The Shadow of the Moon

By Rob Morgan

In the not so distant future, an international corporation controls most of Earth’s resources. Resisting this corporation’s attempts to be taken over, are the colonies on the Moon and Mars.
When starting to colonise Mars, they come across an alien probe. This probe gives information on a temporal jump engine that will allow ships to travel great distances in a very short time. The probe also contains the location of a planet where the aliens who sent the probe might be found. Spies from the corporation passed on this information and the corporation made plans to seek out the aliens. The leaders of the colonies decided to send an expedition to seek out the aliens and gain their support against the corporation and warn them that the corporation was on its way.
The team from the moon consisted of one ship containing two people. This craft is followed by a warship from the corporation. The Moon ship arrived first and found an alien woman who had been kept alive in suspended animation, but the rest of the planet was deserted. Automated defences infect the computers on the corporation ship with a virus that causes the systems to malfunction and eventually causes the ship to crash. The ship from the Lunar colony stops to help and the survivors are taken back to the Moon, leaving one of the men from the moon and the alien woman on the planet. This planet happens to be the home world for the alien race, called Etlan.
The man and the woman find an alien ship and use this to track down the aliens who have deserted their home world. The man and woman fall in love on their journey to meet face to face with the rest of the Etlan race on Earth, but in the past. The alien’s base of operations was a city sized space ship called Etlantis, which floated on the Atlantic Ocean like an island. Some information from Earth’s future had got out of the database of the computers on Etlantis and when this was discovered by the colonist from the moon he asks that the Etlans stop any leaks to ensure that history is not altered. He also asks that the Etlans will help him in the fight against the corporation. The Etlans agree to help and they evacuate Etlantis which sinks to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The colonists return to the present to overthrow the corporation.
The Etlantis is resurrected by the colonists in their present, and use this huge ship’s awesome power to overthrow the corporation's power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rob Morgan
• Release date: May 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301610518

Rob Morgan

Rob Morgan lives in Southern England, UK. He has two sons. He works in IT and for pleasure likes to read, watch television and films and go out walking.

Book preview

The Shadow of the Moon

Rob Morgan

Copyright 2013 Rob Morgan

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Chapter 1

The light was blinding as Dave opened his eyes. The return from deep sleep during the hyperspace jump always hit back hard. After a couple of seconds his eyes became adjusted to the light of the pilot deck on board the space barge Pearl. He moved himself into a sitting position on the flight couch and became aware of a hum from the awaiting instruments.

He was the sole person on board, but he was not alone. The barge was the body and the electronics were the nervous system of the other crew member. This was Delta-Seven-Phi, the computer and heart of the ship.

Where are we Phi? murmured the still sleepy Dave

We are positioned at holding point twenty-one awaiting final clearance to land at lunar base Haven. We will begin final approach within twenty minutes. The soft, female voice seemed to come from a point just above Dave's head. As he turned to look up at the monitor, showing the usual vague outline of a human face on top of a swirling vortex of colour, he noticed a red light flashing on the nearby console.

Thanks Phi. Can you give me a status check?

The main reactor has a loose cooling pipe which is causing a slight temperature increase. I suggest we get it seen to when we land at Haven.

Is this the same pipe that we had fixed last week?

Affirmative, Dave. You would think that the repair operatives in Haven would take greater care with my systems.

Too right, Phi. Can you patch me through to councillor Deacon at Haven?

I am sorry Dave, but Lunar Control is not accepting any non-essential transmissions due to the solar flare activity.

Blast! Well he'll wait until we land. Dave got up and stretched. He decided that a freshen-up would do no harm while he waited for final clearance. He walked down the corridor leading from the flight deck to the small galley and even smaller bathroom. He got out of his grey flight suit and studied himself in the mirror.

The reflection looking at him was quite handsome. Dark hair, strong chin, lean but not thin body. Apart from the scars he was in good shape.

Dave stood under the sonic shower and, as usual, began to think. What solar flare activity?

Phi, can you detect any unusual solar activity?

The mirror greyed over and became a monitor and Phi's pseudo face came into view.

Negative. Dave, there is no reason for communications to be restricted to Haven.

Well, no physical reason anyway. Have we received landing instructions yet?

They are just coming through to the navigation computers. Final descent will begin in three point seven minutes.

Thanks Phi, I'm just getting dressed then I'll be right with you.

Slipping a clean flight suit out of the storage cupboard, Dave headed back up to the central room of the Pearl. The front of the ship consisted of the main hold which could be pressurised if needed, but often wasn't to save on oxygen costs. Behind this was the crew area. All that meant was the flight deck, galley, bathroom and the small leisure suite, containing multi-gym and recreational area, which also doubled up to be passenger accommodation if there were ever any passengers aboard the Pearl. Finally there was the engine compartment where the two great reactors supplying virtually all the ships power were housed. There were also solar panels and batteries to ensure power in event of reactor failure, but the ship would have to limp along at sub-light speeds.

Dave lowered himself onto his flight couch and strapped himself in. He then reached to his side and pulled the control panel over so that it was above his lap. Touching a control bought the display on his panel to life and the light in the flight deck dimmed so he could see clearly through the viewing screen. At the moment all he could see was the familiar visual impression of Phi.

Artificial gravity, off.

Affirmative, Dave. came the soothing reply as Phi turned off the gravity generators.

A note pad floated in Dave's peripheral vision as the gravity that had been keeping it firmly attached to the floor failed.

Put the forward image on screen, please Phi.

Affirmative

The image of Phi faded to be replaced with a view of the moon. Clearly seen behind it was Earth, somewhere Dave had not been for a long time.

Ok Phi, take us in.

Dave felt the hum under his feet as the reactors increased power to gently move the barge closer to the inhospitable surface of the moon before following the orbital path leading them to be directly above Haven. Once there the ship would descend to land, going through the huge space port doors and then through a smaller opening into one of the many airlocks that served as loading bays.

Dave watched as the image on the screen grew larger as the moon got closer. He could see the lights coming from Lunar Central and as they curved around the satellite he could gradually see the glow from Haven.

Following the signals from the traffic control computer they landed at bay fifteen. As the ship settled onto the landing struts, that had emerged from within the body of the barge, the doors behind closed. There was a loud hiss as air came flooding into the loading bay. As soon as the air pressure was correct the inner doors flew open and dock workers streamed in to unload the cargo in the hold. Phi opened the cargo bay doors and began a careful manifest of everything leaving the ship.

At this point Dave left the ship and headed for the dock masters office. To get here he had first to enter the main hall of the port. Above his head a huge sign floated, held in suspension by a zero-g field. In large illuminated letters, the welcome sign grabbed your attention.

WELCOME TO LUNAR BASE HAVEN.

THE BEST PLACE TO BE ANYTHING IN.

ENJOY YOUR STAY!

At least it did the first time you saw it and from then on you barely noticed it. As Dave had seen it so often he didn't even look up. Passing through the crowds, who always infested the port area, Dave headed for a less popular area of the space dock. Here the paper pushers ruled and space jockeys didn't belong. Dave knew this but his mission was too important to be phoned in from a comfortable bar.

Dave stopped outside a plain white door. In fact all the doors in this area were plain white, set into plain white walls. The floors were white but the ceilings were just lights. The overall effect was to make this area not appear bright, as originally intended, but to give the administration area an air of clinical efficiency.

Pressing a touch pad to the side of the door, Dave waited for admission into the office of councillor Deacon. With a slight hum the door opened and Dave stepped through into the office within. In contrast to the corridor, the walls and floor of Deacon's office were done in mock oak panels. In the middle of the room sat an impressive, although fake, wooden desk with imitation leather chairs. Deacon was sat in a high backed leather arm chair, looking intently at Dave.

Mr Weston. What brings you to my humble domain?

You know very well, Deacon. Dave replied. That cooling pipe you fixed last time I was here came loose again. Now I want it fixed, properly this time, right away and for free.

Deacon got up from behind the desk and walked to where Dave was standing. He was forty years old, but looks ten years older. His face was haggard and creased. His hair was grey and receding and the beginning of a paunch was forming above his waistband. A broad grin spread across his face.

Good to see you Dave.

Dave also smiled and held out his hand. As Deacon shook it Dave said Good to see you too, Roger. Can we talk?

I'll tell you what, let's go to the Pearl and see about your loose pipe. We can discuss it there.

Ok Roger. Shall we go straight away, or have we time for a quick drink first?

Dave, have you ever known me turn down a drink? came the shocked reply.

Silver Dollar?

Silver Dollar. confirmed Roger as he walked to the door.

Roger Deacon and Dave Weston had served together in the Galactic Patrol. Deacon had left to further his career as a councillor in Haven. Councillors were part management and part politician, needing to do both to allow the lunar bases to operate smoothly. Meanwhile Dave had been asked to leave, and was now the owner, although only just, of the Pearl.

They soon arrived at the Silver Dollar. This was a small bar, off the beaten track, frequented by space jocks, but steered clear off by tourists and officials. One thing you could guarantee was that you would get a good drink and good companionship if that's what you wanted. Dave and Deacon went to the bar and ordered a couple of beers. They took the beers over to a quite booth.

How's the family, Roger?

There fine thanks. How are you doing?

Not so bad. It's nice and quiet out on the space lanes, occasionally I pass another ship, but most of the time it's just me and Phi.

When are you going to settle down, Dave, and get yourself a nice little wife?

There's plenty of time for that, anyway I've got to find someone who's prepared to put up with me.

That's going to be tough. Shall we go across to the Pearl now?

Ok Roger. Dave touched a button on his wrist com. Phi I'm coming back to the ship.

Confirmed came the computers reply.

The two friends finished their drinks and headed back down to the docks.

Chapter 2

The hiss behind told Dave that the airlock had closed and he and Deacon were alone in the Pearl. The cargo had all been unloaded and the repairs finished. The two friends walked towards the living section of the ship.

Phi, give me a status check.

Hello Dave, the cargo bay is empty and secure. All repairs to the reactors have been completed and systems are at nominal levels. The ancillary systems are all hooked up and are reading green.

What ancillary systems? asked a confused Dave.

I'll answer that. retorted Deacon. Phi, can you stop us being overheard.

Affirmative. All damping fields and sensor shields are in operation. was the comforting reply. The walls of the living quarters were faintly humming to a resonance frequency that stopped any sound passing in or out.

What have you done to my ship?

Calm down Dave. Let me explain. As you are aware, Lunar Control has been restricting communications and as they, or rather the Zigma Corp, control the relay satellites we have had no contact with the outside world except for landing instructions to the incoming ships.

Yeah, but what has that got to do with me?

I'm getting to that Dave. The Zigma Corp has expressed a desire to take over the moon bases controlled by the Lunar Council. This would effectively make the moon a Corporation exile. If they control the moon there will be no one able to keep an eye on what they are doing. Already on Earth they have been accused of carrying out some rather dubious experiments in genealogy. There are rumours that the chairman of Zigma is trying to make clones of himself so that he can control the Corp for eternity.

Is that possible Roger? I thought gene experiments had been banned after the 2016 super plague was 'accidentally' released in China.

Officially, yes, but the Corporation is beginning to get too big to be governed by rules. We need help, and we need you.

Why? What can I do?

Let me tell you a story. When the Lunar council sent its first colonisation party to Mars, something happened. This has never been in any official report, but was kept under close security by the Council. The Mars colony was set up in four months, but the first colonists did not arrive for another year after that. Why? Because we found something. An N.T.I.

You mean to say that you found a little green man. Don't make me laugh.

"No. It wasn't quite a little green man. It was an alien probe that had been buried on the Martian surface nearly three hundred years ago. The probe contained an intelligent computer that took all of six minutes to learn our language. After the initial introductions the probe told us that the race that had sent it out into space, had sent hundreds of probes to all parts of the known