The Plague
By K McConnell
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About this ebook
Discovering there had once been life on Mars was an historic revelation, but Mars held an even more shocking revelation. The Martian life was indeed ancient, but not just some microbial bug. It was far more complex. But who were these aliens? What happened to them? The answers were shocking. Increasingly self absorbed, was humanity prepared to accept what they find?
K McConnell
K McConnell grew up in a small Michigan town sadly similar to the town of Hamlet in the Hamlet Mysteries. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in English Literature with a minor in Writing that adequately prepared him for unemployment, a vocation he has fully embraced whenever possible. He has travelled extensively surviving numerous misadventures along the way. These days he spends a majority of his time writing for his own entertainment and anyone who wishes to listen in.
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The Plague - K McConnell
The Plague
K McConnell
www.kmcconnellbooks.com
kmcconnell@kmcconnellbooks.com
1
What is it?
Carson moved quickly down the side of the excavation. Tension ran high around the dig since the two previous missions, the 4th and 5th to Mars, had uncovered a variety of fossilized remains. Mostly tiny fragments, but analysis strongly suggested they came from larger fauna---not microscopic, as had been expected. More significantly, there were traces of what was believed to be fabricated materials. While the conclusions were still considered controversial it had, nonetheless, unnerved the population back home. It had raised questions that many in the population did not want to deal with.
In addition, there was an underlying pressure now for these missions to produce something of value. The Martian expeditions were becoming increasingly unpopular back on Earth. A great many people felt that the enormous amount of resources it took to launch an expedition to a long dead planet could better be spent trying to improve the standard of living for an ever burgeoning Earth population and its rapidly diminishing resources.
There was a continual fear in the space program that each mission could be the last.
Carson brushed his thin suit against the rugged sides of the dig. A dangerous thing to do in a pressurized suit and the nearly pressureless Martian atmosphere. He wedged himself between the two of them as they stood looking at it.
What is it?
Carson repeated.
Sorrell, an archeologist, stepped slightly aside to let Carson see better. There wasn't much room in the trench though. Templeton, an engineer whose specialty was in the recovery of artifacts, shifted slightly too, but there wasn't anywhere for him to go.
Sorrell shook his head. I...don't know.
Carson stared at the black bulging circle in the sand. It looked like black glass in the glare of the work lights. Something deep within Carson, something instinctive, made him want to reach out and touch it, but he knew that was strictly against procedure.
What's going on out there?
McClellan's voice echoed through their helmets. She was one of the two military personnel assigned to the mission.
It's...we're really not sure as yet, Sara. Stand by.
Carson continued to stare for a moment longer then glanced over at Sorrell. It was a pointless gesture since their helmet face shields made it difficult to see one another's faces. In the helmets individuality was largely lost.
Let's see if we can get a better look at it, shall we?
Carson backed off to give the other two some room and explained to McClellan what they had come upon. Carson Peters, a civilian and the one of the world's leading paleontologists, was the mission leader.
Look at the soil discoloration.
Sorrell pointed in the area immediately around the object.
Templeton nodded, though his helmet hardly moved rendering the act meaningless. You think maybe a leeching from the object?
Don't know. Doesn't really look like the same material as the surrounding soil. Let me get a sample of it.
Sorrell fumbled a small container out of a pocket and gently scooped some soil into it.
Let's use the air drill to clear it off.
Templeton said hoisting himself up the side of the excavation. He reached outside the trench and pulled down a canister with a long metallic hose attachment on it. At the end of the hose was a metal nozzle and valve. The air drill was handy for clearing away the loose red sand, but it had to be used sparingly. In the thin Martian atmosphere it took