Planet Genocide I (Galaxies Collide Book 3) (23 page)

Vice-Admiral Chergui glanced through the transparent side strips in the pod, the sun flickering through the smoke and steam that streamed past the viewing portal. The pod shuddered further, bouncing on turbulence as it shot across the sky, the small smooth craft spinning as it exited the atmospheric ring, gravity beginning to pull it towards the earth below.

The bridge security officer gritted his teeth, the velocity uncomfortably fast, ‘We will slow before we land won’t we?’

Chergui glanced across at his subordinate, his chiselled tanned features appealing to the female crew members, ‘The craft will automatically correct its descent…unless it has been damaged of course, and then we will be killed…’ He grinned, ‘But don’t worry it will be very quick and only happen in the last couple of inches…as we hit the planet!’

The young man’s head spun round to look at his commander, uncertainty filling his eyes before a smile slowly spread across his face, ‘How can you be so cheerful, Sir? You have just lost your ship…’

Chergui nodded, glancing back through the transparent slits once more, his eyes catching a glimpse of the distant ocean below, his tone thoughtful, ‘I may have lost my ship…but it appears all the crew may have escaped unharmed and we are soon to arrive on the planet’s surface.’ He glanced back, the security officer staring into his commander’s brown eyes, ‘According to the computers, you have apparently inadvertently chosen a place of natural beauty for us to land and there should be adequate numbers of humans close by.’ He glanced back to the viewing slit, ‘Once we land, we must get to a communications hub…I need to speak with Admiral Karladen urgently…to get to him would be better…’ He leant forward, slowly depressing two side keys, ‘This should send a distress message to our ship on earth…hopefully Petaski is not too blind yet…he can perhaps coordinate someone to pick us up.’

The craft bucked in the air, the security officer grabbing the overhead support handles in fear as Chergui chuckled, the small engines thrusting to slow and direct the craft’s fall, the commander shouting over the roar, ‘It’s just stabilising our descent…shouldn’t be long now…’ He leant forward and tapped the screen, a map flickering across the display, ‘It seems we will be landing near a human highway…the B6054, whatever that is…we will bring the assault rifles and stop one of their local vehicles to assist us.’

The craft buffeted again, the speed slowing dramatically as the thrusters surged, the small vessel twisting in the air as the computers began to adjust for the final descent. Both officers stared out of the viewing slits, the rough grassland and rocks beginning to rise towards them on either side. As the craft bumped on landing, the seals broke, the surge of escaping air as the front of the small vessel opened outwards, Chergui stepping forward onto the rough grass. Turning, he grasped an assault rifle from the rack beneath the upright seats, his head moving round to inspect the terrain as he raised the weapon across his chest.

The bridge security officer dropped to one knee, his own rifle raised as he glanced round cautiously, Chergui indicating to him, ‘We are not expecting trouble…these people are meant to be our allies…’ He pulled the door round, closing it once more, the seals locking as he entered his own personal code into the small frontal panel.

Indicating to the south, both men began to walk, slinging the rifle straps over their shoulders and dusting their blue uniforms as they glanced around. The moors were quiet in the late afternoon, a cool refreshing breeze tugging at their tunics they stared across the gorse and bushes, the landscape breath-taking in its deep green colours. Forests lined the hillside on the horizon, a road cutting clearly through the trees as several brightly coloured cars progressed along the tarmac.

The security officer pointed, his eyes narrowing, ‘They have transports there, Sir…its quite a distance though…’

Vice-Admiral Chergui shook his head, ‘According to the map in the pod, there should be a nearer road just over the next rise…’ Reaching a narrow dirt track, they turned south, trudging along the path towards some trees on the brow of the hill before them.

Raindrops were dispersed in the breeze, the sky overcast above them as they pulled their caps down, the tunic collars hugging their necks as they tramped forward. Birds rose from the trees, the Vice-Admiral staring upwards as they banked and flew away to the east, inhaling deeply, ‘This is truly spectacular countryside…the air is so clear and clean…’ He smiled fondly, ‘…you can almost taste it. Let’s hope we never see Morgon troops land here…’

The officer next to him glanced across, his eyes mellowing as he looked along the side of the high trees, two rabbits standing on hind legs to inspect them from a distance before scampering off into the undergrowth. As they slipped into the gloom of the trees, he grinned in satisfaction, the path beginning to descend towards a gate at the foot of the rise, a narrow road beyond it.

Stepping onto the concrete, Chergui indicated to the left, ‘This way I think…there should be a bigger road in a couple of miles…’ He smiled, stretching his back, ‘Perhaps we will meet someone along the way…’

They trudged on, the one track road winding through the trees and then out into open land, the hills rolling upwards to the left as they two officers stared down into a valley to the right. Vice-Admiral Chergui pointed, his finger following the line of the road on the hill opposite, ‘I think that leads round to where we are walking, we will try and get someone to stop for us…’

The bridge security officer nodded obediently, reaching for his rifle, Chergui grasping his arm firmly, ‘We will wave them down to get them to stop…not threaten or scare them…these people will not be frontline soldiers and have not been at war for many years…’ The commander shrugged, ‘Perhaps we can ask them what peace feels like…’

They turned, the muffled sound of an engine approaching, the Trevakian officers standing in the centre of the road expectantly and awaiting the vehicle to appear. The small compact red car swept round the bend, two people sat in the front seats, their eyes widening as they glimpsed the two blue uniformed figures ahead, one stepping forward to wave for them to stop.

The middle aged man patted his wife’s lower arm, her foot slowing the compact vehicle to a stop before the two officers, his voice reassuring, ‘You stay in the car love…I will check this out!’

The passenger door swung open, Vice-Admiral Chergui smiling as the short grey haired, robust male struggled from the passenger seat, his tone concerned, ‘Can we help you two gentlemen?’ His eyes widened further as he glimpsed the rifles, his voice shaking as he raised his hands, ‘We are on holiday…we don’t want any trouble…just a drive through the Yorkshire Moors, then a meal at a nearby restaurant…take the car if you like!’

The Vice-Admiral stepped forward, saluting formally, a reassuring smile on his lips, ‘Sir…we mean you no harm. I am the commander of a Trevakian battleship and this is my bridge security officer, we would just like a lift in your car if possible…we need to make contact with our other ship further south…’

The grey haired man lowered his arms, his eyes sparkling with excitement, ‘So y-you are from space…the race that contacted earth at Heathrow…?’ He smiled widely, inspecting the commander’s uniform, ‘We will help you…it will be our pleasure…’ The man indicated to the car, ‘Please get in…it’s a little cramped I am afraid, but there is only the two of us so we did not need a larger vehicle.’

As they approached the vehicle, the man extended his hand, ‘I am Nigel by the way…’ He indicated to the lady in the driver’s seat, her eyes staring back at them, black hair neatly styled, ‘That’s the wife…Sally. We decided to take a little holiday once the shooting started…’ He shrugged, ‘Who knows when we could again?’

The security officer smiled widely, indicating to his commander, ‘This is Vice-Admiral Chergui of the seventh Trevakian fleet…I am first security officer Azhan.’

Slipping uncomfortably into the rear seats, the officers placed the assault rifles across their laps, Nigel indicating to them, ‘Are they perfectly safe?’

Azhan nodded reassuringly, ‘Oh yes sir, they will only fire when pointed away from us and then not at an ally I believe…’ He leant across towards his commander as the man in the front seat turned back seemingly satisfied, his voice a low whisper, ‘The escape pod had more room than this vehicle…and it was more comfortable!’

Vice-Admiral Chergui glared at his subordinate then leant forward, his voice low as he addressed the obviously nervous woman driver, ‘Thank you for your assistance, we will not inconvenience you too long…we need to get to some sort of communication hub…your husband mentioned you were going to a restaurant, perhaps that would do?’

The lady nodded, her hand slowly reaching for the gears as her husband spoke again, raising a map and scrutinising it, ‘We had nearly forgotten how to use these, but the satellite navigation stopped working yesterday so we are having to rely on maps like we used to…’ He grinned, ‘It’s like a trip down memory lane and a bit of fun to be honest, we have got lost a few times…but the countryside is beautiful, so we don’t mind.’ He shrugged, ‘It’s probably a fault with the car, so I am sure the link to the satellite will be up and running again soon, just like our mobile phones!’

Azhan shook his head, ‘I think you will be relying on your maps from now on…there are no longer any satellites orbiting this planet…’

Chergui raised his hand dismissively, seeing the concern form in the man’s eyes, ‘Perhaps if we just head for this restaurant…we are quite hungry ourselves.’

Nigel nodded, indicating through the windscreen, ‘Drive on love…let’s see if this road really does lead to near the pub!’ He glanced back, ‘It will be my pleasure to buy you two officers a drink...and even a meal…I presume you have no money?’

Azhan glanced out the window, staring into the darkened trees, the car accelerating along the tarmac as Nigel stared down at the map, the security officer’s voice low, ‘There was not enough time to bring any currency either!’

The red compact vehicle pulled into the car park, the restaurant and bar set slightly back from the road. They had been driving for twenty minutes, the narrow roads confusing as they twisted and turned through the trees and moor, the Trevakians staring out at the landscape as Nigel explained how he and his wife had originally met.

Chergui glanced up at the red ornate sign, his eyes narrowing, ‘The Highlander…what does that mean?’

Nigel nodded, indicating to the wide entrance doors, ‘It’s Scottish, the warriors of olden times…’ He headed across the wide car park, the gravel crunching underfoot, ‘Once we are inside, I will explain…let me get the drinks in and I will see what communications the pub landlord has working…’

Vice-Admiral Chergui opened the driver’s door, offering his hand as Sally stepped from the vehicle, ‘Thank you for your assistance madam…allow us to escort you into the establishment…’

The lady smiled, adjusting her black hair, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks, ‘Thank you Sir…please excuse my husband, he is quite excited by our chance meeting…I am sure he is attempting to alleviate any embarrassing reaction inside…’

Azhan pulled the doors open, allowing Sally to proceed first, the two blue uniformed Trevakian officers following in behind. The restaurant was decorated in crème colours, oak skirting and a dark patterned carpet running up to the long bar with numerous framed pictures along the walls. The twenty plus bleary-eyed patrons all stared as the two fleet officers stepped into the bar, a number slowly raising their half-filled glasses as they stared at the rifles. A beaming stout grey bearded man walked from behind the bar, ‘Gentlemen…please come in…have a seat. Can I get you a drink…perhaps one of the local brews to taste?’ He grinned widely, ‘Most of our customers have travelled across the moors today…I feel you may win any competition for distance!’

The Vice-Admiral nodded his greeting, smiling politely, ‘It is important we are able to communicate with your army or authorities…are you able to do this?’

The man shook his head, ‘No…sorry Sir, nothing is working…the telephones have been out for a couple of days!’ He turned, looking at the young woman behind the bar, indicating for her to come out, ‘I will get my daughter to drive to the nearest police station…perhaps you would like to rest here until they come for you…have something to eat?’

Nigel stepped forward, his hands extending with two pints of beer, ‘Here we are…have a rest Sir, let’s get you some food and drink and the police can come and get you?’

Vice-Admiral Chergui glanced at Azhan, the two nodding to each other in agreement as the barman spoke softly to his daughter, the young woman going to retrieve the car keys as the man turned, smiling widely, ‘Come through into the function room…I will get the menus and a nice bottle of wine.’ He nodded knowingly, ‘No one will ever say that there is not a warm welcome at The Highlander!’ The patrons stared at the two uniformed officers as they walked along the front of the bar, several murmurs starting as they disappeared through the function room doors at the end.

The medium sized room was oak lined, the large table in the centre of the room topped with a patterned white tablecloth and place settings, a number of plush purple chairs surrounding the ornate fabric. Vice-Admiral Chergui lowered the assault rifle from his shoulder as the landlord indicated to a chair, ‘Would you like to sit here, Sir? I will bring the menus for you in just a moment…’