It
"It’s quiet, isn’t it?’ said the commander of the Scouting Vessel2195, Western Sector 3.
‘Well, that’s what you’d expect, isn’t it?’ replied his young trainee, Kyle Thomas. ‘No craft landing. Nor any coming fromit,’ remarked Kyle. He looked down at the milky blue planet.
They were quite close to it now, and it filled almost half of the
screen. It seemed so still, as if it were surrounded by a pool of
quietness.
The rest of its solar system was buzzing. Small scouting
vessels like their own, and bigger cargo ships were busily going
backwards and forwards between the planets. It made navigating this stretch of the Sector 3 rather tricky. He was glad the autopilots were amongst the most sophisticated Well, it sure is still a fairly blue planet,’ Nielson continued.‘Shame, though. It used to be so much prettier than this. It was
even bluer. And you could see greens and brown as well, before
the poison cloud.’
‘Why do they bother?’ asked Kyle. ‘They have a poison cloud
and they’re still living there? They could live anywhere.’
‘I suppose they feel safe enough down there, ‘replied Nielson.
‘What with all their farms and things tucked up nice and safe in
those caves of theirs. The rest of us could learn a thing or two, if
only they’d let us get a bit closer.’
‘Not much chance, though is there?’ replied Kyle. ‘What with
them wanting to keep disease out. They won’t let anybody in.’
‘Yeah, well,’ said the Commander. ‘That’s something else it
would be great to learn about. It’s funny how they’ve gone so
shy. Considering it all started there in the first place.’
‘When was the last time anyone moved from the planet?’
asked Kyle.
‘2309,’ replied Nielson.
‘Just after the first colonies formed?’ asked Kyle. ‘So, over a
millennium ago? It’s mad.’
‘Yep,’replied Nielson, ‘and they’ve reported being disease -free
for just over two hundred years now. So, it ain’t just tha',"treplied Nielson, ‘‘I want tosee how well you can steer this thing.’
Kyle felt the power surge as the scout switched over.
‘One wide orbit around Terrestra and then out to the end of the solar system,’ said the Commander.
Kyle turned the craft. It wobbled and juddered a little. hard with the controls for a few seconds and then she beganto glide gently back over Terrestra.
He began to get the scout under control. He had the measure of her now. She was purring along.
It was then that he noticed it. A flash of green lightening ripped through the soft blue mist that surrounded the quiet planet.
A cascade of sparks followed. Kyle opened his mouth to say somehing.
‘Watch it,’ said Nielson suddenly.
A smaller scout was nudging its way across their flight path.
‘Watch the dataserve,’ said Nielson. ‘You must follow its coordinates.’
Kyle concentrated on the controls again
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