissions, so he learned a lot about 299 and it's planets.
At the outskirts of the planetary system, a big vessel approached , saying
they were there to escort the "Verugongo"; some personnel were going
aboard.
Gail opened the hatch, and soon he was looking three beautiful girls, and
two guys in uniform.
- I am Roda Picard, Commander of the "Silverado"; you are going with me,
Mr. Gailbraith Orosembes; the ship "Verugongo" will be manned to our
Base by this two officers. They are capable to do it, even without the Main
Computer."
Her voice was a sing-song very agreeable to hear, specially by Gail, who
was eager for a woman, after so many days in the Out There...
- The ship has been a home for me; also, there are some belongings on
board I would be glad to recollect."- Gail said to her.
- Okie Dokie; go get them and we will go."- She said.
So Gail takes his seven bags- and departed by the duct between the two
ships.
Some minutes later, the two male officers takes the control of the
"Verugongo" and fly after the "Silverado", who was a 390 long ship, with 2
C beam guns and more than 290 missiles with multiple heads (Hydrogen
bombs).
- Soon we will be at the Base, so why don t you relax a bit?"- Said Roda
Picard, with her sing-song voice; she was seated on the Commander Seat, a
high place where all the rest of the crew could be seen working at the
controls of their consoles.
- Yeah, Right, Commander! I am an expendable crew member again!"- Gail
said, seated next to her- in a puny chair.
- Just tell me what happens out there, please? I am curious."- She said,
smiling to him; so Gail told her all about it, restraining to do so in the matter
of the credit cards; a thing he was almost repented, but with no way to erase
the action easily!
- It s a bad thing to go on with the little crews doing those big jobs, he?"-
Roda said, after his recount.
- Yeah, too little a crew for that matter.- He said.
- I am commander of this Cruiser since the first month of this year; a good
assignment."- Roda said.
- Guess it is.- Gail said, looking her profile; she was white, straight nosed
and very beautiful; she was aware of his stare, and she blushed; but said
nothing.
- Wish I could rest a while, Commander. Could you send me to some quiet
place?"- Gail asked.
- There are several cabins ; you could search one for yourself; just go to
level 3 and serve yourself.- Roda said.
He went under the floor, using a tube, and find level 3 easily; a dim lighted
place, with several cabins in the dark; he enters in one, and the light came
alive, sensing his presence.
He lay on the bed, relaxing himself; he was very far from home, but home
was just a word, for him.
Half an hour later, Roda came in, saying:- Wake up, soldier!"
Gail stand up, looking dazzled.- What's up, Commander?
She looked him for a -while, and unfastening her clothes, said:"- This is
happening."
- Good .- He said, taking her breasts for himself, and closed the door.
Two solid hours they reminded there, and after that, went to the main cabin.

BASE "BACHELOR"

The sun was gleaming and they were approaching Base "Bachelor"; soon
they were docked, Commander Roda receive orders pertaining Gail, and she
said:"- I have orders about you."
- Don `t hesitate to do it; what happens between you and me was only
love."- Gail said.
She looked at him, and crying, she embraces him, saying:"- Wherever you
go, remember me! But, also, I will be waiting for you; I will send you with
my two most faithful crew members; they will help you ."
- Thanks you, my darling!"- Gail said, hugging her.
He walks almost in the air- 0.3 gravity inside the Base- and presented
himself before Commander Bisgungo; he was a small man, 1.54 Mt. high,
and seated on a big chair behind a big mahogany desk- he looked
impressive.
- Well, Mr. Gailbraith Orosembes! At last you are here! "- He said, waving a
hand, pointing to a chair in front of the mahogany desk.
- Yes, Commander Bisgungo! Nice place you have here."- Gail appraised;
the place was like the interior of a big man-o war from the time when Spain
was ruling the waves with his Galleons.
- So, you are the sole survivor of your ship! Very impressive, indeed! You
know, here we are just idling, as there are no enemies in this places; and
your adventure I pretend to post all over the Base."
- Suit yourself, Commander; I have made a full report , that you could read
or hear by yourself."- Gail said, handling him a CD with all the recorded
affidavit .
- Good to hear this! But, please, indulge me ! I want to hear your personal
account. You may begun now; the recorder is on."- The Commander said.
So, Gail explained everything that happens in planet 3, and the death of his
Captain and the rest of the crew. At last, he said: "_ I hope I could be
working again, Commander. Please ask this for me, in your report to
Headquarters."
- I will do my best!"- Bisgungo assured him.
- I want to know what is going to happen with me , now! I don t want to be
idling in your Base! I could be of use at some ship."- Gail asked.
- Nothing of that now, please! I will give you some room , in the Male's
quarters, and there you will wait further orders. The Headquarters will be
deciding your future ."- Bisgungo said, dismissing him with a wave of his
hand...
A junior officer takes him to his new lodging: a small room with a bath room
included- and a bed. Nothing else there to look upon.
- OH, it is rather small ! I will prefer to be at my own lodgings in the "
Verugongo".
- Impossible! The "Verugongo" it's declared Out of Limits."- The petty
officer said.
- And where I am going to eat? "-
- You could go to the Officers Club; nice meals there. Hope you have any
money; the place is expensive."- The officer said, and closing the door,
leave Gail in his new avoiding place.
- A rat-hole! - He yelled, banging a wall.
After some minutes, the bags with his belongings arrive, and the place was
almost packed up.
Then, he takes a nap, but after some 20 minutes, a bang on the door awake
him; he opened the door, and saw Commander Roda Picard; she was
accompanied by several other officers.
- Gailbraith Orosembes: you came with me.- Said she.
He went out, and she was already walking by the corridor; he hasten after
her, and said:"- Where are you carrying me?"
- News, Mr. Gailbraith! The Headquarters send a message to out
Commander; we are going to a meeting , now."- Said she.
Soon, they were seated in front of the big desk with the dwarf in behind it,
and when the silence returned, the Commander of the Base "Bachelor"
said:"- Headquarters finds the news very exciting; in this era of new
discoveries, the adventure of the " "Verugongo" it's the most amazing of all:
dinosaurs in our time!"
The Commander Bisgungo laughed, and then recover his composure,
saying:"- The orders are you, Gailbraith Orosembes, are going back to
planet 3 in the Star 93; there, you will collect as many young specimens as
you could without endangering the breed ! And carry them all to Earth,
where they are going to be shown at the bigger Zoos ! Then, you will carry
them all to planet 3, to fulfill their natural lives. Understood?"
- Yes, Commander! Hope I could command the " Verugongo"!"
Bisgungo said he could, so the happiness of Gail was great.
- Commander Roda Picard will escort your ship; needless to say, you need a
new crew; twelve will be enough."- Commander Bisgungo said.
- Thirteen it s a bad number, Commander Bisgungo! Please make it
fourteen."- Roda Picard said.
- Commander, I warn you about superstition in our times! But, I am a
superstitious too! So fourteen will be."- Bisgungo said, smiling a dwarf
smile...
- When are we going to depart?"- Gail asked.
- Not before New Year! There are a lot of refitting at your ship."- Bisgungo
said.
- Half a year! It `s too much for me, Commander! To be inside that cubicle
you lend me as a chamber!"- Gail complained.
- You could go down, to some city, Commander! You have five months
without payment, so you will receive a lot of money to spend. "- Bisgungo
said.
- I wasn t aware of it! And , yes, I want to go down to some city; I had been
a lot of time in deep space."- Gail said.
- Very well, you are off- duty beginning in this minute. You must be here the
first day of the first month of the next year. "- Bisgungo said.
They all left the room, and Roda said:"- So you are going down to the cities;
I recommend you Eutropia."
- Oh, girl! What is so good about Eutropia that you recommend it to me?"-
Gail asked, gaily.
- "Eutropia is where the traveler sees no tone city but many, of equal size,
and not unlike one another, scattered over a vast, rolling plateau. Eutripia is
not one, but all these cities together; only one is inhabited at a time, the
others are empty; and this process is carried out in rotation. "
- Good idea! Never be bored stiff to live in just one site! "- Gail said, but he
wasn't sure it was all a joke of the lady...
- I am able to go with you, if you like."- She murmured.
- Of course it would be fine, gorgeous! You will lighten all my days under
the sun!"- Gail said, looking at her; she was tall, blonde and beautiful; what
else he could ask for a perfect vacation?"
They traveled down in a shuttle craft, landing in Eutropia`s Space field.
Lots upon lots of people were milling around there; Gail and Roda Picard
were lost in the crowds; they grab their bags and went to the Elevator, then
to the Metro (Subway), where they were crammed against a humid humanity
without name ; they were as tuna fish in a can; soon the vehicle was
traveling fast through the dark tunnel; another Station, a brief stop, and
another travel by the night...
- It is hot !"- She said, feeling for a little air.
- Too many people!"- He said, complaining...
They find a place to get out of that tin-can, and found a Hotel, where they
booked for a week.
- At last solitude!"- Gail said, seating on a couch.
She went to seat on his knees, embracing him; they both were people of the
stars, and the high gravity of the planet makes them tired.
They loved each other, and the night was magic for them.
In the morning, they bathed and clothed anew; everything was so different
from the ship's normal activities, that they were really interested in to see
the city, so they went outside .
At the lobby, they find a guide to see the city without wandering around and
get missed the better parts.
The guide was a woman, lady Perray Bobadilla; young and black hairdo, she
said:-" AS you are a normal young couple, I guess the museums and zoos
are out of the question; you perhaps want to see the Malls, the sport clothes
shops, perhaps a Pub or two, a dine in a Music Restaurant?"
- You are divine!"- Roda Picard said.
- I guess that is exactly what we wish."- Gail said, so they begun the tour,
guided by Perray Bobadilla; all what was asked of them was their money;
having a good lot- specially from the Credit Card- they has no problem
whatsoever.
The people was merry and gay, in the young section of the city they begun
visiting; they were using an autocar Perray had, and so there was little
walking to do; good for them, who were accustomed to a slighter gravity for
their bodies.
They bought a lot of sport clothes, and so they begun to look more alike the
rest of the young people from that city; also, the meals were choose by
Perray, in order not to upset their digestion.
- At board there is more pills than meals!"- Roda Picard said.- "Not too
much time to have straight meals."
Perray said:"- There is less time or space for the
indulgence of private sorrows. From morning till night there
is always some immediate practical demand on one's attention, in this city."
Then she invited them to see her house, and as she was married, he said:"-
In contracted households,
children may play a part less romantic but not less useful than
that assigned to them in fiction, through the mere fact of
giving their parents no leisure to dwell on irremediable
grievances. Though my own apprenticeship to family life had
been so short, I had already acquired the knack of rapid
mental readjustment. Such readjustment is of course only momentary; yet
each time it
happened it seemed to give me more firmness and flexibility of temper."
- Good wife you must be! "- Gail said, looking at the photos of 3 kids .
- I am not as good as I should be, as I leave the kids at the Nursery almost
all day long; but it is the only way to have time for me to work as a Guide."-
She said.
- Is your husband working, too?"- Gail asked of her.
- I have no husband; I get the artificial insemination program; I was eager to
be a mother, without the hindrance of to be a wife."- She explained.-" Most
of the girls in the city did likewise. Husbands are so much of a nuisance!"
They went out of there, to the Hotel, with her aid. In the car, Gail felt the
pressure of Perray close to his, and looking at her face, he saw she was
blushed.
He brushes his hand on her thigh, and she trembles. Gail was becoming
attached to the black hairdo woman, and so when they went out, he
managed to say :"- Please, wait me at the lobby!"
Gail and Roda went to their room together, saying good bye to the Guide,
but he told Roda he was going to buy a special beverage at the Bar, so she
waits him at their room.
At the lobby, he saw Perray standing near the outer door; arriving at her
side, he said:"- I am totally interested in you; please go outside."
She said nothing, but followed suit; in the street, he said:"- I love you."
- Me too!"- She said, and embracing the man, offered her lips to be kissed;
Gail kissed her lightly, finding the process very delightful.
They went to her apartment, and loved each other ; then, Perray said:"- I
guess this ends my work with you."
- Perhaps your work as a Guide ends here, but begins a romance ."- Gail
said, kissing her for hours.
At dawn, Perray took a shower, and went to Gail, who was still bedded.
- I am leaving now, as I must fetch my two kids from the Nursery; each
seven days I must have them here."
- Do as you must! I will accompany you, if you desired it so."
- No, please don't! I must be alone when picking them up. But you could
wait me here."
- I will."- He said, and when alone, begun thinking in the troubled Roda
Picard, who at that time should be very worried about him. He called to the
Hotel, and finding her there, he said:"- Roda, please forgive me, but I spend
the night with another woman!"
At the little color screen, her eyes looked greater with the surprise; then the
eyes seems to be turned in liquid fire.
- You rascal ! I swear you are going to pay for this, you swine!"- And she
hung up.
Gail sighed a lot, but reminded at Perray `s home; at noon, the ring bells,
and he opened the door.
A man was in the threshold, looking grave; he was 1.90 meters tall, dark
build, and with a rusty voice, he said:"- Where is that bitch?"
- I beg you pardon?"
- I say: where is the little bitch?"- and the man goes in there, searching for
someone.
- Perray is not home; she is in some errand."- Gail said, becoming pissed off.
- I say she is a whore! She has two little kids from me, and now she is hiding
them from me ! I am his father!"- Said the man, standing in the middle of the
saloon.
In that instant appeared Perray with her two sons; both wearing the
resemblance of their father; that strikes Gail negatively.
- There you are! I am here to tell you I need to be with my sons, once in a
while! "- Said the man.
- You are not his father! You leave me before they were born!"- Perray
yelled him, with such a violence Gail was amazed.
- You must lend me those kids at least once a week , and not hide them for
months for yourself!"- Said he, waving his arms.
- I am going to call the Police if you don't go this very minute, you hear me?
You are scaring the kids with your presence!"- Perray yelled to the man,
who walks out, saying:"- I `ll be back in a week, and if you deny me my
rights, I will see you have the better of me!"
After his departure, she carried the boys to her bedroom, and leaves them
there, watching the Television programs.
- Oh, that Enrique! He is such a beast! Pardon my vocabulary and behavior,
but it is the only language he understand!"- Perray said, hugging him dearly.
Gail was in the alert; he was not interested anymore in such a romance, and
he said:"- I beg your pardon, Perray, but I cannot be molesting you
anymore! This problem of yours is too big for me to solve."
She steps back, looking at him in surprise, and said."- I am not asking your
help, Gail ! Did I ask you for something?"
-You hadn't , but..."
- No, no! I am not asking a damn thing from you! And if you don't want me
,say so!" - And her eyes were firing coals.
- You see? You can be as nasty as with your husband, or whatever he is.
No, this is not for me; I want sweetness and caring from a woman; not sons
and husbands !"
Gail walk to the door, and went out. He heard Perray broke something
against the door.
- What a fiend!"- He murmured, taking a cab to the Hotel.
There, he finds a note:
"You Rascal: Hope you get AIDS from the black whore!" And signed "
Roda."
- Women are such a scary critters!"- Gail said to the window; then, he went
to the Hotel Bar.

BABE BLOW.

There Gail asked for a whisky; he was sipping at that, when he saw a
gorgeous blonde seated at a table, looking at a wrist-watch every fifteen
seconds; he walks there with his tumbler, and said:"- Lady, I see you are
waiting for someone that doesn't deserves you! "
- Seat down, and tell me more."- She smiled at him, but she was in the verge
of a cry.
- Wow! You are beautiful, blonde and blue eyed! And I bet you have a
beautiful figure, too!"- Said he, seating next to her.
- Please don't figure too many things, either! It `s just I have a boy-friend,
and I was so stupid as to call him to rearrange matters and renew our
affair...but I am seeing he said "yes" just to hung on me! "
And a little tear run down the make-up.
- No, no! Do not cry! I am your savior, your white chevalier on a white
horse, ready to the rescue! Me, myself, are in the same position, you see? I
had lost not one, but two damsels in the same day! What I said? In one
morning! One, betrayed by me behavior, left me. The other, a liar, saying
there was no man in her life, and there he was, a full father of two sons ,
begging for a time to spare with his sons! What a world!- Gail Said.
She looked at him with more care, and said:"- Two women ? You were
having a romance with two women at the same time?"
- Not at the same time! But in a hurry, yes."- Gail smiled, gently.
- Well, I am not decided to begun a new romance; not with a perfect
stranger!"- She said, asking the waiter for the count.
- I am Gailbraith Orosembes, sole survivor of the ship "Verugongo", and
newly appointed Commander of the Expedition and Retrieval of Dinosaurs
on planet 3 of Star 93." - He said, in one breath.
She looked at him in amazement, and said:"- This is for real, or what?"
- I am a real spaceman! I can show you my cards."- Gail said, producing
one, that she looked very thoroughly; she handed back, saying:"- Gailbraith,
welcome to my life!"
- And you to mine!- Gail laughed, taking her by the arm and walking out to
the street.
- Have you a car?"- She asked,
- No, as I am in a short leave here."
- No matter! I have money for a taxi trip! Let's go to my place."-
- Enchanted, Madame.- Gail said, and soon he was looking the streets
passing by, aboard a fast taxi car.
- Tell me more of your adventure!"- She asked, smiling like a cat.
- Well, the thing goes like this; I was crew member number 6 at the ship,
and when we were hunting, we were attacked by a Tyrannosaur-like beast, I
was running down-hills with leaps on the air; the creature looked on me, but
didn't chase me as he was testing the flesh of those little creatures and he
was also in pain for our shoots; no need to leave all this meat to the big
birds of the sky!
I stopped, some 300 meters away, and looked up to the fringe of trees; there
I could spotted the busy head of the Tyrannosaurus-plus - X that was eating
the proud crew of the Verugongo".
- And you were very terrified?- The girl asked.
- I was almost trembling with fear, but I forced myself to walk round the
place, and at last, I faced the "Verugongo" from the other side.
I looked at the Dinosaur, who was kneeling strangely in front of the
trees...He was not moving. I run to the hatch, opened it, and slammed
shut."
- Safe- Said she.
- Yes! I walked to the controls; I very well could use now the Seat of the
Captain; a high chair in front of the big screen, with the rows of other seats
down below. I told the computer: " Set a course to the nearest star system;
send a distress call in all the known waves!"
- And the computer?"- Asked her.
- Well, the computer set course to Star Number 299; distress call in due
course, in all bands available. They heard me, nurse my trip, and here I am
now, talking to you in a cab!"- Gail ended his exposure.
The taxi cab stopped in front of a big building; lots of people were passing
by , and she paid the race, and went inside with Gail.
She presses some buttons, inside the Elevator, and said."- We will be there
in a minute."
- Good.- Gail said, as he was being pressed in the cabin, with more than 39
other people.
At the corridor, and out the elevator, she said:"- By the way, my name is
Baby Blow."
- A strange name; but babe you are!"- Gail said, as he was walking a little in
behind and he was seeing the swaying and bulking of her body, walking like
a mermaid.
She pressed her thumb on a rectangle, and the door slips by; they enter, and
the door slips shut. A good system, nobody having not the thumb of Baby
Blow could enter the place!
Inside, a wide living quarter; a pair of big arm-.chairs, some electronic
gadgets, and a corridor; she seats at a double arm-chair, patting at her side,
and invited him to seat down.
- Wow, this place has surely some style!"- He said, smiling.
- The work of the latest of the Decorators; my Uncle Tom."- She said,
smiling too. But her eyes were saying something, and her lips were moisten,
she kissed her lightly, but she embraces him with force, she forced her
tongue inside his mouth, and her breath was very heavy.
- Too many months without a lover!"- Said she, ripping his pants...
Hours later, with a glass of Whisky on his hand, Gail was looking out the
window; the sun was bathing the city with a white glimmer, and the dark
masses of the buildings looked like rocks in a cliff.
Babe Blow was naked, sleeping as a child, on the bed; a pink round body,
with her hair like an halo around her head; the hear of Gail was resounding
with her moans and love words uttered not so much time ago.
He leaves the glass on the window sill, and went to the bath; he takes a long
shower, dressed himself and went out, leaving the girl to recover.
The busy street was there aright; long lines of workers were milling around,
finding they daily courses.
Gail looked at the sky, imaging the hundreds of crafts circling the globe
there; but they were invisible, thanks to the glare of the sun.
- Hey, what happens to you? Leaving me at the bedroom all alone?"- A
voice told him in his hear.
It was Babe Blow, smiling . She was wearing a tiny garment over his body,
and a long transparent robe.
- I was looking at the city.- He said.
- Well, lets go to have our breakfast!" - She invited him, taking him by his
arm.
They take a cab, and she told the driver where to go; soon they were
arriving to a big building; leaving the car, they enter and he was amazed to
see the dozens of corridors, all of them with lots of stores and drinking
places; Babe carried him to a dark tavern, where she asks for coffee and
some bread.
- Here, the coffee came from a distant place; it s exquisite."- She told him.
Gail was looking at the rest of the people; scant tables were occupied- as
they were in working hours. The sounds of the corridor were hushed here,
and almost a total silence was present.
- Thanks.- Babe told the waiter who leaves the cups of coffee and the bread
and butter on the dark table.
They drink, and she said:"- Well, my newly lover, tell me more about you."
- I will be going in some weeks more; we are to depart. Perhaps it s not a
too much good of an idea to keep on loving each other; pain it s at the end
of the road."- Gail said, remembering his former lovers.
- Not to me, no! I am totally aware you are a swift presence in my life; but I
want to enjoy a love that will be not stained by the time. "- Babe told him,
kissing him repeatedly. Her breath was hot and dry.
Gail finished his coffee , and said:"- How we could enjoy the day?"
- We could go fishing, or swimming. The sea it's near."- Babe told him.
They went there in a bus, and they bathe all the afternoon with pauses to
take the sun on the beach; the place was not too much crowded, and the
waves were mild.
- Oh, I wish we could live like this the rest of my life!"- She told him,
laughing.
- For me, it would mean paradise.- Gail said, touching that warm and soft
skin with his fingers.
When darkness fall, they return to the department, and change clothes; he
has his bags with lots of clothe to be using. She has a Closet full of dresses,
in all the colors and shapes imaginable.
They went to dance at a place where the drinks were all non- alcoholic, for a
change. Lots of the people there were teen-agers.
- I feel like Methuselah here!"- Gail said to her.
- Don't you worry about your age! You are perfect to me!"- She said,
smiling gently.
They danced a lot, until Gail saw there were people smiling at him; he was
enraged to see they did that because he was older; he asked Babe Blow to
return to the Hotel.
- Oh, my! I was so enchanted here! It is something I did?"- She complained.
- Of course not! But I am not enjoying this; pardon me."- He said, trying to
be honest.
- O.K.! O. K!"- She almost yelled, so a lot of people was looking at them,
wandering what was happening...
They return in a taxi , and at their bedroom she said:"- Oh, I will never be
going again with you to a dancing place! You are so bored!"-
Gail was outraged, but said nothing; he takes a shower, and went to bed;
she was lying fully dressed over the bed; he covers himself and get asleep...
In the morning, Gail was fully aware Baby Blow was over the bed fully
clothed, and sleeping. He dressed himself and went out.
In the street, he saw how the people was rushing to their working places;
everyone with a duty to accomplish- except him!
He went to take a cup of coffee and a sandwich near-by, and then he saw
Baby Blow walking by the street; he run out, and said:"- Where are you
going?"
- Why do you care? "- And taking a taxi, disappeared from his sight...
Gail enters the Coffee shop, paid and went out. He was utterly smashed by
her behavior; he felt himself lost. He walked to the hotel, and taking his
belongings, he put inside a trunk, called a bell-boy and went out; soon he
was heading to another section of the city; he had six months to burn out!
In those months, he forced himself to live a very regular life, studying whole
documents about the Starfleet, about the Psychology of Command, and
Human Behavior; he , as a common blue-suit crew in his former assignation,
was to be a full Commander; so he was eager to be a good one.
When the time comes, he manages to be in a Shuttle to the "Verugongo"
spaceship, and when crossing the Lock, he saw three persons there ,waiting
for him.
- Welcome aboard, Commander Gailbraith!"- Roda Picard said, with
disdainful manners.
Gail was astonished to see her there; he was sure she was at her own
vessel!
- Take to my quarters!"- He asked to the next crew member, who guided
him by the familiar corridors; he enters the place who was his for the
mission... He looked outside, by a peep-hole. There it was, orbiting near-by,
the "SILVERADO" battle- Cruiser, with the dark colors who were in use.
He dismissed the crew member, and closed the door; he begun studying the
documents at his computer ; there it was the full briefing for the present
Mission. He was there learning every detail until afternoon. He asked then
to be served some meal in his room.
A female crew member enter the place, carrying a tray with some dishes.
- Here is your lunch, Commander.- She said, smiling faintly. She was about
to go, but Gail said:"- Wait! Tell me who you are."
She was tall and slender, with big eyes and a fair complexion.
- I am Raste Cotero; Petty officer."
- How much time in the Starfleet?"
- Counting to- day?"
- Yes.
- Four weeks, Sir."
- So you are fresh from the Academy! Tell me, is Mr. Kirk still giving
lessons there?"
- Oh, yes , Commander! Very much so! He was my teacher."- Raste said.
- You see, I am an old admirer of Teacher Kirk; but please, accompany me
to lunch! It's very sad to eat alone."
She seats in another chair, and Gail continues:"- Captain Kirk is one of the
first Captains sent to explore our surrounding Universe. He collects data for
five years, and at his return, finds a very different world than when he
parted."
- How that could be, Sir?"
- Because of the Span time! The more fast an object, the lesser time it
passes for it; and Earth, in those times, - as ever- flew at a very slow
motion- compared with the "Enterprise".
- Oh, I remember it! Captain Kirk flew for five years of the "Enterprise"
time! How many years passed in Earth, Commander?"-
- 1.528 years!"- Gail remembered.
- Oh; then, I meet a very old man, then!"- She said, laughing.
Gail ends his meal, and said:"- Would you came here with my meals to-
morrow?"
- If you order it to my Superior Officer, There will be no problem at all, Sir."
- I will.- Gail said, standing. She did the same, and carrying the empty tray,
went out. She was tall, and beautiful, and Gail became very interested in her.
Sighing, he went out, to the Control Room.
They all salute him. There were the new officers at their appointed posts.
- At ease!"- He said, looking up to them. They were all unknown to him, as
the former ones leaves their bones in planet 3.
- Names and occupations, please!"
They told their names and posts: this is the entire list.
Farum Rashid First officer.
Mario Lizama Captain
Pedro Fontova Pilot
Julio Aliaga Co-pilot; gunner.
Jaime Fuenzalida Communication officer
Ricardo Palma Radar man
Sonia Silva Technical officer

-Good! I see young faces - eager to depart. I will ask permission to
depart, and we will be on the move"- Commander Gailbraith Orosembes
declare, using the Intercom for the whole ship īs crew to hear.
- Jaime Fuenzalida, as Communications officer, will leave open the
microphones at all times; the intercommunications with all the sections of
the Verugongo ,live. "- Gail said.
- Officer Fuenzalida, communicate me with Base Bachelor `s commander in
chief!"
After some time, Fuenzalida said:"- They say he is busy at the time; but that
he will call you back soon."
- Acknowledged."- Gail said.- "Communicate me with the Commander of
the cruiser........."
Soon he was talking to a stiff mannered Roda Picard; they were looking at
each other by the monitors.
- I am trying to communicate with the Base Bachelor's commander, in order
to depart."- Gail said.
- I see. Hope you could advise me beforehand, Commander."
- Of Course, Captain Roda! Are you still angry with me?"
- Why I should be angry , after you leave me waiting at an Hotel Room for a
whore that crossed your path?"- Roda answered.
- They you are still angry!"
- You are a mere worm for me now, Commander Gailbraith! I will follow
your orders as I see fit. Take notice of that!"
- Beware, take care! Or else Ill see you walking by the ladder!"
- Ha, ha! Are you as nuts as Commander Blight?"- Roda asked, and ends
the transmission.
Everyone in the "Verugongo" takes notice of this conversation, as the
Intercoms were ON for all the Sections...
So, there were smiles all over the ship, and amazingly, that open
conversation build a sense of companionship, that bounded them all.
That night, when Gail went to sleep, Commander .... from the Base Bachelor
still didn t answered him.
At dawn, Gail heard a distress call. He phoned Main Deck, and Sonia Silva,
who was there working her night shaft, said:"- A badly battered ship has
appeared, Commander! It is being towed to Base Bachelor in this very
minute."
- I will travel to the Base. Prepare a shuttle craft.- Gail asked.
He aboard the little craft with First Officer Farum Rashid, and they went
looking at the newly arrived starship.
It was of amazing size, and of bizarre design. It has big wings that encircled
the hull as half moons; from the underside the wings went high, curved, and
end where the hull finished, but at some 200 meters apart.
The name was in front; it reads " NSA. PROTECTOR."
- Oh!"- Farum said.
- What?"
- This ship! Itīs the "Protector!" The most important of all the ships, after
the "Enterprise".
- I have never heard of it! - Gail troubled his mind.
- Well, Commander, itīs missions were not as published as the
"Enterprise's", but I assure you they are no less at all in importance!"
- Wish I could had readed more about."
- Perhaps itīs entire crew is now meters apart from us! This is very
exciting!"- Farum almost yelled.
- Brace yourself up, man! Or are you a faggot?"
- Not a faggot! But a gay."- Farum said, proud of that deviation.
As in the year of this events, Gay people were Totally accepted by the
Society, and it Was not a thing to be Ashamed of, to be a Sissy!
- I am sorry; I will speak to you in tender ways, in the future."- Gail
mumbled.
- Not too tender, please, Commander! I am already engaged myself."- Farum
said, turning his Body this and that.
Gail blushed himself, out of Rage, but said nothing. He detests Gay People,
as the right behavior for a Man is not to be laid by another man!
- Course, Commander Gailbraith?"
- Set course and dock at Base Bachelor."- Gail ordered, trying to relax
himself, in order not to throw the "Gay" out the Lock.
Farum enters first the "Base Bachelor" with Commander Gail , and said:"-
Oho! What a mess!"
And it was so, because there were many bags and supplies being stowed at
the Base, coming from the Planet; supplies for a month.
Gail directed himself to the Main Deck, where Commander Bisgungo was
supervising things...
- Good Day, Sir!"- Gail told Bisgungo.
- Oh, Commander Gailbraith! Good day to you, Sir! Come along, and see
that battle ship over Dock Number Eight !"
- Yes, Sir, Commander ! I was curious about it!"- Gail answered.
- It is the famous "NSA Protector" ! He encounter some Dreg battle-
cruisers and fight them- and their fast scout ships- with valor and strength."
- Commander Bisgungo said.
Gail knew nothing about Dregs, so he asked.
- What ! Do you know nothing about Dregs and their evil civilization?"- The
Commander of the "Base Bachelor" was astounded.
- Well, I had never heard that name, in my days of student, and nothing in
the News, either!"- Gail said.
- "I see...Well, Commander Gail, I am now fully Aware that your Education
has a serious flaw."
- I am sorry to trouble you."- Gail Gasped.
- Generosity in all things! It`s my motto, anyway! Be not worried; I will fill
your gap, Commander Gailbraith."- Bisgungo roared, for all to hear; so Gail
was very ashamed, as in the Base Bachelor's Main Deck were lots of
Officers on duty...now all well informed about his ignorance!
- The "Dreg" Empire seeks to destroy Earth! Itīs sole motive itīs to wipe the
planet out of Existence. They presume that WE, the Hominids, could
dominate the Universe! They are conquering Start Systems since Unknown
Times, and they had fought Races ,and or Genus, for the Thousands.So they
knew what they were fighting with, when they find us, Earthlings!"
Gail was amazed. Where was he, when all of this was happening?
- The Dregs appeared in Pluto three years ago; We suffered some heavy
loses in the Neptune Moons. To the General public, not a word of this was
told; the News were that some Volcano erupted there and Killed a hundred
Colonists . Do you remember something about this?"
Now Gail has something to recall! He was sure he read those News, and he
discarded them, as a natural event of the Cosmos.
- I remembered that.- He replied.
- We were fighting then with all of our might! For two years we fought, and
at last we repelled them from our Solar System's vicinity!-
- A good thing.- Farum said, approaching...
- And now, deep in Space, brave Commander Taggart in his "Protector"
battle cruiser, finds a whole Dreg Army, en- route to Planet Earth! -
Commander Bisgungo said.
- So there īs danger, now ?"- Farum Rashid asked.
- Who knows? Better to be prepared; I am sending notice to all our Bases ,
about this incident. Earth must be prepared!"- Commander Bisgungo
growled, dismissing them from the place, in order to speak freely.
Gail went to the Cafeteria, and takes a Coffee; Farum Rashid finds some
other " gay" people seated around, so he asks permission to leave him alone.
- Oh, yes, go!"- Gail said, taking a sip at his hot coffee...
He looked at the watch at the ceiling; it was mid-afternoon there; Base-
hour. He waits for an hour, and return to Commander Bisgungo`s main
Cabin, and said:"- Commander, I am totally abashed by what is happening.
Guess there is no need now for me to go chasing dinosaurs, with all this
threats hanging around."

MISSION : DINOSAUR

The Commander of Base "Bachelor" snore, and said:"- Well, yes, that
would be the logical conclusion, but you see, in Star Fleet things are run in a
different way; you are going to depart to 93.3, collect the samples, returns
here; from here they will be dispatched to Earth, as the Headquarters orders
are."
Gail gasped, and said:"- Oh, yes, Commander"-
- And that is not all! You are going to be in more company; as there is a
threat, and the NSA PROTECTOR would be having a complete overhaul,
reparations and rearming, you are going to have that crew on your ship."-
The Commander Bisgungo said.
- Incredible, Commander ! I will be in such a notorious company!"- Gail
said, like a teenager looking his Idol walking in front of his house...
- Stop having that ridiculous smile, Gail! Listen to me: you are going to
protect in every way possible the lives I am trusting you! They are
invaluable! Here they could be easily spotted and killed, if the Dregs come
this way in considerable numbers; so that is why you will be having them; to
protect them; Dregs will be not interested in 93.3, as it s out of the way!
You are going to proceed in your mission, normally; but instead of to be
returning when you sees fit, you are going to wait for my signal- or
Headquarters, if I am in Heaven by then! It is clearly understood?"-
Commander Bisgungo growled in his face.
- Oh, clear as a bell, Commander! I will return upon request; it s that so?"-
- Upon by request! Oh, what a delightful composition of words you could
made, Gailbraith! You should have been a condemned poet! And now,
scramble from the Base! - Bisgungo said, saluting him.
Gail salutes and departs; in half an hour, the "NSA Protector"`s crew were
entering the "Bisgungo" in full dress, and with a lot of baggage.
- I am Taggart, from the "Protector"; where is my cabin?"- Captain Peter
Quincy Taggart asks, looking at Gailbraith.
- I am Gailbraith Orosembes, Commander of the "Verugongo"! Welcome
aboard, Commander Taggart!"- Gail said, blushing.
- Permission to go aboard, then! And where is my cabin?"- Taggart smiled,
doing the crispy salute .
- I will personally carried you there; guess you could send for your luggage
later."- Gail said.
- Oh, no, Commander Gailbraith! I prefer to carry it at all times! You cannot
imagine how many times they have stolen my properties!"- Taggart said,
trying to take all six luggage in his two hands...
Gail asked some idling crew members to carry those luggage; he guided
Taggart by the corridors, and give him a Blue -Suit cabin; plenty of them
there, only a little small.
For the rest of the "Protector" crew, he sent Farum Rashid to accommodate
them; he went to the Main Deck, in order to receive information .
- How are we dwelling with the new passengers, Officer Assistant Sonia
Silva?"
- They are being relocated; they are quarreling a lot."- She says, hearing the
whereabouts through her audiphones.
- Oh, there is not a thing to do, in that aspect! The "Verugongo" it s just a
small vessel; not suited to have long cabins and recreation halls."- He said.
- You could send them to the "SILVERADO", then, Sir! They have a lot
more room there."- Sonia Silva said. She has a big pair of eyes, and an
agreeable face; he also was 23 years old.
- Guess I will do, if the problems arise."- He said, smiling.
But they choose to stay onboard; the nice sight of Lieutenant Tawny
Madison ambling by the place was very regardless for Gail; he could talk to
the lady at midday, when she appears on Deck.
- Permission to be on Deck, Sir!"- Says she.
- Permission granted, Lieutenant Madison! How are you, to-day?"- Gail
said, with melted tongue.
- Oh, very fine, thanks you, Commander! "- She said, smiling gently; for
some moments, she stared fixedly to him, turning his stomach upside down.
She peek on some instruments, saying:"- I would be glad you could count
me as to be on duty! "-
- With all pleasure! Pity we are being refitted; the ship still must undergo
some minor adjustments."- He said.
- Mm- mm!"- She mumbled, looking in one console, and seating in front of
it, begun punching some keys; Gail was amazed.
Copilot Gunner Julio Aliaga come in from the corridor, and told him:"-
Commander Taggart wants you to go to his cabin."
- All right."- Gail said, leaving the main deck
He arrives to the place; Taggart was using a sweater, a flannel pants, and no
shoes.
- Hey, Commander! - He said, rising his arm, as a salute.
- Commander Taggart! I see you awoke."- Gail said, staring.
- I awoke, yes ,Sir! But what I am seeing here, Commander? A really damp
place; no air! And the place its too small for me! Have you not something
more...agreeable?"- And the blue eyes of Taggart eyed him with a glint of
disdain.
- Sorry we have no suites here, Commander! The Verugongo its a small
vessel."- Gail said. He was chewing the idea that Taggart has called on him
as his superior officer!
- Well, guess I would be asking for a change! Perhaps to the Spaceship
Cruiser "SILVERADO"; her Commander seems to me a nice person."- And
Taggart smiled croockedly.
- Guess you could call her so; I will see you are removed from here right
away."- Gail said.
- Okie Dokie! And perhaps my crew will follow me; I will ask them and I
will inform you if there is one or several the members you will be loosing to-
day."- Taggart said, resting her head on a pillar.
- Make it quick.- Gail said, leaving the place; he was enraged; but he was
trying not to show it too much; he enters his own cabin, and takes a glass of
water.
Then, he grabbed the phone, and told FArum Rashid to handle the whole
matter; two hours elapsed, Farum knocked in his door.
- Commander?"
- Enter.- He said, and he saw Farum was smiling.
- Well?
- The "Protector" `s crew leaves the ship, Commander; as ordered."
- Really! It was Taggart who asked for it; perhaps Lieutenant Madison
reminds?"
- No, Commander; they all leave the ship."- Farum said.
- Well done! And thanks, Farum. "- Gail said, seeing how Farum saluted and
closed the door.
Gail looked at the closed door; he was alone again...and all the excitement
he felt when looking on those heroes ! Another thing was to be in touch with
that Taggart!
Six days elapsed, the "Verugongo" was ready; he send notice to the
"Silverado" to depart, and he leads the way out to the stars.
- Full throttle, Captain! And ready to the Jump."- Gail asked of Mario
Lizama.
- Aye aye, Sir!"- The Captain said, and the "Verugongo" was ahead of the
"Silverado" for some four kilometers...
- Thirty seconds to the Jump, Sir! "- Pilot Pedro Fontova announced.
- Prepare all crew members to the Jump in half a minute! And counting."-
Gail said by the intercom, and the ticking was audible through the
corridors...
The ship enters the Hyper space, and keeps on flying by that apparent
impossibility for some hours; when they went out, 93 was shining brightly in
front of them.
- 93 in sight, Commander . Searching for 3."- The Main Computer said.
- All right!"- Gail said, happy to be in the correct path.
- Thirty seconds to correct course! "- The Main Computer said. Soon, the
ship corrected the course; planet 3 was almost invisible in the distance.
- Well, officers, we are in due course! Communications officer Jaime
Fuenzalida, tell me if you sense the "Silverado" coming out of Hyper!"
Jaime Fuenzalida was glued to his instruments, and he said:"- Nothing yet,
Commander."
- When you see them coming out, please inform me!"- He ordered.
- Aye aye, Sir.- Comm officer Fuenzalida said.
The " Verugongo" was racing to the star, and Gail, not being a Commander
but for this very first time, was very proud of himself; he was arriving to the
Destiny with a lot of precedence .
The planet 3 was in sight! It s seas werenīt discernible, but the blue glow
that they give was fully visible.
- A real nice planet.- Gail said.
- It looks very beautiful ,indeed!"- Captain Mario Lizama acknowledged.
Suddenly, a flash was visible, very near of the planet.
- What was that!"- Gail asked, in surprise.
Comm officer Fuenzalida was listening his apparatus, and said:"- It`s the
"Silverado", captain! They are saying if they land first!"
Gailbraith was astounded, confused and numb. After a while, he recovered
the art of speech, and said:"- Tell them to find a good spot and land; a
beacon must be in place for us to find them."
- Aye aye, Sir.- Comm officer Fuenzalida said, and he was busy talking with
the "Silverado " Comm officer...
Later, the "Verugongo" finds the best orbit to circunnavegate the planet; at
the second turn, Fuenzalida was receiving the signals from the "Silverado"
beacon.
- Ready to beguine the descent, Commander."- Farum Rashid said.
- Do it.- Gail said, in bad temper. He was defeated in the race by the skill of
Commander Roda Picard ! Or perhaps, with the aid of Taggart, they find a
better way to calculate the Jump; they ecconomize millions of kilometers-
and fuel - "appearing" close to the planet 3!
Not his case; he was relying on Captain Mario Lizama and pilot Pedro
Fontova`s skill, and it was evident they were no match to good fancy girl
Roda Picard!

AT THE COMMANDER`S CABIN
Gail went to his cabin, and called for Raste Cotero. She knocked the door,
and Gail said:"- Enter!
- You were wanting to see me, Commander?"- She asked; her scent was of
flowers.
- Yes, please enter and seat down.- He said, pointing to the only chair in
sight; he was seated on a mattress.
She made a fuss out of her movements; her body was superb! Her eyes
catch him looking her legs, and said:"- Do you want to told me something,
Commander?"
- Of course! Do you see the "Silverado" coming almost over a cloud of
planet 3?"
She looked up, and said:"- I wasn `t able, Sir! You have me working in the
engine room!"-
- Did I? - He recollect; he remembered, then, having appointed some blue-
dressed people down there...perhaps!
- Yes, you do! I see nothing of the sort, Commander.- She said, looking her
nails; they were painted light blue, and very long.
- As your lashes.- He said, and she asked why he say that; he couldn't , as
he was thinking her nails were as longer as her lashes- a trivial thought, of
course.
- Oh, don't mind my words! I am utterly ashamed; my men didn īt have the
necessary skill to out-beaten those of the "Silverado"-- He said.
She blushed, and said:" Pardon me, Sir, but I am not at all aware of what are
you talking! "- And she means it!
- I will explain to you: when we did that Jump through the Hyper space, we
arrived here , but millions of kilometers away from planet 3. Do you copy
that?"
- I do.- She said, blushing red.
- Then! The "Silverado" crew makes that ship appears so very close to the
planet 3, that they could have touched it with one hand!"- He said,
explaining.
- Oh, now I understand, Commander! We arrive here, but far from the
planet...due to the inefficacy of our officers, right? And the "Silverado"
commander did best; they appeared some few kilometers away from planet
3. I understand."- She said, smiling gently.
Gail kneeled in front of the girl, and takes her hands in his; he said:"- Oh,
you are so beautiful, Raste! Let me be your lover!"
She was astounded; she didn `t move. Gail takes advantage of it, and kissed
her in the cheeks, in her neck; he takes her bosom in his hands...
- Please!"- She said, standing .
Gail was enthralled; he embraces the girl, sensing she was tall and that his
hands were gripping at a firm waist; he kissed her in the mouth.
- Commander!"- She said, and escaped to the corridor.
Gail was panting; he looked himself on a mirror, and saw her blood-stained
eyes a-gleaming.
- Oh, this is good! The chase of the female!"- He told himself; he was feeling
a lot better, now!!
The ship reminded in orbit, and Gail said:"- The Verugongo" weights too
much to be down there; we are going to descend in a shuttle craft."
- "I want to get down!"- First officer Farum Rashid said, combing his hair.
- "I need volunteers; who wants to go down?"
Half the officers rise their arms; two blue-suits rise theirs.
- Five! All right, we can go there and help the search; Captain Mario
Lizama, you are in charge of the ship."- Gailbraith said.
- All right, Sir! "- He said.
They climbed in a shuttle craft, and went down , igniting their retro-rockets.
Inside the little cabin, six people were crammed : Gail, Farum Rashid, Julio
Aliaga, Ricardo Palma, Stanley Bedford and Dwight Isenower.
- There they are!"- Gail said, when they appeared below the clouds...
The beautiful craft " Silverado" was there, posed on its eight legs; black and
shining softly, with red dots moving under its hull.
The shuttle landed alongside the monster of the skies; Gail descended, and
carrying a bag and a rifle, approached the main group visible.
- At last you landed , Commander! We are awaiting for your orders!"-
Commander Roda Picard; she was with Taggart and his crew, plus some
others.
- This is a new place for me; I hadn `t time to study the terrain. - Gail said,
looking the planice; rocks, some hills and not a tree in sight.
- Guess we are in a desert- Taggart said, looking through blue goggles.
- A safe place for my ship! We can afford to travel in the shuttles; my ship
has nine."- Roda Picard said, proudly.
- I had orders for everyone of you. First, I want the former "Protector" crew,
under his captain, to go west, in a shuttle craft; when you , Captain Taggart,
finds a Carnivore, you stop and went filming the critter."
- You don `t want me to bring the critter back here?"- Taggart smiled.
- No; you just film the beast, and write the position down; you go straight ,
and get back by the other side of this planet. "- Gail said.
- Oh, you want me to be a new Magallanes, or something! Guess I could do
that."- Taggart said, looking rather pale.
- Same for you, Commander Roda Picard: you go south, come back by the
north; an easy equation, here!"- Gail roared.
- Guess you are nut, Sir, Commander."- Roda answered, very pale.
- No nuts here, Madame! You take some guys from your brilliant ship, and
made a little surveillance trip; find some specimens, come back. Film
everything; come back in less than a week, please! "- Gail ordered.
- Starting when?"- Taggart asked.
- Starting in one minute more."- Gail said, entering the big "Silverado" ship.
Roda followed suit, and said:"- Do you want me to send my first officer
instead of me?"
- No, Roda! I want to be the commander around here; too many
commanders with you and Mr. Taggart lurking around."- Gail said, puffing.
Roda was as red as a tomato.
Two hours later, both commanders were out of sight, with their crew. Gail
was surveying the "Silverado", with Raste Cotero.
- This fine cabin will be yours."- He told her.
- The commander's? She could be mad at me, at her return!"- She recoiled.
- Not with me in command of this Expedition! "- He said, embracing her in
the corridor.
- Please, Commander! Not in here!"- She said, recoiling.
They enter in the big cabin, and closed the door.
- I think I love you." - Gail said.
- I'm a droid."- Raste Cotero said, lifting his left hear , to show the serial
number.
- I don't care!- He said, but he was shocked; he embraces her, and she acts
as a real woman did- slapped his face.
- Why you do that?"- Gail asked, amazed- "You have no honor to care for!"-
- I have! And please, try to forget your love for me, or I will be compelled to
send a message to Headquarters; a loco Commander isn't fit to rule an
Expedition."- She said, and went out of the cabin.
Gail was astounded; not too much hurt, as the being wasn't a real woman...

CHAPTER 3
RODA PICARD`S TREK.
Roda was traveling south, at low speed, tracking the surface with all kind of
gadgets, in order to have a complete information about minerals, ruins,
animals and the like.
- Gorbato, try to slow down now! I think I saw something in that bushes
down there!"- She asked his First Officer, a fat old guy with blonde
mustaches.
The ship hovered there, and she saw five old Mesasauros, eating their meal
from the trees of that spot.
- Good! We are going to beam up one of those."- She said.
- Commander! It s going to be too heavy for the ship!- Gorbato said,
astounded.
- Do as I told you!"- She said, in harsh voice.
Gorbato calls Saknar, a fine Hindu guy with a long beard, and told him the
order.
- Why she is doing this, by Vishnu? "- He asked by the phone.
- Guess she is having her period! Also, she dislikes the idea of this whole
trip."- Gorbato said, in hushed voice.
- All right! The beast is too heavy for us; I will cut it in half; there we go!"-
Saknar said, and the beast- at least , it s first part- appeared on the
Transporter, splashing everything with liters of blood; the place was an utter
disaster, and Roda Picard was very angry, when seeing that mess.
- How this happens!"- She asked.
- Some miscalculations, Commander!"- Saknar said, showing her the bloody
console.
- You have disgraced your trade! Make this be cleaned !"- She said, and
went away.
- It works- Gorbato said, smiling.
- Yes; I will ask Foshan to take as much meat as he can; we have a good
provision now!"- Saknar said.
- Beefsteaks for everyone!"- Gorbato murmured, as in a trance.
- Good meat, not the ersatz!"- Saknar said, but then he remembered he was
a Hindu, and the meat was forbidden for him...
The crew members cleaned it all, and the meat was storage in the freezers;
that night, everyone tasted Mesasauro`s meat for dinner! And it tastes good.
In the night the ship keeps on going; for their instruments night was not an
hindrance; everything over and under the surface of the planet was being
recorded- automatically.
-Send the First officer to my cabin- Roda Picard said to the Main Computer;
the machine finds and informs Gorbato about this order.
- I am on my way.- Gorbato mumbled; he was about to sleep, but
Commander`s orders were first .
- I knew everyone on board eats the meat of what you beamed up!"- She
said, dressed in a green kimono.
- Commander! I was using what was available; the meat was tested."- The
first officer explained.
Roda sighed; the meat was of good taste.- " We are searching for
information; we are not butchers."
- Very well ,Commander."- Gorbato said.
- You can go now.- Roda said, and he went out the room.
Gorbato arrived to the Main Deck, and Jubani the pilot (female, 23 years
old) said:"- Hokar have something to tell you, Sir."
- Well?- Asked him of the Communication`s officer.
- We are receiving something , short wave."- She said.
- Put it in the main screen."- He asked; soon he was hearing, but not
viewing. ..
- Seems to me a language."- Jubani said.
- The Computer is unable to translate.- Hokar explained.
- Find the source; and hover over there."- Gorbato said , rubbing his chin.
No need to wake up Commander Roda .
The shuttle changes direction, and hovered over a big city; their lights were
visible through the screens.
- Incredible! A city; intelligent beings! "- Gorbato sighed.
- A exploration is needed.- Hokar remembered.
- Yes! Computer: send three guards to Transportation Room."- Gorbato
said.
- What are you doing, Sir?"- Jubani asked.
- I am to be beamed down; I want information!"- He said, and departed.
Soon he and three blue-uniformed men were walking by the cobbles of that
city; the lights- electrical ones- hang from posts; everything was made of
mortar and stone.
- Something come!"- Smith said, and they hid behind a door. The machine
was noisy; it was mounted on four wheels, and an engine was chugging
along. It passed, showing three persons seated on the inside of a glass
cabin.
- A vehicle of sorts! And that smell! "- Smith said, coughing.
- Gasoline! - Gorbato smiled; they could be mastered!
They walked by the street, and in the next corner they find several people,
who was in every aspect similar to themselves; men and women, dressed
with dark clothes, going in and out of Taverns. Some of them were very
drunk.
- Guess we are in the Bohemian Sector.- Gorbato laughed. The people was
not interested in them; they passed alongside, singing their drunken phrases.
They get into a big square, in front, a building was towering the others, and
in their gates they were armed men.
- The Administration's building! Amazing!"- Gorbato said, and they saw
how the guard was using rifles and metal armor.
A vehicle was coming from one of the streets; soon it was in front of them.
It was a truck, full of guards.
- Let's go from here!"- Gorbato said, but it was too late, and they were
captured and carried inside the building.
- We can go any hour we want. I have the radio.-"- Smith said.
- Wait! We must have some more information."- Gorbato explained.
The guards carried them trough a long corridor, at which end a water pond
was visible; it was big and smells of rotten leaves.
One of the guards hit a gong, and the sound was reverberating into the
corridors with a fateful echo.
- They are calling someone."- Gorbato said.
Suddenly, a big blue head sprouts from the water , and some tentacles
dangled over that head; strong tentacles, who felt the newcomers, who
backed up in a hurry.
- A damn cephalopod!" - Hinkton said, startled; he try to release the grip,
but it was impossible.
- Squids!"- Yelled Smith, seeing three more heads appeared in the water.
Soon, a lot of tentacles were poking at them, who were incapable of to
move, due to the guards.

Roda wake up with the sensation of impending doom.
- "Computer: what is the situation now?"
The machine gives her a resume of all the mechanical and humane situation.
- The first Officer in a mission of his own!"- Roda said, and her eyes were a-
fire . She hurriedly went to the Transportation Room, and ordered:-" Beam
them all up here, immediately!"
- Aye ,aye, Commander."- The fellow in charge (Greg Filarmon) obeyed.
The four Crew Members appeared in the room, after the usual display of
Energy.
- Explain!"- Roda said in a terrible voice.
- "A civilization of sorts it`s down there! We went to see..."- Gorbato was
interrupted:"- You should not have gone there without my permission! You
have gone beyond your Ranking place!"
- A first officer could do a lot of things without being told what to do by..."
- " A woman?"- Roda interrupted Gorbato.- " Are you being sexist?"
- " I did right. I find a mystery down there, Madam. Your order to bring me
back leave that mystery unsolved."- Gorbato said.
- A mystery? - Roda asked, rising one eyebrow.
- Why in a civilization of Men, they have squids as rulers?"- Gorbato asked.
She stay speechless for a while. Cephalopods in this planet? Could it be that
the powerful Cephalopods had a colony in the planet?"
- Call Headquarters.- She asked to the Communication's Officer.
Soon afterwards she was talking with Gailbraith.
- Commander: We had found Cephalopods some 700 kilometers away from
your spot."
Gail `s surprise was big; he swallowed hard, and said:"- Have you any
injured person?"-
- No, Sir. I beamed up the Scout team before anything bad happens, but they
were already in presence of Cephalopods."- Roda answered.
- Very well. The Squids must know already of us. Try to avoid the place.
Keep your trek."
- Pardon me, Sir? - Roda asked, with incredulity.
- Keep on! We are here to explore! Not to fight or be fighted. You collect as
much data as you can, and move forward!"-
- Aye, aye, Sir!"- She said, amazed. Everyone in her Shuttle heard the
conversation, so she need not to explain.
- First Officer: let`s move on! Same course we had before your change of
direction."
- All right, Commander."- Gorbato said, and the ship, turning and
accelerating, leaves the newly discovered city behind.
Near the South Pole the sea was frozen over islands for every devoid of
heat.
Roda disembarked almost never; she keeps on sending First Officer Gorbato
down- every time. So he gets a lot of information- in situ- and a comradeship
grows between he and the rest of the crew.
They collected ice of different layers, and when possible, rocks and
minerals, as there were some mountains ridges protruding black from the
ice.
They get to the other side of the Pole; big platforms where the wind runs
wild , making life unbearable there.
Then, it was the big line of the shores, and the seals were playing there the
struggle for life; big sea-wolfs were present, too.
Then the Ocean fill all the orb, a big ocean occupy almost all that side of the
planet.
- We are scanning the depths; a nice holographic map it`s being
constructed."- Roda told the crew.
She was seated in the back of the Control Room, sipping Vodka straight
from a flask, when she thought nobody was looking. It was forbidden to
drink alcohol, but she had some bottles hijacked since the beginning of the
trip...
At 30š parallel -north, several islands were present; in those, life was
present in great numbers. Mollusks, birds, trees and animals were living in a
perfect environment.
- This is the largest island. We will land near that Volcano."- Roda Picard
said, pointing with the finger unto the screen.
The Shuttle descends ,landing on it`s four pods. The lock was opened, and
the first humans from Earth walks around the site.
- Fine air.- Smith breathed.
- Secure the perimeter with Maser poles; I don`t want any trouble.- Roda
said.
A series of posts were secured in position; soon the system was operational.
An alarm sound if someone approaches it inadvertently; then, if touched, the
MASERs begun and the object would be destroyed by accelerated noise.
The night came and the crew makes a bonfire, roasting birds they shoot
down .
- Almost a day of camp!"- Hokar the Communication Officer said, turning
the birds over the fire.
- To-morrow we are going to explore the forest."- Ronda said, looking at the
near-by trees.
- For what we already saw, there are birds."- Greg Filarmon (Tech, officer)
said, munching the roasted meat.
Hokar and Gorbato seated close to the fire- they drink beverages: no liquor
for them.
- The stars are always there. All mixed up, of course."- Jubani the Pilot said,
and over their heads the tiny lights shone.
The smoke carried the smell of roast birds over the night breeze, so very
soon, a mighty roar was heard, and the Sound Alarm makes them all stand
in Attention, looking at the Source of the bedlam...
The Ceratosaurus (native version) crashed to the floor, when his legs were
volatized, disintegrated, make powder, by the MASER beams. But one of
the posts crumbled also, under the weight of the Big Creature.
Commander Roda Picard run to see the Monster, who was gushing out
deciliters of pure red blood.
- He is still living! Beware of him!"- Roda said, and the Brute keeps on
clinging to LIFE no matter it`s two missing hind legs...
Roda Picard uses her own MASER pistol to try and kill the Beast, but the
hours passed and the King of the Forest was still breathing.
Foshan, Technical Officer (and for this trip, also the cook), cuts large pieces
of meat, and began storing it at the shuttle's freezer.
- This time we have festered ourselves with real meat!"- He said.
- It won't last ! Soon we are going to be in Deep Space- and back to the
recycled meals!"- Jubani said, with a tremor in her voice: she dislikes to be
eating who knows what !
They slept and then it was Dawn. The flies come rushing in from all
directions.
- We are going to rise camp! - Roda Picard said, in the morning.
Graciously, the Shuttle craft rise in the air, and fly to the Shore. There,
among palm trees, the Ship landed; the Crew secured the Area with the
MASER posts, and Roda Picard said:"- I will direct the Exploration in
person; you stay here."
- "Aye aye, Commander."- Gorbato said, and he saw her marching along the
shore with two other crew members.
Those were Smith and Greg Filarmon, with MASER rifles and pistols in
their hands...
- To hunt!"- Gorbato said, when they were out of sight.
- Who cares about the ship?"- Fosham asked.
- Jubani and the rest; we two will go hunting at the forest."- He said,
handing the other a rifle; for himself he takes another.
- Don`t take too long.- Jubani asked the First Officer.
- We will come back before you say Hokus Pokus."- Gorbato said, jesting,
as he was very delighted with this liberty he obtained; as First Officer, he
was in command.
He went with Hokar (Communication`s officer) to chase birds to roast.
The forest was very dense and dark; they saw three turkey-like birds, and
they shoot them- low intensity, of course- and the critters fall to the ground
easily. No bang, no explosion , just a faint hiss.
- -Three fat guys for our fire!- Gorbato said, and they carried it to the Shuttle
craft; there, Foshan the Cook prepared them.
Some others set the fire going, with several branches. Soon they were
roasting the meat, and after a while, munching those exquisite white meats.
Jubani was spooked; she said:"- Why do you think there is no animals
around here? "
- Guess they move somewhere else, when we arrive."- Saknar the Hindu
said.
Night come, and they were out- no roasting now, as they cook and eat in the
afternoon- the previous attack was a learned lesson.
- Where our Commander should be by now?- Jubani asked the crew.
- Perhaps she will arrive here soon, who knows?"- Gorbato said.
- She is not sending reports, Sir. "- Jubani noticed.
- Look, she is the Commander!"- Gorbato explained.
- Just the same! She is acting as the Scout Team's senior officer, now! Why
don't you call her , just in case?"- Jubani said.
Gorbato went inside the Shuttle, and call her ; soon Roda answered.
- Yes, First Officer?"
- I am calling you, Commander, because it's needed to know where are you ,
in case Headquarters calls."
- You call me the way you are doing now, Gorbato. What, are you loosing
your professionally?"
- I think it will be good if you called us every night, to tell us where you are-
more- if you are well."- Gorbato answered.
- I understand- She said, hesitantly . I will call you every day."
- Have you seen something unusual, Commander?"
- Not until now. We are camping near the sea- we have walked some 30
kilometers already. End of Transmission."
Gorbato laughed, and told Jubani:"- The Commander have a hard time
descending from Olympus."
- I wonder; perhaps she is just being careful."- Jubani said.
- Why do you say so?- Gorbato asked
- Because we communicate ourselves by radio, and the Cephalopods are
here." - The pilot said.
That night there were several audio alarms, but no intrusion was made.
At dawn, Jubani and the cook (Foshan) leave camp, in search of vegetables.
- I have a Master in Botanicals. But I prefer my seminary on Recipes."- He
laughed.
- To tell between weeds from Lettuce."- Jubani smiles.
Foshan observed the Vegetation with care. Talking several samples ,and
annotating mentally where they were taken, he uses a shovel to un-earth
tubercles, for further study (boiling them and taste it in a pot).
They arrive to a sand section; also there were no trees around the spot. They
walked over it, and Jubani finds a stone half buried, and said:"- Look here,
Foshan!"
Foshan looked what seems to him were hieroglyphs, and with his shovel
unhearted the rest.
- It looks like a door, or something."- She said.
- Or a tombstone.- Foshan expressed.
A ring was protruding in the center of it; they both pull and the stone sealing
door stumble on the floor, showing what it was hiding.
- A tunnel!"
- Incredible! Who knows where it can lead?
- Not for us to inquire. Better to get back and tell First Officer Gorbato."-
Jubani said.
- Yeah! We, in the other hand, have no flashlights!"- Foshan acknowledged.
In the forest, she felt down in a hole; Foshan takes her out using a stick, and
as they were very close, he kissed her lightly on her lips.
- What was that for?"- Jubani asked sweetly.
- Guess I am falling in love.- Foshan said.
- Oh, yeah? Chase me , then!"- She said, laughing, and she run the rest of
the way to the Shuttle craft.
THE CHAMBER OF THE DEAD GIANTS.
- Yes, I understand. I must tell our Commander, first."- First Officer
Gorbato said. They were all seated in front of the bonfire.
- What hour is it?"-
- Nine thirty.
- I guess she will call us soon.- Hokar said.
They waited until 22.00 hours; then the ring sounds and they all heard
Commander Roda Picard saying:"- Commander Picard here; Are you
listening, Gorbato?"
-Yes, commander.
- Well, that is my second Report. Another 30 kilometers to-day; we find a
mountain and a cave; due to the lack of proper equipment, we didn't explore
it."
- We found something ourselves, too.- Gorbato said.
- Yeah? another monster?
- No; it was a ruin, not so far from here. But it's dark and we hope- to-
morrow- and with your permission, to go down there and explore."
- You have my permission- now. Transmission over."
- Well! We can move on, pals!"- Gorbato said, smashing hands with the
crew.
That, of course, has to wait until the morning. In fact, they stayed a while
longer talking; and then went to sleep- all minus Foshan the cook, who was
on duty watch.
At dawn, Gorbato was awaken by Jubani, who said:"- The Team is ready,
Sir."
- All right; let me say good by to them in proper clothes."
He hurriedly put on some clothes, and went down the ladder; he say the
bags in front of the three rangers, and smiled.
- What, are you deserting?
- Kind of , Sir! We are going to do a thoroughly investigation there!"- Hokar
said.
- I hope you do. We must be in contact three times a day. You have the two
radio transmitters, full charge?"
- Yes, Commander! Stop worrying! We will come back in one piece!"-
Hokar replied.
- That figures. Well, you have three days for this mission. Not more, guys, or
I will go there personally to bring you back."
They take their bags and departed; they were Hokar, Jubani the pilot and
Hinkton.
They walked out of sight, and then Jubani said:"- We are going to be
famous."
- I prefer to be rich.- Hokar said.
- No kidding? I assume there are infinitesimal probabilities of that. Until
now, we had seen just a stone door and little else more."
-Patience!"- Jubani asked of them.
They walked until they arrive to the sand dunes and the cave. The stone was
where they throw it beforehand.
- Nobody care for this sites anymore."- Hokar said.
- That's figures!"- Jubani smiled.
They lit their lanterns and went down one by one.
A stone stair ,with high steps was visible; the tunnel was forty meters long;
they arrive to a leveled ground.
- It's huge!"- Jubani murmured.
- And damp- Hinkton noticed.
- Guess the door was sealed, and the stench goes up in the past hours."
- We must not smoke in here. It could be Methane gas in this chambers."-
Hokar recommended.
They recognized the site; a long corridor, some 50 meters wide, and the
whole ceiling was supported by pillars of stone - rectangular ones- with
some ornamentation.
Hinkton was in front; the chambers to the left and right measures some 20 x
10 meters wide.
- Bones.- Jubani said, in horror.
- This is a Cemetery.- Hinkton acknowledged.
They approached to the bones; some of them were as big as 80 cm., the
skulls were humanoid.
- Please, look at this! They are huge!"- Hokar said.
Each of the skulls weighed some six kilos, and some 60 centimeters long.
- A race of Giants!"- Hinkton said in a hollow voice...
They traveled through the chambers. Everyone was like the others. There
were thousands of skulls and bones there; all of the same genus.
- A burial center! Long forgotten, if we take in account the sand dunes up
there."- Jubani said.
- Let's get out of here! This place is creepy!"- Hinkton said.
They went out, and breathed hard.
- Wow! Guess we were in the brink of to be intoxicated down there!"
Jubani said.
- Of course!"- Hokar said, as he was feeling kind of dizzy .
- But we need proof! Someone must get down and provide us with a whole
skeleton! It sure will be a major success in Archeology!"- Jubani said.
- Hope it did! I enroll myself in the Spatial Army to be Famous!"- Hinkton
said, - " I `ll volunteer; but I need another one to help me with the bags."
- Why, the bones are too heavy for yourself?- Jubani asked, as she was
looking at the surrounding trees, and she thinks she saw something out
there...
- I will go with you- Hokar said.- We will leave the damsel here."
They take two emptied bags and descended. Hokar was the first to arrive to
the end of the stair, and he went to the first skeleton he thinks it was intact.
With Hinkton he began packing all the bones of that single skeleton in the
two bags; they finished it in less than thirty minutes.
- It`s done! Let`s climb , now!"- Hokar said.
They went up , and breathed hard. Hokar was feeling very dizzy and with an
headache. He says so.
- Pity! We have only Aspirins for you!"- Jubani said, revising her medical kit.
- Give me that!"- Hokar asked.
He swallowed three pills, and the pain subsided a lot.
- The stench is great, down there. We better don`t go down anymore."-
Hokar said.
Jubani searched with the shovel in the sand dunes, to see if she finds some
engraved rock not too heavy to be transported.
- It`s all Greek to me!- Hokar said, when she shows him a thin rock with
inscriptions.
- We should carry some rocks to the Shuttle. This inscriptions are valuable
things."- Jubani said, thinking in the turmoil the anthropologists will made,
back at home, at their return.
- Call the shuttle and told Gorbato about the findings.- Hokar said.
- Very well done, and Congratulations.- Gailbraith said, after the
communication was made.
- The air is poisonous, so we are not going down any more."- Jubani
explained.
- We are trying to find lesser rocks with inscriptions, to be carrying back
with us."- Interrupted Hokar.
- Take your time, _ ! I don`t want injured people!- Gailbraith was concerned.
- Aye aye ,Sir!- Jubani said.
- When are you coming back? To -day?- Gailbraith asked.
- No way we could do that, Sir! It takes us half a day to arrive here. So we
are intending to go back to-morrow!- Jubani replied.
- All right; take care, in the night! Make a bonfire"- Gailbraith
recommended.
- We will, Sir! Good bye!"- Jubani said.
They all were hearing the conversation, so they all were smiling now.
- You heard the Boss! We better find a secure place to pass the night,
fellows."- Jubani told the rest.
- Yes; no way to be here in the open."- Hokar replied.
They walked back in direction of the Shuttle- that means, the forest. When it
was almost dark, they all climb high on a big tree, secured themselves with
ropes (not to fall down when asleep) AND munching dry meat, they saw the
first stars appear...
- Wish we could know our future"- Hokar said.
- And for what purpose.- Jubani asked.
- To avoid the bad moments and lead a happy life."- Hokar replied.
- This sound to me as a fairy tale."- Hinkton said with a smile.
- And what do you want, if not fairy tales?- Hokar asked.
- Lots of sex." - The other said.
They all laughed, as life in the Starfleet was everything but erotic.
A shrill shriek sounds very close, and everyone paled as death bodies.
- What was that? - Murmured Jubani to Hinkton.
- I don`t know! Better be still- we are in very real danger"- Hinkton said
FIGURES and tremors Followed; something horrible was Breathing below
the branches and leaves. Jubani approaches Hinkton, Trembling.
- Do not cry!"- Says he, whispering; and embraces her. She was murmuring
in her fright.
Hokar was staring between them; no matter how dark it Was, they could
discern in their silhouettes; a far cry was heard, and the Beast trotted away,
attracted as if by a MAGNET.
- It`s gone!"- Jubani said in a whisper- and looked at Hokar.
- Soon we will be in the move!"- Hokar said, crispy because of the heat
warm body of the woman, so close to his own.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek; then in his mouth; he grabs her chest,
and make love there, perched on a tree.
At dawn, they all descend; as Jubani was so very close to Hinkton, Hokar
understand that something had occurred between those two.
Hokar was hurt by that; who was already in love to the woman. He waited
until she was alone- they were preparing breakfast and a fire- and said:-
Good morning, Jubani. How was your night?
- I was scared to death!
- But I guess you find company. I am seeing you too close to Hinkton"
- I had been always close to him! He gave me security."
- Security against a Dinosaur?- Hokar Scolded her.
- Go loose yourself! - She said , molested, and went to Hinkton, taking him
by the hand.
He smiled and kissed her, finding the blend of that kiss very exciting. With
his years, he was still in need of loving a woman. For him, this Expedition
was Colored in Pink.
- Nice coffee!"- Hinkton Said, tasting the infusion.
- We are going to move with care. Who finds the imprints?"- Hokar asked,
with harsh voice.
- Me! They are like a security box! Deep ten centimeters down the surface.
Sixty long."- Jubani said.
- Forty tons, ten meters high! A real beast!- Hinkton said.
- And very hungry.- Hokar reminded them.
They finished the coffee break, and went fast by the forest, forgetful of
everything but haste.
Jubani walked alongside his newly found love; she very well remember his
embrace, and she was very romantic (horny) in her love affairs.
Suddenly, they saw something rugged in front of them, like a tree log worm-
eaten by storms; towering it there was a pair of malignant red eyes, set
bulging in an enormous head with spikes protruding over its surface.
The Hominids stop in their tracks, and so the beast leap against them with
utmost celerity, munching two of them in a snap.
- Run!"- Hinkton cry, and grabbing her lover's hand, began running to the
opposite side.
But the monster was very hungry, and with his terrible mouth grabs the rest
of them in no time.
The silence of the Forest was intense; only the deep breathing of the beast
was heard for a long time.

Roda Picard was looking at those hideous monster through her binoculars-
They were five meters long, walked in two hind legs, and their heads had
enormous teeth. Running by the shore, they were grabbing squids in the
Water; a lot of them were swimming there in they matting season. The
pieces of flesh were flying in the air, as the dinosaurs fights for their meat
among themselves.
- Hideous creatures!- She murmured.
- We are filming all of it!- Smith Said, ; he was the one with the camera.
With the Zoom, he can enlarge an eye to fill the entire screen.
Half an hour later, an enormous sea monster appeared, trying to grab a
biped dinosaur, but the lesser creatures were quick - the monster swallowed
squids by the dozen, instead.
- Look, Commander! Birds!"- Greg Filarmon Said.
They were no birds; a handful of Herodons approached the scene; some of
them dive and take squids with their mouth (fauce) and with strong clapping
of the wings they take the sea creature far from that place- to eat them at
ease.
Not that they could; the rest of the Pteranodons (Native Version) followed
suit, and molested them all the process through.
Greg Filarmon filmed on, as in a trance- he was seeing , already, his
production on the big screens of his Home world. This could make him very
famous- and rich, perhaps!
They stood there a couple of days, filming and waiting, but the fiery Beasts
didn't go away.
Seeing that they were almost 800 kilometers away from the Shuttle, Roda
Picard saw no need to Travel back there, and called Gorbato to come and
fetch them.
But the Radio Transmitter receive no answers.
- Since when you don't communicate?"- She asked Smith, who was then in
care of the Machine.
- Four days, Commander."-Smith replied
- Try the "Silverado"- Ordered she.
- Contact!"- Smith said, six seconds later.
- Pass me the microphone! Hello, Silverado? This is Commander Roda
Picard speaking!"
- Commander Picard, here Gorbato, the Silverado officer in Charge of
Communications, Speaking!"-
- We lost communications with our own shuttle craft. Please
acknowledged."- She said.
- Commander Picard calling and informing she get lost. It's that correct?"
Blushed with rage, but controlled herself, and said: "Quite so; I ask to be
rescued."
- All right, Commander. Just tell me your coordinates."
- Roda Picard takes a look at his wrist - machine, and gives the coordinates
in a hurry.
- Bingo , Commander! We will be there to-day. Prepare a bonfire."- Gorbato
said.
- All right! End of transmissions."- Roda said, and walks to the brim of the
shore...The sea was calm, the clouds were far away, she was seemingly lost.

-Commander , we received a distress call from Commander Roda Picard."
Gailbraith was looking a video with his fiancee, Raste Cotero , at his cabin.
- Oh, yes? What's wrong with her ?
- She lost contact with her own Shuttle craft."- Gorbato informed him.
Raste Cotero laughed, and Gail said:"- That's something!"
- And she is requesting for a rescue party."
- A rescue party? How far is she?- Gail was worried.
- 3.200 kilometers away of our site.- Gorbato said.
- Hum! The other shuttle crafts are way beyond that distance by now. And it
would upset our timing- our schedule.
- Why not in the "Silverado", darling? It will be a change."- Raste asked.
- Do you want a change?- He said.
- Yes, darling.- She smiled broadly
- All right, then! See to it, Gorbato ; we are going in the "Silverado" ; advise
the new situation to the other shuttles."
- Aye aye, Sir"- Gorbato Said.
But it was not that easy; the camp was spread around the "Silverado", so a
lot of things were to be packed, so the launching was set for 10.00 hours,
next day.
- "Silverado" calling Commander Roda Picard."
- Smith Here; the Commander is hunting now."
- All right, Smith; tell her we are arriving to-morrow at ten fifteen hours."
- Acknowledged, Sir."- He answered.
- Is all O.K. there ?- Gailbraith asked with a tremor in his voice.
- All normal here, Sir. A few dinosaur are in the distance, but of no peril."-
Smith answered.
- Take care. End of Transmission."

RODA PICARD was amused. A pair of Ampelosaurus were walking
through the weeds, and several Muttaburrasaurus were in sight. A stream
was also flowing near by. A place of solitude , but also teaming with life.
The Big Trees and the Shrubbery smelled of dew and rotten logs and leaves.
She inhaled deeply ,and Greg looked at her in sympathy. Roda didn't smile,
as she was well aware who she was in Starfleet , to indulge herself in silly
romances. Not that she not needed a man- once in a while; but in the past,
males makes big troubles for her career, - so not anymore of them- by now.
- We can shoot the Tochisaurus , Commander. For our dinner."
- Shoot!"- She command. She herself wasn't prone to kill- not even for a big
juicy steak.
Greg Filarmon shoot the almost inaudible MASER beam , and the fat
specimens hit the ground - headless.
Filarmon was good in hunting- never to loose a shot , and always with a
sense of humanity- if that was possible when hunting- as he shoots to the
heads or hearts, in Order not to Produce Unnecessary pain.
He recovered the dead Bodies, tied them to a stick, so to be carrying them
some distance, as the bodies were dripping blood and fluids from the
wounds.
Roda follows the stream, and saw some big boulders to her left. Some of
them were chiseled, and some markings were visible there.
- Take a film of that, Greg Filarmon! - It could serves our archeologists."-
She said to the man.
He filmed those rocks and inscriptions; he uses his miniPC to annotate the
coordinates.
At the opposite side, a road was visibly in parts; as the shrubbery and
removed earth was spread over it in patches.
- Guess it's some kind of shrine- or something."- Roda said.
- Humanoids. Their figures are like us, in the engravings. "- Greg said.
- Guess we are more common in the Universe than we think we are."- Roda
hissed. But until now, no other race was visible; the squids apparently has a
decadent human race for their service in the planet- but that was about to
change; when the news reaches High Command in EARTH, a fully armored
vessel was already commissionate . A Thing the Exploration Team know
nothing about.
They slept near a fire, and at night there were no attacks from animals.
At dawn they were all having breakfast. They were very nervous, as they
saw several animals lurking very near them.
- Hope this guys would arrive earlier.- Roda said.
- Why, are you afraid?- Greg asked.
- You can say so.- She acknowledged sadly.
Suddenly , the big ship appears coming as if from nowhere, hovered for an
instant, and descended in an open space, close to the shore - in the beach.
The main hatch opened, and several Guards descend, wearing their rifles .
Gailbraith descend, and salute.
- Hi, Roda.
- Good morning, Commander. Nice to see your ship earlier than expected.
There are some animals lurking very near."- Roda said.
- Guess we can shoo them aright ! Take measures; we don't want any
trouble to-day."
- Aye aye, Sir! - The gunner said, and with some others takes their flying
apparatus , and hovering at ten or twelve meters up in the air, they went
scouting.
- Find those storage in your amazing ship, Command Picard."- Gail
explained.
Roda was aware of that equipment; she just didn't think it necessary to use
it, then.
- I will enter the ship, Commander. I am in need of a good bath."- She said.
- Be my guest, Commander Picard."- Gailbraith replied. But he stayed there;
the smell of the sea- so near, it makes him want to walk.
From a rise point, he could saw the strange bipeds fishing in the Beach. He
asked for a binocular lenses, and he finds out : it were squids what those
beasts were chasing around.
- Those intelligent Cephalopods should come and see what those dinosaurs
are doing to their relatives."- Gailbraith said.
- Ha, ha! You are so funny!"- Raste Cotero said, embracing him.
- I say, we must wait until the other shuttles come along. - Gail bellowed.
She was a nice Artificial, but not the real thing, and he was Tired to be
Stared by the Hominids under his command.
Roda Picard appeared on the stairs, saying : "- Commander Gailbraith, First
Officer Gorbato isn't answering my calls, no matter I am using the highest
force available."
-All right , we are going there.- Gail said, And climb the ladder .
The crew was called aboard ship, and the "Silverado" rise in the air, buzzed
and departed.
- Where do you think it is your Shuttle, Commander Roda?
- Close- not so far than 200 kilometers from here. We should be seeing it
any minute now.
- Contacted.- The Radar- man said.
- Land as near as possibly.- Gailbraith ordered.
The big "Silverado" lands 1.5 kilometers away, due to the lack of available
open space; they went down, and Gailbraith said:- As it was your Shuttle,
Commander Roda, you are going with some officers there, and try to bring it
here in one piece."
Commander Picard was outraged.
- Are you implying that my behavior as an Officer of the Starfleet is not the
appropriate ?"- Roda asked him.
- Let's say that to find a Commander of an easy Expedition almost alone and
at 200 kilometers of her assigned ship is not the big mark for efficiency."-
Gailbraith said, rising his elbows.
Roda went by the "Silverado" picking her team , in all more than half the
available crew members. With them she begun her march in search of her
deserted Shuttle Craft.
- Metal object at 73 kilometers.- The main computer told Tech Officer.
- The Shuttle is at 73 kilometers away, Sir."
- All right, don't loose it; Commander Roda will bring it back.- Gailbraith
said, smiling, and went to take a nap, in company of beautiful A.I. Raste
Cotero.
After some hours, the Communication's officer on duty called him to his
cabin, and said there was too many crew members missing. He went to the
main cabin, and said:"- Who takes the crew out?
- Commander Roda, Sir, takes almost everyone on board!"
- But why she did this! No need to deplete the "Silverado" for to go on
searching a tiny Shuttle! - Gailbraith bellowed at the Main Deck.
All the personnel were there: Raste Cotero, Smith and Hinkton! The rest
were with Roda!
- At least they are using the flying apparatus?"
- No, Sir! On foot they are.- Smith acknowledged.
- Computer! How much time she could make in a round trip?
- Two hours at the most, Sir.- The Machine replied.
- There you have! Nothing to worry about!"- Gailbraith said.- She probably
is cleaning the apparatus first, and it will be here in some minutes!"
- The "Silverado" needs more than us to be flying fully operational, Sir.-
Raste Cotero said.
- And who is flying? We can wait.- Gailbraith said, and went outside. The
day was a sunny one, and all seems O.K.

Roda , by the meantime, was walking briskly; she was feeling elated. She
was sure Gailbraith was already enraged by then...She was looking ahead to
their meeting: possibly Gail would try to demote her- but she was ready to
send a letter of Complaint to the very Commander in Chief, if necessary!
- Bodies in front.
- What bodies?
- Dinosaurs, Commander. I propose we make a detour, to avoid the
danger."-
- All right!" - She puffed; it was going to be a nuisance and a waste of time.
They talked as quiet as they could- but they were a colorful group- everyone
using shining uniforms and bright weapons. They were easily spotted by the
_, who run to this new kind of being- for them.
- Prepare to fight!"- Roda yelled, and they soon were firing against the
monster.
The first of them find their legs missing, and land over the turf with
violence- notwhithstanding that, the body slides over the vegetation and
collides with two humans, sending them flying over the trees.
The faint sound of the MASER pistols made no impression in the attacking
pack of _ , who leap unto those queer looking figures.
Twice the fangs of the _ meet the bodies of humanoids, and they begun
festering unto them.
At last, there were no survivors to come back to the "Silverado", and tell
their fate.
That night the Communication's officer receives no answer for his calls.
After two hours , he went to Commander Gailbraith Orosembes, and said:"-
We lost communication with Commander Picard`s team, Sir."
- What?- Asked him, feeling a chill running down his spine.
- Since two hours, now, that we heard no reply to our calls."
- When was the last time you could communicate with her?"
- Around four o'clock, Sir.- Raste said.
- Bad, very bad! A fateful ordeal is hunting us down. Now I am really
worried.- Gail said, and call for a general meeting- at Main Deck.
When everyone were there, he counts them: Raste Cotero, Smith,
Hinkton...and himself.
- I expect you heard the news, Gentlemen. Commander Roda Picard and her
Team seems to be missing - again. There has been no communication with
them since 16.00 hours ; we guess they might have been attacked."-
Gailbraith said.
- But, Sir! Perhaps it's a problem with her radio transmitter!"- Smith said.
- Very difficult for a failure! We send messages, they are not there to receive
them."- Raste Cotero said.
- To-morrow we could go searching them!"- Smith proposed.
- In what? We have no Shuttles available.- Gail said.
- No need of them! We could use the PF (Personal Fliers; attached to the
back, could rise a man 20 meters from the ground, with a total use of 3
hours- some 300 kilometers, before the fuel runs out.)
- Who could be going? We are just four, now. Two of us less, and the
Silverado never will be flying again."- Gailbraith said.
- And what do we do now, Commander? Just sit here and do nothing?"-
Smith asked.
Gail blushed violently, but he controlled himself, by saying:"- Very well,
now, Smith! You are going in one of those machines, and see to it!"
- I will go, Sir! This very minute, if you prefer."
- Impossibly! It's dark, outside. Wait until the morning, Smith; if you go
straight ahead, and find the group, you give them a new radio transmitter,
and get back."
- And if I didn `t find them, Sir?"
- Can an only man manned a Shuttle?"- Gailbraith asked Cotero.
- No, Sir; must be two at the least!"- Raste Cotero said, in a whisper.
- Well, and if you , Smith, finds they are there in the Shuttle, send us a
message from there. "- Gailbraith said.
Smith answered:"- Very well, Sir! I will go on preparing my stuff."- And
departed.
- Guess this is a dangerous situation; I want everyone in the alert. AT all
times."- Gailbraith said, looking by the mirror outside; the darkness was
total, now.
That night they all sleep bad; Raste Cotero was on duty all night , to observe
the vicinity, in case of anyone approaching in the dark; but the Star rise in
the horizon, and nobody arrives.
With a rising sound, Smith went in the air, salute and went straight to the ---
- , looking down at all times.
He saw several big dinosaurs in the way; a trip of mere 10 minutes, and he
was looking at the Shuttle craft, fully in sight.
- What a thing! Nobody on guard!"- He told himself, and landed in front of
the main lock. He disconnected the PF, and went inside the ship; the ladder
was in use.
Inside, there were nobody; no people sleeping or on duty; the place was
somewhat dusty, due to the fact the door was open for several days now.
- Something happened here! They all went out, finds some lurking dinosaur
out, and they were hunted! "- He told himself.
Smith walked around the site; he finds nothing. Then, he went up the ladder
again, and called the "Silverado"-
- Smith here, Silverado."
- Silverado here; Raste speaking.- Cotero said.
- Tell the Commander there is nobody in sight; nor there were in the way to
here. Totally deserted."
Gailbraith said:"- Can you see signs of fight, Smith?"
- No, Sir. All is in working order, the strange thing it s the Lock was open,
and the ladder out. What did I do?"
Gailbraith looked on Raste, and told her:"- Can you to there , using another
PF, and bring the Shuttle here?"
- Of course, Commander! " - Raste smiled openly.
- Smith! Wait there! Officer Cotero will go there and with you is going to
bring here that craft. Understood?"
- Yes, Commander. Tell her I will wait her with a cup of coffee."-
- Very well, then; use your time in a better fashion, Smith, and start all the
system for the flight."
- Aye aye, Sir!"- Smith said.
Raste Cotero puts on a PF over his shoulder and back, and rise from the
field in a gush of air; she was using full throttle, and she was a pinpoint in
the distance in about 1.2 seconds after his departure.
- What a pilot!"- Hinkton said, astounded.
Soon, she was looking at the shining metals of the Shuttle craft, and
descended in front of the lock; up there in the ladder, Smith was waving her.
- Hey, you arrive in a blink of an eye!"- He said, when she arrives over there.
- Yes! I want this baby where it belongs!"- She said, laughing.
- All is ready; let me rise the ladder and close the hatch!"- He said, and
donned so, they seat on the pilot and copilot seats, rise the machine in the
air, and departed.
Soon they were hovering over the "Silverado"; the main gates were opened,
and the Shuttle descended into one of the warehouses (chambers) of the big
spaceship.
The gates were closed, and the crew was called to the main deck; there ,
Gailbraith said:"- Officer Smith, give us a report."
- My travel there was easy and with good visibility; there were some
Plateosaurus in sight; there was nobody else around there; once I revised
the Shuttle, even in the small areas, there were no crew or remains of it on
board. From there, I walked and revised the vicinity; some birds and two big
snakes, but no signs of struggle, no bones, nothing."- Smith said.
- And your report, Officer Cotero?- Gail asked of the beautiful woman.
- I rise in your presence, Commander; then I fly in direction to the Shuttle,
seeing some little dinosaurs in the way; but no signs of humans. I arrived to
the Shuttle, and with officer Smith we manage to bring it here in one
piece."- Raste Cotero said.
- We have several people missing; we have a shuttle craft: so , it is needed
to find those crew members, or at least, their reminds."- Gailbraith said, in
the middle of a big silence; he was uttering the words nobody liked.
- To-morrow, we will spend the working hours revising the Shuttle from top
to bottom; we will search for a clue to this mystery; but also, we will revise
the systems; and the day after to-morrow, some of us will search for all this
circuit for a clue . We will use the detectors on board the Shuttle; and lets
expect we find the missing people."- Gailbraith said.
After that, he went to the Shuttle, revising it himself until 0.00 hours;
nothing was there who could tell a Cephalopod attack was made.
- Let's to sleep, Gail. Nothing to be found here.- Raste told him, taking him
by the hand.
- What could had happened? - He asked, and she rise her elbows in
response.
He takes a bath, and went to sleep with her , who was a very tender person.
At the other day, they all worked hard, and the Shuttle recuperate the shine
on their controls, the sweeping floors end in shining corridors, and the ship
was refueled, from the tanks of the "Silverado." They made a crew for the
next trip: Smith, Hinkton and Raste would be traveling; Gailbraith would
remind in the Silverado.
- I don't want you to stay out this night; you return here at 20.00 hours
sharp, do you understand?"- Gailbraith told Raste Cotero, who were the
Captain.
- Aye aye, Sir."- She said, blinking an eye.
And soon the space craft was in the air; they began circling all the way to
the Shuttle, and because of that, they find metallic objects using the
Shuttle's detector.
- Metals down there, too many trees around here; what will we do?"- Raster
Coter asked.
- You could be hovering for a while, and we could use the PF and go take a
look."- Smith said.
- All right, use the small lock.- She said.
Soon, as a pair of bees going out the bee-hive, Smith and Hinkton fly to the
ground and begun searching for the metallic objects; they observed the
trees, the leaves, the soil...
- Queer, isn't it? Nothing to be seen here, but look at my scanner! - Smith
said, pointing to a little device he was wearing, to find metals.
- There is nothing in that direction...wait! Do you see that dung over there?
"- Hinkton said.
- Yeah, some dino makes shit over there!"- He said, as there was a one
meter high lot of half plastered dung.
- If some beast eats a crew member...those are the reminds!"- Hinkton said,
and began poking with a stick; soon he finds a wristwatch, a pair of golden
tooth, and a twisted piece of metal.
- Bingo!" - Hinkton said, taking his findings and enveloping it in an
handkerchief.
They find some little pieces more, and went to the Shuttle, who was up in
the sky.
They enter it by the lock, and after a good cleansing of the objects, they look
at it with magnifying glasses.
- Look here ! This wristwatch belonged to a man; and the other things who
knows? But certainly are of our crew."- Hinkton said.
- Our missing crew.- Smith Corrected him.
Raste Cotero keeps on doing circles around the place where the Shuttle
was, and they find another group of objects, some kilometers away; this
time also were skulls and bones, cleaned of every bit of flesh by the local
fauna...
They take that and stored it in the Shuttle craft; this time they were sure the
crew were for ever missing...
Raste Cotero landed inside the Silverado- and the gates closed over it; the
Silverado begun looking like a graveyard, for most of the remaining crew
members...
- Lost, they are all lost, Commander! We find some objects in a knoll of shit-
some dinosaur eats Commander Roda Picard, not 20 kilometers from here;
then..."- Raste was saying, but Gailbraith interrupted her, by saying:" - Wait
a minute, there! How come you didn't notice any special when flying in a PF
?"
- What, a lot of shit? Because there we found the reminds! But for that,
Commander, we used a very specialized scanner! - She remembered him.
- O.K., go on."- Gailbraith acknowledged.
- So, and we find bones and stuff some 100 kilometers away; this time, we
could swear they were attacked by several minor dinosaurs; the reminds
were more."- She said.
- All right, so we are not going to see anymore of Commander Roda Picard,
or the rest! We must to think we are alone, here! "- Gailbraith said, sighing.
- But we must take into account the other two Shuttle crafts, Sir! They are
going to get back, and we will be a lot more people than now, aboard the
"Silverado"!- Raste Cotero said.
- Certainly! We will see them coming soon, if we believe our Main
Computer."- Gailbraith said.
After that, they went to dine, and Raste Cotero - again- has the night-
watch. She was using her extra energy, being a Special Person. The rest,
were common humans- no more.
Gail went to accompany her in the last quarter of her watch, and told her:"-
What a beautiful sight you make, looking at the controls, with your face
lighted by the green lights!"- He said.
- Thanks you, Commander!"- She said, rising her head to look at him; she
was a beautiful woman, and so he kissed him with care.
- I love you.- She said, embracing him. After some other caresses, they take
coffee, and Gail said:"- Those people were leaden by a rancorous woman:
Commander Roda Picard!"
- She was enraged because you send her and not a petty officer; now her
childish decision (to carry almost everyone on board out the ship in a trip
where dinosaurs were lurking behinds trees) make them all die before their
time."- Raste said, sighing.
- When the rest of the Shuttles came back, I am going to travel as fast as I
could to Earth! I am tired to be here , risking our lives every minute we are
in this planet!"- Gail said.
- Why, my love, have you afraid some dinosaur force the entry?"- She smiled
gently.
- No, I mean the Cephalopods are here in this planet! Those guys have a real
advanced civilization, nothing we had seen before! They could make as look
as a bunch of monkeys in a day of camp ,any day now- He told her.
Raste moves her head, and said nothing- she has no motive to live in fear of
the Cephalopods...and perhaps her Commander was better informed, but
that she will not press; the secrecy was a serious business in Starfleet.
Dawn arrives, and at 09.00 hours, the shift changes; Hinkton was to be on
duty until 4.00 hours, and then another member of the crew will follow.
Hinkton arrives fully shaved and using a new uniform- the other was soiled
in too many a part- and said:"- Good morning, Commander; Officer
Rastero!"
- Good morning, Officer Hinkton! No new to report."- Rastero said, leaving
her post.
- Good!"- Hinkton said, seating in that chair- that was very confortable.
With Gail, Rastero went to her cabin, and they take a shower, and went to
bed, kissing each other; they were in love- or so he thought.
Five days later, and from the sky, appeared the Second Shuttle Craft, and
landed inside the "Silverado", who close it`s gates, not showing signs that
that ship were inside it`s hull.
The noise, laughs and salutations ended when Gail said:"- I have bad news
to told you, guys: the entire crew of Commander Roda Picard is dead!"
Every one of the new-comers exploded in a series of protests, but Gail
waved a hand, and said:"- They went to explore on foot, and they were
attacked and murdered by the dinosaurs that plague this world. So there will
be no more expeditions out for us! And furthermore: I intend to return to
civilization as soon as you, guys, told me the entire Silverado systems are
checked and ready to be used!"
There was a silence here, but then, the professionalism wins the day, and
everyone began saying they were willing to revise every circuit of the ship, if
necessary.
Then, Gail went to his cabin, and the crew begun to talk more freely
between them; so Raste Cotero learn a lot of what those crews did in their
explorations, and after some hours, went to see Gailbraith to his Cabin.
His hand still lay on hers, and for a long interval, while they
stood silent in the enveloping loveliness of the night, she was
aware only of the warm current running from palm to palm, as the
moonlight below them drew its line of magic from shore to shore.
- Close the door with lock! And come here- He invited her, so they were in
bed together, when Raste said:"- There are big news, Commander! The
Expedition were very successful; you better read the Report before you set
sails to Earth!"-
- All right, I will read those hundred of pages! But not now; we have several
days before the Silverado ends our checking!"- Gailbraith said, kissing her
eagerly. She responded with delight, and he cuts the lights off.

TAGGART`S REPORT.
I, Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, departed from the "Silverado"
starship`s vicinity in a Shuttle of the same aforementioned ship, into the
West, round the whole planet, and came back. I went with my own crew:
Lieutenant Tawny Madison
First Officer Doctor Lazarus
Chief Engineer Sergeant Chen
Lieutenant Laredo (Pilot)
Blue Suit Crew:
Crew Nš6 Guy Flegman
We found several herds of Dimetrodons, and isolated Ceratosaurus, some of
them festering on Plateosaurus- those were already killed, and their
carcasses rise to the sky as cathedrals of a era where God and the Saints
didn't exist in the mind of Man.
Hovering over the Carnosaurs `s hunting fields, we notice they use skill and
deceit to guide herds of Brachiosaurus to where they see themselves in
disadvantage, and be pray of hidden Carnosaurs of terrible size and power.
This throws to the floor the idea that Dinosaurs didn't use strategy
whatsoever. The fact is , as seen by us, quite the Opposite.
Some 2992 kilometers from our starting point, we found a lake; and
clustered unto its eastern side, a group of buildings, inhabited by a queer
race of birds, capable of to THINK.
The beings weighted some 50 kilos each, and 2.00 meters high, having in
the extreme of their wings some fingers- so they used them to build things.
The town resembles an African Village.
Their language and customs are filmed for future studies; after three days
we departed and over a stretch of 7.000 kilometers the Dinosaur Kingdom
reigns supreme. Strange creatures never before seen , lurks day and night by
those sites. ( Included are 39 hours of filming).
The rest was pure water, with some tiny islands on the coast. The Continent
where the "Silverado" is posed now, is the only one of the planet."
End.
Gailbraith looked at Raste Cotero, and said:"- There is nothing too
extraordinary, beloved."
- Ah, no? And what about those birds...intelligent ones? Are they not the
only other race- until now- derived of birds? "- Asked her.
- Yes, guess you are right. What do you suggest, to carry them to Earth, sell
them to some Institution for further studies- or to propagate the race
throughout all the Universe, in order to have some more diversity?"- Gail
asked.
- Take some samples- carry them to Earth- study here also! They must be
very alien! "- She said.
- All right! But I am not wait another day here! We are going in full force!
With the Silverado! "- Gail said.
Three days later, the Silverado" was hovering over the city of the Birds, and
they take twenty of them; a random selection, who carried different sexes
and ages to the ship-
The birds were terrified, and make a lot of noise, who was subsiding
gradually, when noticing the mammals were not hungry...
Taggart was recognized by them, and he was the translator; pity Taggart
knew a really negligible quantity of words in "Bird tongue"; so they almost
didn `t understand a word out of the "Birdies", who were called from the
beginning
- Cryogenic the whole bunch! They made a lot of noise, and we didn't know
their language."- Gail told Raste, who carried out his order in two hours.
- Back to Earth!"- Gailbraith told Lt. Laredo, who said:"- That's good
news!- And begun calculating the necessary Jumps into Hyper Space to
arrive as fast as he could; after fifteen minutes, he realize the short way
would mean some 23 days of travel.
- 23 Days to Earth, Commander! When did we start?"- Laredo told Gail.
- Right now! And sound the alarm!"- He said, fastening his belt. The bedlam
begins- the shrieking sound puts the chill in every spine- and the "Silverado"
began to move - slowly at first, and then more and more fast.
- Jump in two minutes!"- Laredo said by the microphone- the sound was
deafening - and in two minutes, the Silverado" inserts its prow where the
time shrinks and the distance diminishes....Hyper!
Twenty days of travel through Hyper space brings the Silverado at the Gates
of the Solar System; and three more days to arrive to Earth, after several
visits from the Spatial Police- the security was improved.
- There you are! A sea world!"- Laredo told Gailbraith, who was almost
breathing in his neck.
- Good, good! I will recommend you for a promotion."- Gailbraith said.
- I deserve it!"- Laredo yelled, looking at the round orb.
The "Silverado " docked in Base 39, and Gailbraith present himself to Roald
Asundeer, Commander of the Third Quadrant, at the same Base.
- We have several alien samples, and the remaining crew of the Silverado,
Dugongo and Protector ships."- He told Asundeer, who was a told man in
his eighties.
- Real amazing! So you have a collection of several crews in your ship"- The
man said, seated behind a plastic desk; Gail was standing in front of him, in
a real big room.
- Yes, Commander! I have my videos and CD`s for you to see a detailed
bitacora of this trip; sorry there were so many deaths; but we were in a land
of Dinosaurs."- Gailbraith said.
- Hear, hear! A real finding, my very young lad! Well, you deserve a good
vacation on Earth; you and your crew! "- Roald Asundeer said, gripping the
satchel with information that Gailbraith was handling him.
- Thanks you, Commander! I hope we could have free meals, too!"
- Of course! There is a Hotel in Bermudas...the "Cogote Pelado"; a fine
Hotel for all of you; I will reserve rooms for you all! And your payment, of
course, will be delivered right away; several thousands, I presume."- Roald
Asundeer said.
- Thank`s you, Commander! You are very kind to us.!- Gailbraith said, with
tears on his eyes; the mention of money in his presence always did that; he
was a romantic!
- After some vacations, you will be called, young fellow! And your crew -
who knows- perhaps they will be accompanying you! You can go now.!- He
said, laughing strangely.
Gailbraith went to tell the others the good news; soon they were paid, and a
Shuttle takes them all to the surface of Earth- Bermudas, to be more
specific.
- What an island! What a sun! Real nice!"- Raste Cotero said, looking at the
sea.
- I want a good bed and silence for two days! I will sleep like a king!"-
Gailbraith said, and they all enter to the building; inside the Hotel " Gallo
Pelado " was great; five stars at the least! The janitors and attendants
swarms the place, and soon they all have a room for each; with all the
luxuries of a big Hotel.
- Guess the time when we, Star fighters, arrive to a low class hotel are over!
Good for old Commander Roald Asundeer!"- Gailbraith said.
The End.


Built by Text2Html