The Enlightened: Book One of Dawn of the Enlightened

By JS Joubert

Your kind left us out here to die, but we survived. You invade our sanctuaries and defile our sacred grounds. You capture us for your studies, and you have the audacity to want to drink from the source of the birth stone. You shall be judged.
After the atrocities of the war of Sargon and the devastation humankind brought on Edin, humanity was on the brink of annihilation. The governments of the world formed the United Coalition of Governments as a beacon of light in the darkness. One visionary realised that this fragile truce was not enough to save humanity from itself.
The Corporation came into being, a society kept apart from the world of greed and corruption. Using their superior technology, they fight to save humankind from destruction. But outside the protection of the Corporations domed cities, there is a new threat lurking deep within the desert caverns, clawing its way to the surface.
In the midst of distrust, the truce of the Coalition is on the verge of a breakdown. The current steward of the Corporation knows there is only one option left to save humanity. He must break all the principles and ideals on which the Corporation was founded, but will it be enough?

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• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: May 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477214831

JS Joubert

Jean was born in the Western Cape, South Africa. He was raised on a healthy dose of science fiction and from a young age expanded his love for the genre through reading as many books as he could find in the library of the small town where he grew up. He spent his early school years bringing the initial idea of the Enlightened to life with comic sketches and drafting the initial storyline. He obtained an honours bachelors degree in accounting science and has a chartered accountancy designation with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. He currently resides in South Africa with his wife, Joanna

Book preview

The

Enlightened

Book One of Dawn of the Enlightened

JS Joubert

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© 2012 by JS Joubert. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/02/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0507-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-1483-1 (ebook)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Glossary

About the Author

About the Book

To Jo, for your continued support.

You are and will always be special to me.

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Chapter 1

I witnessed the people devastate E’din after the last war. The war brought no victors but caused a great loss for our planet. The only landmass that survived was Sennaar. How could the leading founder of the Corporation distance himself and stand by and watch as humanity destroyed itself? I know that Avner had all the answers to the world’s problems; he left them to me. This makes the struggle to distance the Corporation from the petty politics and agendas of the United Coalition of Governments even more cumbersome. I do not want to involve the Corporation in the squabbles of the other governments, but I have a duty to save humanity from itself.

—Personal journal of Jarrad, 2083

Yvonne looked up at the starless sky, into its inky blackness. She, like so many of her generation, had never seen a star before. The stars’ fragile luminosity could not penetrate the thick layer of toxic gas that had long ago tainted the planet’s atmosphere. She wondered if she should pray, but it seemed a fruitless task. There was no one up there to listen to her pleas. The gods had forsaken them, had left humankind to fend for themselves. The last war, nearly sixty years ago, proved that. Humanity was alone—or so she had thought. The sky started to spin before Yvonne’s eyes. The air outside was stifling without her breathing mask. Everything happened so fast, she had not had the time to grab it. She bent over the desert sand and was violently sick.

The throng of humanity that moved about her continued their relentless march. They were as scared as she was and dared not offer a comforting hand. She let out a sob. Why was this happening? She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She must get up, if not for her sake, then for Jessica’s. It’s OK, little one, she said as she rubbed her protruding belly. Everything is going to be OK.

The last thing she remembered before finding herself out here in the cold desert night was sitting down in her favourite chair in front of the television. Her husband had been busy packing the evening’s dirty dishes into the dishwasher. She could not remember hearing any disturbance outside before she heard the heavy footsteps behind her. Someone had grabbed her and carried her out of the house. It was not her husband; it was someone, something else. She had screamed and kicked out with her feet, but a large, clawlike hand had come down on her face, and everything had gone dark.

Yvonne scanned the faces of the people around her, looking for her husband. She felt the level of the rocky ground beneath her bare feet rise, though she saw nothing but people pushing forward. They were ascending one of the mountainous regions on the outskirts of Wassera; she was sure of it. She felt people pressing into her and tried in vain to protect herself as they were forced forward into a dark, musty tunnel. A glimmer in the distance led the way. Someone in the front must be carrying a torch. The light barely reached her. She used one of her hands on the clammy wall to feel her way in the darkness. She tripped over a piece of rock and nearly lost her balance, but a gentle hand steadied her and kept her from falling. The woman next to her put her arms around her and made a futile attempt to comfort her with a smile.

We must get out of here, the gentle voice whispered.

There is nowhere to go, Yvonne replied. Fear gripped her as the woman slowed their pace. She was in no condition to run anywhere. It would be best to follow the group, and once they were stationary, she would find her husband. Someone would come to their rescue.

What are you doing? Yvonne said.

I’m getting us out of here. I haven’t seen anyone at the back forcing the group to move forward, the woman replied.

This is absurd. It’s too dangerous, Yvonne pleaded and attempted to resist. They reached the back of the group, and she felt the woman’s nails digging into her arm.

We must run. Now!

Yvonne freed herself from the woman’s grasp before the woman stumbled down the tunnel and out of sight. Yvonne remained frozen, watching the darkness. The sound of shattering bones echoed through the cavern. A faint metallic odour of blood enveloped her. She scrambled back as a looming figure filled the tunnel, revealing the source of the smell. A limp, broken body dangled over the figure’s shoulder. Blood ran down the corpse and dripped from the woman’s open palm onto the ground.

Rage filled her, and she stared up in defiance at the figure. How could you? she shouted. You have no right—

All her anger drained from her body as the figure moved towards her out of the shadows. It towered over her. It must have been well over two metres tall. The glint of its yellow eyes bored through her. Yvonne saw the repulsive red scales through the ragged brown robe. She did not hear the voice but rather felt it inside her head: Move.

Her knees felt weak, and she caved to the floor. The claws grabbed her hair and pulled her along the ground. She screamed and shouted, begging for mercy for the child inside her.

Yvonne grabbed at the creature’s claws to relieve the pain and scrambled with her feet in an attempt to stand upright. She partially regained balance, and the creature pushed her forward. She stumbled but kept up the pace to increase the distance between her and the creature.

She felt relief as she saw that the mass of bodies had slowed down in front of her. She pushed past the stationary people, forcing her way to the front. She stalled when she saw another robed creature in the front dividing the captives into groups. The strongest were shoved towards an area where a small group of people were digging. The workers must have been underground for a time. Dirt covered their faces and bodies. They used tools to chip away at the rock. Many were almost naked, their old clothes torn and ripped with the strenuous work. Dead, mangled bodies were strewn all over the narrow cavern, and the workers did not even seem to notice as they carried away the heavy rock in their bloodied hands.

She continued to watch in horror and was oblivious to the creature approaching her from behind. The claw on her shoulder surprised her, and her body sprawled onto the ground as she attempted to get away from it. She closed her eyes and bunched into the foetal position to protect herself and the baby inside her, fearing the worst. The massive hand picked her up and carried her. She became quiet when she realised she was being gently placed onto a cold, smooth surface. Pain shot though her eyes when she opened them. The bright light blinded her. She used her hands to cover her eyes. She heard the voice say, This one is with an unborn child.

Yes, bring her in, another said.

She heard the footsteps and then saw the black shoes. A hand grabbed her around her waist and lifted her to her feet. Her eyes remained focused on the floor as she was assisted to the centre of the room. The man helping her reassured her. Everything will be all right. I will make sure of that. The creatures did not follow them into the room, and the door banged shut behind them.

What is happening? Where are we? she said.

You are in a delicate state and need special attention. We will take care of you. The room had metallic walls; it was clean and brightly lit. It reminded her of an operating theatre. A table was centred in the middle of the room. The tubes, monitors, and controls were foreign to her. One of the adjacent walls was constructed of a large mirror. Two other people in white stood next to the operating table. They wore the face masks and head-gear she expected doctors to wear.

She asked through tears, What are you going to do? He did not reply. She felt the prick of a needle as the assistant injected her with a relaxant.

Please don’t do this, she cried before her muscles went limp. The two assistants strapped her feet and arms to the table.

It’s time, doctor; we have to start. It was the last thing Yvonne heard as they placed the mask over her mouth. She inhaled and drifted into unconsciousness.

Two men stood behind the one-way mirror. Tane’s dark brown eyes shifted from the woman on the operating table to Rogen. I shouldn’t be wasting my time with this butchery. I have other duties to perform. The final results of your science project interest me, not the procedure.

Rogen didn’t even ponder the statement before he replied, The prophets of Mar’duk requested our attendance. That should be enough of a reason for you to be here.

Tane needed a moment to calm himself. He still cringed inside when the dignitary referred to these creatures as the prophets of Mar’duk. He was a religious man, but they had yet to convince him.

Tane was a colonel from the Free-Cities Militia. He fixed the button on his navy-blue uniform and watched as the surgeon used the scalpel with precision to slice open the woman’s stomach. It was the same precision he expected from his militia units.

His current duties did not require many hours of active field duty. It upset Tane that his usually fit physique had suffered. He still maintained strict discipline. His subordinates would never see him without a pressed uniform and a pristine white shirt. He still kept a clean-shaven face, and his dark black hair was cut short. His rank was displayed with pride on the right chest above the militia insignia. The insignia dated back to the start of the Free-Cities government: a shield over a cutlass. On his left chest he displayed all his achievements.

Tane thought Rogen fit the image of a dignitary. He wore the usual colourful robes. The red, yellow, and orange were an eyesore. He had paler skin than Tane. Dignitaries rarely left the comfort of their villas, in contrast to the working class and the militia.

Today it was Tane’s duty to escort Rogen to this hidden underground facility. As expected, his unit was quick to ready a transport on the short notice they were given.

No doubt these creatures were highly intelligent. They recently had revealed themselves to him, and they had provided the Free-Cities government with scientific information that would rival the Corporation’s. If they were that intelligent, they could keep secrets.

Are you aware of everyone the prophets have revealed themselves to? Tane said.

Besides ourselves and the staff performing the work here? A handful of dignitaries. Only those of real importance, Rogen said.

What if there are more people that are doing the prophets’ work? Tane said, choosing his words with care. Rogen would not be free with his information if he insulted the prophets.

They may choose whomever they please. If they have kept information from us, it is because we haven’t proven ourselves worthy. Is the militia’s serum not enough to earn their trust? Rogen said.

Tane thought about the statement for a moment and continued to watch as the surgeon removed the foetus from the woman and placed it in a transparent incubator to keep it alive. The woman was sewed closed. If she survived, she would join the diggers.

Rogen must have thought him a fool. He knew enough of what was being researched. The prophets used the work-force to search for an artefact they referred to as the Ben’hu stone. Tane did not question them about who supplied them with the work-force, but he could guess. The dignitaries of the Free-Cities regularly cast out workers they considered lazy. That still did not account for all the labourers he saw.

Yes, with the serum, we will be able to enhance our soldiers into perfect fighting machines. Any opposition will be crushed, and your fellow dignitaries will not have to play coy with the coalition. They will have to bow down to our requests. That is the final results. This foetus is only the start of the trial run. I am yet to see the serum, Tane said.

The prophets promised us a serum, and they will deliver it when it is ready. We are the chosen people of Mar’duk. Why would the prophets hinder us in ruling E’din? You should stop thinking like a militia commander. The practical applications will far exceed that of perfecting soldiers.

Tane remained quiet. He would play along with their game, but he reserved his judgement for now. The surgeon moved the incubator next to a cylindrical container full of a murky green liquid. Tane had heard a reference to the liquid only once, the seed of Atum. It was a tainted sample, sufficient for this experiment but not sufficient for the militia. The Ben’hu stone contained a pure source of this seed of Atum. That was all Tane needed to know to turn a blind eye.

Tane continued to watch with lack of interest as the surgeon connected the tubes to the incubator and pumped it full of the liquid. He wondered if it should be called a foetus. It had already started to resemble a small human being. The medical team appeared to be satisfied with the vitals and removed a vial from one of the sample cabinets. It was altered DNA from the prophets. The surgeon used a needle to inject the DNA into the feeding tube that was attached to the umbilical cord.

The science was complex, but the practical use was simple. The militia would use the knowledge to breed soldiers. The scientists would create vaccines and medicines to keep the Free-Cities labour force from dying or make the affluent immune to the poisons and toxins plaguing the planet. It made him shudder to think what the prophets intended to do with the knowledge.

When the team completed the procedure, the surgeon moved towards the glass and tapped on it before giving Tane the message. We have completed the procedure. The rest of the tests will consist of the staff monitoring the foetus growth. We can leave shortly.

That brought a sigh of relief. Tane thought it was a serious tactical error to be isolated far away in these caverns, away from the cities. He glanced over at Rogen to get the final nod of approval. The nod came. Tane pressed the button next to the one-way mirror to reply, We will be waiting for you in the reception area. We will be ready to depart in twenty minutes.

Chapter 2

It was only six in the morning, but the sun was already beating down on the deserted plains. The large off-road tyres threw up dust behind the vehicle as Karl steered his jeep down the hardened sand path. Duncan was seated next to him in comfortable silence. The vehicle’s windows were tinted to allow him to see better. Out here in the desolate plains between the cities or deep in the desert, the white of the sun’s brightness could cause near blindness. The colour of the sky changed slightly over the cities. The change was dependent on what manufacturing industry was operating within each city’s borders.

Most towns were designated yellow zones. In the low-risk yellow zones, you only had to wear environmental resistant robes. They were mainly to protect civilians from the radiation from the sun. With the depleted ozone layer, it was dangerous to stay outside for long. The high-risk yellow zone designation usually indicated some concentration of airborne pollutant and meant it was recommended to wear a breathing apparatus and a visor. But usually it was more of a precaution, as those pollutants were considered non-lethal in small doses.

The scenery did not change much. The landscape appeared a dusty brown with scattered greenery that barely covered the soil. The odd rock formation protruded from the desert floor. In some areas, the shrubs were so sparse that the greenery did not make an impact on the brown landscape. As they passed a populated town, he noticed the odd tree. He estimated the tallest tree was not much taller than his 1.9-metre stature.

They passed a barren patch of soil. The sand varied in colour from light brown to near black. It had been contaminated either by radiation or manufacturing pollutants decades ago.

There were no shrubs here, and the top-soil blew around freely, spreading the contamination. The government had promised to clean up these areas. It did protect the populated areas from contamination with barrier walls to limit the spread of the soil.

The clenched-fist-and-raised-thumb insignia on the chest of Karl’s vest identified him as a soldier of the Independent States. The three red stripes running diagonally from his shoulder down to his chest signified that he was a captain. The officer seated next to him had one red stripe indicating his lower rank. Karl put his sunglasses on, covering his icy blue eyes. He brushed his hand over his head. He had had his haircut the previous day and could only feel bristles. His assigned military head-gear lay on the back seat. He hated wearing it.

Is that all the information, sir? Duncan said. Karl realised he had stopped talking to the officer next to him as soon as the landscape distracted him.

Yes. I got a call this morning asking me to drive out to Wassera. It was some delegate that complained he couldn’t get hold of someone in the town, and it’s urgent, Karl replied. As if he did not have better things to do with his time.

Karl had passed through Wassera before on one of his border patrols. It was a farming community on the edge of Independent States territory bordering the unclaimed territories. The outlying towns usually had minimal communication lines with the main towns and cities. One optic cable buried beneath the sand was the backbone of the communication system to the outlying towns. It was too expensive to lay redundant cables. Within the town, cellular towers served the people. Karl guessed that some critter out in the plains had dug a hole and damaged the cable. It was not an unusual occurrence.

There was a conference commencing in four days hosted by the Corporation. One of the delegates was stationed in Wassera to assess the agricultural produce, and no one could get hold of him. This raised a red flag.

Karl didn’t care what the conference was about or what the delegate was doing. It was an inconvenience to drive to Wassera to see if the delegate had left the town. If he was still there, Karl would have to wait for him to finish packing and escort him back in time for departure.

Karl saw Wassera in the distance. The mountain range to the left overshadowed the small specks of residential housing in the distance. The mountainside facing the town had some greenery covering it. The farmers in the town had done extensive work on the mountain to capture and funnel the water to a common collection dam on the rare occasions when it rained. The collection point would be on the coolest part of the mountain to slow down evaporation. An extensive process cleaned the water of pollutants and contaminants before it was distributed to the town.

As he neared Wassera, his senses warned him that something was not right. What weapons did you pack? Karl said.

I didn’t pack any extra weapons, sir, Duncan replied. Karl monitored the wall surrounding Wassera. The half-metre wall was deserted. This was suspicious; a team should already be cleaning the walls. Maybe he was being paranoid. The wall facing the desert would be the main priority, and it was much taller than the wall facing the interior plains. It was a futile attempt to stop the desert from creeping into the town. Every night, the wind caused the sand to collect against the wall, and the following day, the cleaning process commenced again. It was a never-ending process.

The jeep entered the town, and the ride smoothed out as the sand path turned to paved road. Karl did not detect any signs of movement. He reached the centre of the town and turned to the left to follow a smaller road to the house where the delegate was stationed. The crops to his right, as in most other agricultural towns, were situated in its centre. It was easy to spot the government houses. They were the only ones with lush green lawns. For some reason, the government thought it was important to divert valuable resources to maintain greenery in front of its properties.

It was nearing seven in the morning, and Karl still did not see any movement. This heightened his suspicions. The farm workers should have been in the fields. People should have been leaving for work. Something was wrong. Karl removed his sunglasses and took his pistol from beneath his seat. He reached for the head-gear and placed the small breathing apparatus over his mouth before he strapped the transparent visor to his head and tightened his black gloves. Duncan secured his head-piece and armed his standard-issue pistol. They moved with caution towards the front door.

A gust of wind swung the gate to the garden open. Karl passed the small lawn in front of the building. A bed containing a bush of white roses grew on each side of the porch. He pushed at the front door. It creaked open. He peered inside, his pistol aimed towards the floor. The entrance room contained the mandatory protective robes. The door separating the entrance room from the reception area was open. This was not a good sign. Protocol dictated that you enter the entrance room and remove your robe before entering the house. Both doors should not have been left open at the same time. Karl thought this was an ineffective method of protecting the house from external contaminants, but it was protocol.

He entered the desolate reception room and scanned it before he called out, Anybody home? Duncan followed him inside. Do a sweep downstairs. I’ll take upstairs, Karl commanded. Duncan started his sweep while Karl headed for the flight of stairs at the opposite end of the room. He still kept his pistol aimed towards the floor. He peered up at the empty flight of stairs. He paused when he heard floorboards creak. It was only Duncan clearing his rooms. Karl rushed up to the first corner and crouched into position, ready to fire at any threat. The staircase was empty. He rushed up the second and third sets until he reached the top. He scanned the left and right sides of the passageway. There was nothing.

The upstairs consisted of four bedrooms and a study. It was a large house for one family. Karl moved to the farthest end of the passageway to start his sweep of the rooms. He kicked the first door open and rushed in. It was empty. How could this be? He opened the cupboard doors and crouched to look underneath the bed. There was nothing to indicate a struggle. Karl searched the rest of the rooms. Every room was the same—empty. The only sign of life he found was the unmade bed in the third bedroom. He holstered his pistol. It was ridiculous; there was no one here. He opened the last bedroom door and peeked inside. There was a cot with a few toys inside it. The bed was made. He did see a few creases that could indicate someone had slept there. He opened the cupboard. A few items of clothing hung in there. None of this made sense.

Karl opened the curtains and peered out of the window. He saw the first signs of disturbance. A broken pot and overturned plants were scattered on the small road separating the house from the neighbours. He called out, Duncan, have you found anyone?

No, sir. This house is devoid of life, Duncan replied.

Meet me on the south-east side, Karl commanded. Duncan was crouched over the footprints when Karl reached him.

Sir, people were herded through here, Duncan stated the obvious. Karl gestured for him to follow. Both of them moved with stealth and followed the footprints. The rustle of branches in the wind was the only sound as they drew nearer to the mountain. The branches were mostly bare with patches of leaves. The trees had been planted by the farmers in an attempt to restore nature and were fed by the overflow from the dams on the side of the mountain. Karl came to a halt in front of a cavernous opening and signalled for Duncan to stop. It was dark, and he could only see a few metres ahead of him.

Wait here. I’ll explore for ten minutes. If I am not back within twenty, head to the jeep and call for back-up, Karl instructed Duncan. They hadn’t come prepared for exploring in the dark. Karl attached his night-vision scope to the top of the pistol and activated it. The scope didn’t provide sufficient vision, but it would have to do for now. They synchronised their watches before Karl pressed forward alone.

He only took a few steps before he couldn’t see anything. He felt his way along the tunnel wall and used the small night-vision scope to inspect his surroundings. This was foolish. He couldn’t discern any real evidence of the civilians, and he would be easy prey. He had to report this and wait for back-up. Karl back-tracked to where he had left Duncan, and they headed for the jeep.

He picked up the radio from the dash-board console. At least the military vehicles came equipped with technology that could work out here.

HQ, do you read me? Karl provided his identification, I need to speak to Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson immediately. This is a code red priority.

Jackson’s voice came over the radio. This better be urgent.

Wassera is devoid of human life. The cause is unknown. We need a squadron to secure the area, Karl said. The radio was silent for a moment.

Can you confirm the message? Jackson said. Karl repeated himself.

I am issuing orders to ready a squadron to depart. Find a secure location and wait for back-up to arrive. I will get hold of the appropriate delegates.

Ethan arrived at Wassera in the early afternoon. The military officer seated next to him waited for him to finish securing his protective face gear. It only made Ethan more nervous as he struggled with securing it. He saw his own reflection in the vanity mirror of the vehicle’s sun visor. His blue eyes stared back at him through his horn-rimmed glasses. He repositioned the glasses before he successfully attached the face gear to the breathing apparatus. The visor of the face gear barely reached his receding hairline. It took a matter of seconds to tighten his hood and robes around his formal attire. He spent most of his days inside the protection of buildings meeting with other government staff. Being outside in the sun for extended periods would not do his pale skin any good.

I’m ready, Ethan said. He opened the door of the jeep and surveyed the town. Ethan felt he didn’t need this. He had cancelled numerous meetings to make the time to come out here. The annual conference of the United Coalition of Governments commenced in four days. He was due to depart tonight, and as a delegate of the Independent States, he had to be there. His opinion did not matter; listening to the petty squabbles between the three remaining superpowers was a waste of time. No, four. The Corporation did not consider itself a government. They maintained they were an independent scientific research community, but Ethan knew better. They were as much a government as any of the other powers.

Ethan followed the officer marching away from the jeep. He observed the military officers in their combat gear sweeping through the streets and into the houses. The officer stopped when they reached the edge of the centre of the town. He commanded, We have to wait here for the squadron commander. We have secured the perimeter and deem this location safe from threat.

Ethan realised the officer was not a man of many words and did not expect much conversation from him. When he had arrived as Ethan’s escort, he had introduced himself as Captain Karl Matthews and had not said much on the long journey to Wassera.

The dwellings appeared to be in reasonable shape. He could see the usual wear and tear displayed on the exteriors. The peeling paint was to be expected in the border towns close to the unclaimed territory. The conditions out here were harsh; even with regular maintenance, buildings appeared as if they weren’t looked after. Most of the buildings were brown, double story apartments. Houses replaced apartments as the main form of residence nearer to the centre of the town.

Ethan turned towards the crops in the centre of the town. The crops were still alive and well. They were protected by a low wooden fence, and the automated irrigation would continue its work for a long time to come. The solar panels standing high above the crops had a dual function. First, they protected the crops from the harshness of the sun, and they also powered the automated irrigation system. Losing this agricultural town would be a great loss to the Independent States. He attempted to recall the names of the other agricultural towns and wondered if any of them could be used to replace the lost production. No, there were more important matters to ponder: the missing people.

Ethan felt the blow as Karl shoved him into the wall of the building and removed his gun from the holster. Get down! Karl shouted as he covered Ethan and trained his firearm towards the direction of the crops. The military officers were quick to fall into formation, aiming in the same direction. Ethan heard the soft sound of creaking metal and realised what had sounded the alert.

Tell your men to stand down and continue with the sweep. It’s three thirty in the afternoon. The automated crop management system is opening the solar panels to allow sunlight to reach the crops before nightfall, Ethan said as he attempted to push Karl away. He did not have much success. The bulk of the gear hid the officer’s powerful physique. Ethan could not compete with his own slim build.

Get back to your duty, ladies! It’s not an attack! a voice sounded. The voice came from around the corner. Ethan had to admit Karl’s reflexes surprised him. In an instant, he assisted Ethan to his feet and sprang to attention as he saluted the officer. At ease, the officer said.

Lieutenant-Colonel, this is Ethan, the government delegate to assess the situation, Karl said.

Ethan extended his hand to the lieutenant-colonel. He was met with a forceful squeeze as the lieutenant-colonel reciprocated the handshake. You can call me Jackson. Can we move inside? I want to remove this infernal head gear.

Ethan followed Jackson into the entrance of the nearest house and watched as Jackson pushed the door open. They entered through the small room at the back of the house. Ethan was the last to remove his head-gear, which he did after a struggle. He placed it next to untouched plates of food and cutlery on the kitchen table. When Jackson removed his head-gear, Ethan suspected the aging man must be near retirement. His brown hair with streaks of grey