Fleet 2: Fleets, #2

By Bernard Harold Curgenven

Part 1: Before the fleet escaped Earth, BMA was launched as a decoy ship. The idea was to distract the enemy, but things didn't quite go as planned. It seemed the Demons pursued the fleet instead, and BMA lost track of the fleet from one dimension to the next. BMA's crew devoted their lives to finding the fleet and rescuing human survivors. Only after the captain was succeeded by Dranreb, did they receive the lost distress call from the fleet's only surviving ship, and Dranreb's team immediately investigated. What they found was shocking, to say the least! The broken distress call originated on a planet where the fleet had settled, and the planet was annihilated by the Demon race. Once again the Demons had spared nobody and left nothing to salvage. Nothing but scientific research and a ship's log had survived! BMA soon faced a new space anomaly. The Ghost was the superior predecessor to the Demon, and equally as greedy for power. Ghosts harvested a mind controlling drug, beyond any element known to humanity. Soon BMA was under attack and humanity risked extinction.

Part 2: This episode takes us back in time, to a period before the great war with the Demon race. There was a period of peace amongst the six nations of the Earth. The planet was threatened by the ever increasing smog that drowned the sunlight and altered the natural global temperature control. The governments of each continent launched similar space programs to overcome this threat, and soon the established space stations aided in relaying sunbeams for the control of light and heat on Earth. All was well, until one project failed, having a devastating effect on the relative continent. Disaster struck in multitude and soon spread. The continent was in turmoil after giving birth to a new nation of destroyers, known as Moron. Moron swept across the continent, destroying everything in its path, until there was no sign of civilization. The rest of the world was overcrowded and desperate. There was thus a call for a world government and a combined army, before settlers could be sent to the desolate land.

Part 3: When the number of terminally ill patients exceed the capacity of local hospitals and clinics, alternative treatment is necessary. When specialists are charged with misdemeanors, they are sentenced to community service. Thus the purpose of the space clinic is to accommodate such people. The huge space clinic is equipped with the most advanced technology, and finding volunteers to test this technology is a breeze amongst a community with little to lose. What can possibly go wrong?! Space is littered with unforeseen anomalies that are more than capable of affecting modern technology, destroying everything in their path, or altering life as we know it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bernard Harold Curgenven
• Release date: Feb 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393104957

Book preview

Part 1 - Chapter One

Bloody Marvelous! Dranreb said, thinking aloud. He looked up to face his anxious crew. It seemed they were awaiting an instruction. Something didn’t quite seem right, and he felt the need to suspend the mission until there was clarity on his suspicion. Engage electro-pulse hovering at thirty miles, he went on to say. Thirty miles seemed a safe distance from the surface of the planet, as the gravitational force was somewhat weaker than originally anticipated.

Abort landing. Hover at thirty miles from the surface using electro! first officer Chase relayed the captain’s instruction to the mainframe, in a crisp, yet clear voice. It was essential to speak clearly when relaying a message, in order to avoid any possibility of confusion. The slightest misunderstanding could be detrimental to the ship’s survival.

Until now the heat signatures had been fluctuating, and the green jelly substance was thickening in the surrounding space, causing great resistance. The random access memory had convinced the ship’s main processor that the destination planet was hostile, presumably due to the dense jelly substance surrounding the planet. Now the substance was changing, seeming less hostile. It was evolving into retro-green lava, and seemed to be flowing, as a solid does when turning to liquid. The lighter green color suggested the presence of light from within or beyond the substance.

The external temperature gradually increased while the ship was stationary, but there was still no threat to the exoskeleton. The heat shield surrounding the ship’s exoskeleton was charged at maximum capacity, and was thus able to resist the heat with ease. In fact it was capable of shielding the ship’s hard exoskeleton at temperatures far greater than molten rock. The truth is, regular laboratory testing was unable to determine the resilience of the force-field that was responsible for heat shielding. The atomic power needed to breach the field, would simply disintegrate matter, and therefore annihilate humanity during the testing process. There was doubt in the commander’s mind though, as there should be! At times the human mind may not appear to fear the unknown, but even bravery knows its limit. There certainly was no harm in analyzing the situation before jumping into the deep end. Until now the ship’s processor had been unable to recognize the element or elements forming this jelly compound. Besides the resistance to movement, due to its density, the substance seemed harmless. The increase in temperature, light and agility was suspicious. Surely if the planet was sending out a natural deterrent, the density would increase and seem hostile as they approached. The lava substance seemed to be flowing inward, towards the planet, without the presence of a great gravitational force. It portrayed a welcoming gesture, one far too comforting!

Part 1 - Chapter Two

Clairvoyance meets fame, yet ignorance knows not my name! Can you comprehend my suffices? Abject and forlorn premises of the shackled stage! One can repeat all one’s suffices and have no effect on this age! One can unveil every secret illusion and still not eliminate sacred intrusion! One may yet be apprehended, and no souls will be salvaged, but if in all confidence you must, do offer me your complete trust, for I have soared around the rainbow, and breached Hades crust! Now with all your fancy devices, can you comprehend my suffices? Do you actually go by looks? Well, then you should at least consider purchasing all my books! Boo!! The audience cheered after hearing the word ‘boo’. Clairvoy gave a brief bow and turned to leave. He hadn’t reached the curtain when he was ambushed. Decay seemed to come out of nowhere and collided with Clairvoy, almost bumped him off his feet. The applause almost instantly became a roar of laughter that echoed within the hall.

Creatures and echoes alike from the chanted valley, manifest in the day, and at night they hike! They possess the evergreen universe, and all else must disperse! Never has there been a community so mixed, as if genetics had been fixed! There is evidence of a boat, but it is no longer afloat, and the crew had fallen prey to danger and decay! Clairvoy reached for the sky with both arms once he had finished speaking. The audience cheered and applauded him. He gracefully disappeared behind the royal-blue curtain, showing no emotion as he proceeded on his way.

"Artificial samples? Well, I never! You too compare my posts to artificial limbs from haunted hosts, but may I impress upon your mind, that profession is not of a robotic kind, and if my words do not meet your desire, you may wish to simply turn and retire. Though my words are completely off the chart, and I have created the most innovative art, with a plague of prodigious talent I can only offer you a quickened look, to ensure your purchase of the book, for should you receive the best free, then I shall never collect my fee, and you may accuse me of buffoonery! We were there when the ship sank, delirious from the salt water we drank. We were tossed from starboard to port as the Barge and swells fought! We were victims to a storm of sort. Ropes swam over the deck, ropes which were once taught!

The hull was a complete wreck, yet the vessel had just recently been bought. There were patches of bloodstained paint, and the limp crew all appeared faint, and we dallied along with prayer and song, until we were rescued by a chopper and saint of luminous outfit! A sight so quaint! Yes we were there when the ship sank, and we happened to be towing the new barge, and it happened to be a vessel so large! I have thrice an addiction: Humor, horror and science fiction! Do enjoy my books, and never sleep again! My poetry grows on you! You will purchase my books and nightmares too!" Dallied blurted out her presentation in a high pitched voice. She gave a brief yet graceful bow with her head tilted to one side and one knee bent. There was a perverse whistle from amidst the crowd, which was followed by laughter and sneering. Dallied had become accustomed to this reaction, yet this time she was determined to win the favor of the mass, so she gave a second bow. The second bow was a courageous one, and won a grateful reaction from the audience. There was light applause at first, but it gradually became more aggressive. Dallied had stood her ground, far better than most men. She left the stage holding her chin up high.

We four ghosts lurk behind your door! We frighten you, but what can you do? In us you shall confide, for there is nowhere left to hide! We will visit tonight and we will stay. We feed on those who forget to pray! The four musketeer ghosts sang as no choir could, and they sounded like one. They paused briefly before continuing.

It crawled out the woodwork and the carpenters fled. The legendary demonic mercenary was frustrated and underfed! The industry ground to a halt, and afore hatch and door employed nut and bolt, every city creature was subjected to dread! It was merely a matter of time before all citizens turned to crime! Paradise was once a walk in the park, but now it’s a void in the dark, ruled by an overfed lark, whose bite exceeds his bark! They all witnessed the prophets’ warning, but they were too distracted by gaming, socializing and spawning! But one turned on his phone, and thus alerted the drone, and he turned and fell, when his mates ran like hell. He then went prone, down a manhole, dodging an empty shell, and joined hoards of sort, either rat or mole! Was this the safe-fort? But what was that smell? There was no signal. There was no tone! His clothes were drenched and he was wet to the bone. Around him skeletons were benched, and he wasn’t quite alone! Bloody hell! The air was filled with the smell of decay. The air reeked of mutilated flesh! Which way?! The room was central and linked many tunnels, but each was fenced off with armored mesh, as if this was the base of shredding funnels! There was no ladder to the hatch, so he moved about, in search of a way out, and finally stumbled upon a wall with a latch, despite the room being poorly lit! He opened it! Hang on a bit! Something was vaguely familiar! I’m drenched to the bone and annoyed with my phone! I’m trapped and prey to the drone! My platoon was destroyed, by something vengeful and annoyed! The Frankenstein moment has lasted over a decade, yet unlike the modern creature, there is no sign of jewelry or suede. Witness a totally phenomenal feature! The musketeer ghost team abruptly ended their presentation, after which they formed a circle and joined hands. They started walking, as if encircling something. The circular movement gradually increased its speed, until it was spinning, cloaking any sign of human form. The circle eventually disappeared after reaching warp speed. Dranreb hadn’t seen them before, but then many strange occurrences had taken place since the ship had passed through the green wormhole. He wondered where they were from and where they had gone now. His thought was interrupted by the next contestant.

"Oh but there never was a more visible quality than your obvious unflappability, and even when a large flock wisped by, you thought it wise to fly, with your crown decorated in leather, in the absolute worst of weather! Had you any illusion about the value of true glory, I probably wouldn’t be telling your story, but then if you hadn’t been subjected to scorn, my forefather may never have been born! Alas, one cannot help but ask about such a profligate task! How do those with such flagrant infidelities, produce hoards of liabilities! I know this may seem a little premature, but I plan on uncovering your caricature, and I plan on keeping my brides on the shelf, until I have reached a customary level of indignation, and I am ready to build an irascible nation myself! Oh here is sufficient skill as an artist and classicist, enough to proclaim myself as a perfectionist, yet I strive for so much more! Soon the kingdom will be knocking at my door, if only to see me wearing your shoes! Once the soles are worn, numerous descendants will be born, and they will disperse of your wealth as they choose, and I will face you in the underworld, but for now there is little to lose! Expect to be faced by your worst adversary on an undisclosed anniversary!

We shall meet in flight, where underworld creatures fight! You probably wish I was once removed!" Proflig spoke in a deep, crisp voice. He certainly spoke with authority, during which there was total silence in the audience, as all ears were erected. There was a long silence when he had finished, after which he displayed his unique voice-changing capability.

"It isn’t impossible to become eloquent,