Plantanimus: The Gulax War

By Joseph M. Armillas

The third book in the Plantanimus Pentalogy tells the story of Alexei Rogeston, a descendant of the legendary psychic and genius, Kelem Rogeston. Alexei is a military commander fighting for the Human-Tarsian alliance against the Gulax, an alien reptile species intent on conquering the galaxy. Alexei discovers plot to undermine the Alliance and joins forces with the beautiful and exotic Princess Kani, daughter of King Velmador, ruler of the Tarsian Empire. The long drawn thirty-year war is not going well for the Alliance and Alexei and Kani fight against spies, cultural prejudice and the Gulax, eventually succeeding in bringing the war to an end. Unbeknownst to them after the war, destiny has more surprises for them when the Kren, a peaceful insect-like species rescue them from a near fatal spaceship wreck and take them to meet Kelem Rogeston, his mate Anima and the Dreamers, the sentient psychic plants that helped Kelem Rogeston liberate Mars from the tyranny of The Phalanx 186 years before as told in book II “Return to Mars”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781532094200

Joseph M. Armillas

A resident of Los Angeles California, Joseph M. Armillas is an author, actor and film producer. Born in South America to show business parents and raised in the USA, Joseph is a US Army veteran and proud American. A science fiction fan since childhood, Joseph began writing short sci-fi stories while in high school. His love of the genre inspired him to write the Plantanimus Pentalogy. He is currently working on converting the five books into screenplays.

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Copyright © 2020 Joseph M. Armillas.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-9419-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9420-0 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 02/04/2020

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1 A Second Awakening

CHAPTER 2 Assault on Drek 5

CHAPTER 3 The Rogeston Farm is Sold

CHAPTER 4 Bad News and Delays

CHAPTER 5 Alexei Meets an Old Friend

CHAPTER 6 More Surprises at Maison de la Lumiẻre

CHAPTER 7 Last Day on Earth

CHAPTER 8 Alexei Goes Back to the War

CHAPTER 9 An Unwanted Promotion

CHAPTER 10 Inconsistencies

CHAPTER 11 Strategy Meeting

CHAPTER 12 Hide and Seek

CHAPTER 13 King Velmador and Princess Kani

CHAPTER 14 A Meeting with the Admiral

CHAPTER 15 The King falls Ill

CHAPTER 16 The King Comes to the King James

CHAPTER 17 Attack on the Bloodington’s Curse

CHAPTER 18 Suspicions of Betrayal

CHAPTER 19 The Rescue

CHAPTER 20 A message for the Queen

CHAPTER 21 Ambush on the Krial

CHAPTER 22 A Conspiracy Unfolds

CHAPTER 23 Alexei Meets the Queen Pro-Tem

CHAPTER 24 Queen Kanikhana Takes Hacking Lessons

CHAPTER 25 The Traitors are Discovered – Kanikhana Rages

CHAPTER 26 Raid on the Sanduku

CHAPTER 27 Arrest of the Traitors – The King Recovers

CHAPTER 28 The Traitors die – Alexei Meets the King

CHAPTER 29 The Kural and a Declaration of Love

CHAPTER 30 Alexei and Kani Meet Lieutenant Dryan Harr

CHAPTER 31 The King Takes Back His Crown

CHAPTER 32 The Vortan Departs

CHAPTER 33 The Mission to Woltried and Love’s Fire

CHAPTER 34 Arrival at Woltried

CHAPTER 35 The Queen’s Guards are Defeated

CHAPTER 36 Alexei and Kani Return to the Fleet

CHAPTER 37 Peace Talks at the Monastery

CHAPTER 38 The War Ends - The King Summons Alexei

CHAPTER 39 Alexei and Kani

CHAPTER 40 Alexei and Kani Meet the Kren

CHAPTER 41 Arrival on Plantanimus

CHAPTER 42 The King’s Farewell

CHAPTER 43 Tatiana Leaves the Nest

About the Author

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Acknowledgements

To Barbara Markay, my heart and soul. And to the universe;

thanks for the download!

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Prologue

PREVIOUSLY, IN BOOK 1 AND 2 OF THE TRILOGY,

PLANTANIMUS AWAKENING & PLANTANIMUS RETURN TO MARS

The story of Plantanimus Awakening begins in the 27th century in the year 2619, four hundred and eighty six years after the Dark Period, an environmental holocaust that nearly wipes out the entire human race on Earth in the late 21st century.

After humanity’s 2nd Renaissance in the late 23rd century, mankind resumes the course of progress and eventually colonizes the Moon and Mars.

In the year 2485 a pandemic breaks out on Mars caused by a previously unknown virus in the ground water supply. The virus, called MV Recessive, kills every single adult on the planet but spares all Martian born children under the age of sixteen. Scientists eventually develop a genetically manipulated vaccine and inoculate the entire population of the solar system.

The pandemic brings about a conflict that culminates in a revolutionary war between the mother planet and its two territorial possessions, the Moon and Mars. As had occurred with colonies of patron nations on Earth many times in the past, Mars and the Moon eventually declare independence from the mother planet in the year 2486 and secede. The Moon and Mars become independent states and Earth has no choice but to grudgingly accept their independence.

A few decades after gaining its sovereignty, Mars becomes the industrial and technical powerhouse of the solar system, a situation that Earth resents. Unbeknownst to all, the MV Recessive vaccine causes a mutation in the DNA structure of the young Martian survivors of the pandemic. However the populations of Earth and the Moon are not similarly affected. The genetic mutation gives rise to a new generation of Martians with extraordinary abilities. From 2485 on, an unusual amount of psychically gifted children begin appearing in the Martian population. The average I.Q. of these children is unusually high.

PREVIOUSLY, IN BOOK 1, PLANTANIMUS AWAKENING

The main character of the story is Kelem Rogeston, a member of that generation of children born after the pandemic. He is a descendant of an illustrious family of Martian scientists and explorers that were instrumental in the colonization and development of Mars dating back to the 23rd century. In 2633, at age sixteen, Kelem is a genius with an immeasurable I.Q., already working on his doctorate in Interdimensional Physics and slowly becoming aware of his psychic powers.

Since the age of thirteen, Kelem has been experiencing a bizarre and unsettling recurring dream every night. In the dream he finds himself in a strange forest populated by enormous trees that tower several hundred meters above him. The trunks of these bizarre looking trees have golden bark and emit strange vibrations that sound like music. Searching for an answer to his problem, he seeks out famed physician and psychiatrist Professor Nicolas Alfano, one of Mars’ eminent medical figures.

Nicolas Alfano is the leader of a secret but humane and ethical Martian society, called The Brotherhood of the Light. The Brotherhood is a one hundred and forty four year old organization made up of Martian psychics who formed the group more than a century before to protect Mars from the Phalanx, an evil, fascist society from Earth, bent on ruling the solar system under its fanatical right wing, authoritarian dogma. The organization now controls many aspects of the Terran government and plans to take over the planet and install one of their own as leader of Earth in order to accomplish their goals. One of the organization’s main goals is to repossess Mars as a colony of Earth.

When Nicolas Alfano, a skilled mind reader meets sixteen year old Kelem Rogeston, the future CEO of the Mars Mining Company, the largest most powerful corporation in the solar system, he realizes that Kelem is the most talented psychic that he’s ever encountered. The boy is capable of sensing other people’s emotions and can read minds at long distances.

A Martian prophet named Thorgen Kutmeier, also a member of The Brotherhood of the Light, has foretold of the coming of a new race of human beings many years before. He refers to these new humans as the Sixth Root Race. Nicolas Alfano is convinced that Kelem is the first member of that new race, the next step in the evolution of the human species. He takes Kelem under his wing to guide him and train him so that he can develop his psychic powers to their full potential.

A few months after Nicolas Alfano meets Kelem, a murder and theft is commited at the Stephen Hawking Center, a government sponsored scientific research facility on Mars that is the most advanced in the solar system. The scientists at the facility have been experimenting with a new technology called n’time. They have built a device designed to transport an object from a specific location in three-dimensional space, to other dimensions and back again to three dimensional space, but at a different location. In theory, this interdimensional engine will allow mankind to travel a distance of several light years in mere hours, instead of centuries or even millennia.

Kelem becomes involved in the investigation by happenstance and due to his amazing intellect and psychic ability, he helps solve the murder and subsequent theft of the research data. He also prevents the destruction of a large part of Mars when he has a powerful dream in which he sees the Phalanx spy insert a virus in the Stephen Hawking Center’s computer designed to cause the n’time generator to self-destruct. Kelem skillfully disables the virus and the planet is saved. Later the authorities discover that the fascist Terran group is responsible for the attempt to steal the technology.

Afterwards he is invited to join the scientists at the Stephen Hawking Center as a member of the research team. He soon becomes the leader of the project and takes over the development of the technology, advancing its progress with amazing speed. Kelem eventually perfects the technology and designs an n’time ship capable of interstellar travel.

Soon after turning eighteen, Kelem finds love with Carlatta Del Mar, the beautiful and exotic daughter of the Terran ambassador to Mars, Don Francisco Del Mar. Their love affair is short lived when the Phalanx interferes and kidnaps Carlatta and her whole family and imprisons them on Earth.

After Kelem travels to Earth and fails to rescue Carlatta and her family from the clutches of the Phalanx, he returns to Mars and completes the construction of the solar Nations, the n’time ship that he designed. Together with a crew of one hundred, brokenhearted Kelem leaves Mars on the first voyage that will take humans beyond the confines of the solar system.

The ship meets with disaster and most of the crew perishes in a tragic accident, leaving Kelem and one of his best friends, Ndugu Nabole, stranded on Plantanimus, an Earth-like alien planet once ruled by a mighty race of humanoids, located many thousands of light years from the human solar system. On Plantanimus, he encounters the Dreamers, an ancient race of sentient plants that help Kelem expand his psychic powers and teach him the true nature of consciousness. The Dreamers are the same trees that Kelem has been dreaming about every night since his thirteenth birthday.

To ease his loneliness from the heartbreak of losing Carlatta Del Mar, the Dreamers create a part plant, part animal facsimile of her. At first Kelem rejects the plantanimal because she reminds him of the real Carlatta. But eventually Kelem accepts the facsimile who he names Anima and develops a platonic and spiritual relationship with her.

Six years after arriving on Plantanimus, an alien species (the Kren) land on Plantanimus. The Kren are an ancient and peaceful insect species who live in gigantic hive spaceships capable of faster than light travel. The Kren Queen Mother offers to return Kelem and Ndugu to Mars, their home planet.

Kelem is conflicted about leaving Plantanimus after growing so close to the Dreamers and Anima but decides to go back to Mars to bear witness for his friend Ndugu who, being a former Terran, could be blamed for the fate of the Solar Nations expedition if he returns without Kelem.

Promising to return someday Kelem leaves with a heavy heart hoping that the Kren will be able to return him to Plantanimus, the place that has become his real home.

PREVIOUSLY, IN BOOK 2 OF THE TRILOGY,

PLANTANIMUS RETURN TO MARS

Kelem and Ndugu Nabole return to the solar system courtesy of the Kren. Harry, the insectoid that the queen mother assigned to take Kelem and Ndugu back to Mars, will remain awake instead of hibernating, which is their custom, in order to keep the two men entertained during the twelve months that it will take to arrive at the human solar system.

When Kelem and Ndugu return to Mars, they discover that they’re fifteen years out of sync with the timeline in the solar system. To their dismay they find that it’s been twenty one years since they departed in the ill-fated ship, the Solar Nations, in the year 2638. Kelem theorizes that the explosion that damaged the n’time generator and killed most of the crew on the ship, must have pushed the ship forward in time by fifteen years. The current date is 2659!

As they make their way toward Mars they’re further shocked to learn that the hated Phalanx has taken over Earth’s government and that Mars is once again a colony of the mother planet.

Kelem suggests to Ndugu that they return to Plantanimus but his friend refuses, claiming that he’d rather face the Phalanx than go back to the alien planet. They halt their journey to Mars and assume orbit around one of Saturn’s moons to think about their next step.

While in orbit around the moon, they are captured by a strange group of Martians, claiming to be rebels fighting against the Terran forces. They are beaten and imprisoned by the rebels, accused of being Terran spies. Ndugu, originally from Earth is immediately suspect and after six years of living under Plantanimus’ heavier than Earth’s gravity, Kelem now looks like an earthman.

After a violent struggle in the rebel ship, in which Kelem and Ndugu help eliminate a psychotic member of the rebel ship who was threatening to take over the vessel and kill the captain and his family, Kelem and Ndugu are accepted as Martian patriots.

Afterwards, Kelem finds out that Mars has become a slave nation, forced to manufacture goods and technology for their Terran oppressors. The Phalanx rules the planet with an iron fist and Martians are slowly being worked and starved to death. His beloved Uncle Nardo and Aunt Maggie have been murdered by the Phalanx and the Brotherhood of the Light is on the run, hiding amongst the Martian population.

The rebel fleet has been on the run for fifteen years and their ships are falling to pieces. It won’t be long before the entire rebel fleet, which is composed mostly of old and dilapidated Martian mining vessels, ceases to exist. Something has to be done and Kelem decides to be the one to take on the Terrans and the Phalanx and liberate his home planet.

He sneaks back to Mars to seek out the Brotherhood of the Light, knowing that if he can regroup the organization, the Martians will have a decent chance to repel the Terrans and regain their independence. With his enhanced mental and psychic abilities, Kelem slowly begins to turn things around and becomes the leader of the Martian resistance.

He liberates his friend and mentor, Professor Nicolas Alfano, who was the leader of the Brotherhood of the Light and who has been a prisoner of the Phalanx for close to sixteen years. Together, they put the Brotherhood of the Light back together and slowly begin to make progress in regaining Mars’ independence. Through the miracle of the Quantum tide, the place where time and space do not exist, the Dreamers teach Kelem how to raise the spirits of the Martian rebels.

For six months, Kelem fights against the Black Guards, the Phalanx secret police, run by Soltan Voltanieu, the evil leader of the Phalanx and the individual responsible for the invasion of Mars and the subjugation of its people. He also has to contend with his step son, Jude Voltanieu, who is a powerful psychic who has killed and tortured many Martians to do his stepfather’s bidding.

Six months after returning to the solar system, Kelem comes back to the rebel fleet with a hijacked ship full of weapons and supplies and begins arming and rebuilding the rebels to face the mighty Terran Space Navy. He returns to Harry the Kren’s ship, hiding behind a planetoid on the outer edges of the solar system, and asks for his help in the struggle. The alien agrees to help Kelem and the rebels with Kren technology that gives the Martians an advantage during the many battles soon to come.

After nine months of struggle, and several epic space battles, the Martian rebels succeed in liberating their own planet and defeat the Terran Space Navy while capturing many of their war ships.

Mars is now free but at a terrible cost. The planet has been decimated with civilian loses in the hundreds of thousands. During the struggle, Kelem has lost his childhood friend Billy Chong and many others close to him.

The Martians now ask Kelem to lead the newly formed Martian space armada to Earth, now practically defenseless after their defeat, to wreak havoc on the people of Earth.

Kelem pleads with the rebels and the people of Mars, not to take revenge against their human cousins and fortunately prevails. He knows that if the Martians do to the Terrans what the Terrans did to them, the solar system will never be free of war and strife. To the disappointment of many, Kelem resigns as the leader of the rebels and leaves Mars never to return.

He joins Harry the Kren in his ship and the alien surprises him by announcing that Harry is actually Harriet. The Kren, who has morphed into a female, is to be the Queen Mother of a new generation of Kren. Harriett takes Kelem back to Plantanimus, where he rejoins the Dreamers and his beloved Anima. Kelem dies of natural causes at the amazing age of one hundred and ninety-eight, leaving his beloved Anima and the Dreamers alone on Plantanimus once again.

In the year 2794, one hundred and twenty eight years after the end of that war, a human space ship, the Solar Nations II, makes contact with a humanoid species called the Tarsians.

The encounter with the Tarsians begins a new era in human history. Within a short time, humans and Tarsians are trading goods between their two worlds. The Tarsians are not as advanced as humans, though they have space travel technology. The Tarsian Empire, ruled by a constitutional monarchy, is a conglomeration of over thirty planets located nine hundred light years from Earth.

The Tarsians are excellent craftsmen and their art and luxury items are like nothing humans have ever seen. In turn, the Tarsians are amazed by n’time technology and all the other scientific advances that humanity has made. Fortunes are quickly made from the import and export of goods and technology, and the two civilizations soon become dependent on each other’s economies.

But in 2804, the Tarsians are invaded by an unknown species called the Gulax. The Gulax are a reptilian warrior race bent on conquering the galaxy and they begin invading Tarsian worlds one after the other.

The Solar System Government decides to come to the aid of the Tarsians to protect the economy of both civilizations and to prevent being conquered by the Gulax in the future. At first, the humans and the Tarsians succeed in repelling the Gulax. But the Gulax eventually strike back and retake even more territory. Now, in the year 2834 the War has been going on for thirty years, and the alliance is losing to the Gulax.

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CHAPTER 1

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A Second Awakening

The man found himself sitting on a rock looking out onto a changing landscape that was strange to him. At times he was looking at the sea from a cliff, at other times he seemed to be in front of a large window through which various scenes flashed by one after the other. Still, in other moments he appeared to be floating in a place where strange objects and weird geometric shapes of varying sizes and colors, drifted by slowly. Later, people whose faces he thought he recognized, appeared and disappeared from his view.

Much of what he saw seemed quite familiar to him, although he couldn’t make sense of what he was seeing.

All these scenes kept cycling back and forth for what seemed forever. Eventually, he tired of it all and became frustrated that he didn’t understand what it all meant.

Still, more of this continued for another eternity, until he found himself lying on a hammock by a small lake, fed by a lovely waterfall. Above, the sun was in its midday position and shafts of lights peered through a thick forest canopy, playing light tricks with the spray from the waterfall.

In his right hand he was holding a tablet upon which he could read the following: LIFE REVIEW.

He got up from the hammock and looked around. This beautiful place seemed very familiar to him and he suddenly felt a sadness that he didn’t understand. But there was also a lot of joy associated with this place and that seemed to negate the sadness by far.

He looked up at the two trees that held the hammock and he thought Sauces Llorones which was the name for weeping willows in Spanish.

In a vision, he saw his own hands digging the two holes by the lake’s shore, placing the saplings precisely three meters apart, just the right distance to hold a hammock.

About ten steps from the trees, a small building made from what seemed to be metallic junk, with a roof made of bright yellow reeds, rested on a small hill overlooking the lake. To its right, a small outdoor kitchen containing an old fashioned pot belly stove next to a basin, sat behind a screen made out of branches.

Between the kitchen and the hammock trees sat a wooden picnic table that had seen better days, surrounded by two chairs that had obviously been transplanted from some sort of flying craft.

I built most of these things, the man said to himself.

Curious, he walked to the little building and upon entering it, he remembered that he had lived here once. He recognized the cabin bunk that he had converted to a bed. Next to it, lay what appeared to be a large planter box about the same size and height of a bed, filled, with earth and covered with a smooth layer of green and purple grass growing out of the dirt.

Now he remembered that the green woman that had been his life mate for many years, slept on this contraption so as to be near to him when they slept.

Tears welled in his eyes. Where is she, I miss her so, he lamented.

Almost as if on cue, he heard her voice from somewhere outside of the small shack and his heart gave a jump.

Beloved, is that you? Are you in there? she asked, in a lilting voice.

He turned quickly and ran out the door to greet her, only to see her embracing another man.

His spirits sank at the sight of his woman touching another man with such tenderness. He felt angry and betrayed and wanted to yell out for them to stop, when suddenly, he recognized the other man and he found that he was looking at himself.

Confused, he asked what was going on, but his doppelganger and the woman ignored him. They continued carrying on as if he wasn’t there, and what was worse, they seemed to be having so much fun.

The scene changed, and he found himself walking behind his double and his beloved, as they were climbing a mountain through a big forest, populated by enormous trees of great height and girth.

Just as soon as this occurred, he found himself inside of a space vessel where claxons were ringing loudly, and clouds of smoke and the flicker of flames, were everywhere. He saw himself running through the flames, trying desperately to fight the fire that was consuming the ship.

He understood now, that he was the principal actor in this disjointed tale appearing before him.

He made it all go away with his mind and asked to see the whole thing from beginning to end in a logical manner. He didn’t know to whom he was asking this from, but to make the request seemed somehow right to him.

He was inside a hospital, in a birthing chamber somewhere on Mars. His mother and father were holding him, while at the same time sharing tears of joy. This was a joyous moment for his parents and he could feel their happiness as if it were his own.

His entire life began to play out in chronological order from the very beginning, with him riding along as a spectator. All the significant and important events of his life began appearing, one after the other.

After his whole life had passed in front of him, even up to his death, in the warm and tender embrace of his beloved Anima, he was asked by a voice to pass judgment on the quality of his former life.

He thought long and hard for a very long time, as he went over the history of the man that he had been for one hundred and ninety eight years and said the following:

I’m grateful to have been born to the man and woman who brought me to the world, and to the man and woman who raised me after my parents passed away. I’m also grateful that God gave me a strong intellect and a strong body that lasted so many years. Throughout my life, I always tried to do what was right, even when it was to my detriment. But most of all, I’m grateful for the incredible experiences that I lived through, both good and bad. I thank the universe for all that I saw and did, and I don’t regret a single second of it. Lastly, I rejoice at the fact that I experienced so many years of the deepest and most genuine love a man could have from a woman. Above all things, this is the most enduring and memorable part of what was my life.

He was suddenly surrounded by the sound of a large crowd clapping enthusiastically and cheering him on. Apparently he had passed the test.

He was led to a long wide hallway. At the very end, were two doors, each partly opened. One door had a sign saying New Business, the other door said, Unfinished Business.

As he walked down the hallway and got closer to the two doors, he felt more drawn to the door saying, Unfinished Business. He didn’t know why, but the choice felt right.

He opened the door and walked through, his mind and spirit ready for a second chance.

AWAKE!, bellowed a booming voice, AWAKE!

The man’s eyes opened and he drew in a big breath, his heart pumping and lungs inhaling and exhaling as if for the first time.

He was lying on the ground looking up at the night sky, visible through the canopy of a tall forest. Directly above him, were three circular objects shining brightly here and there through the gaps between leaf and bough. The air though cool, tasted sweet in his mouth and nostrils. He listened to the sound of air going in and out of his body and it filled him with great joy.

His ears seemed to pick up every creak and rustle of the canopy above him, as the wind moved the many layers of vines and parasite plants, attached to the top of the huge tree like mushrooms above him.

His body felt strong and powerful as never before. He sat upright in one quick motion and looked at his legs and arms. His skin appeared to be dark green, but it was hard to tell in this semi darkness. His long hair, once silver in color, also seemed to have darkened considerably. He reached for his chin and noticed that his beard was gone. Perhaps someone shaved me, he thought.

He took a few tentative steps and was pleased that his legs, once weak and frail, were now strong and agile once again. He looked back at the ground, and the spot where his body had been was free of dead leaves and debris.

I died in that very same spot, he said to himself. And now, I’m reborn in it. But, how could this be? he wondered.

YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN LIFE ONCE AGAIN KELEM, came a voice from inside him. "WE WAITED FOR ALONG TIME FOR YOU TO DECIDE, BUT EVENTUALLY, IT WAS YOU WHO MADE THE CHOICE TO COME BACK TO THIS LIFE."

With joy in his heart, he recognized the voice of Zeus the Dreamer, who often spoke with the voices of the others in unison.

LIKE YOUR BELOVED ANIMA, YOU ARE NOW A PLANTANIMAL, KELEM.

Anima, my sweet and tender beloved! he spoke with joy in his heart. Is she still of this world? he asked, with caution.

OF COURSE, KELEM, they replied in unison, "IT HAS ONLY BEEN ONE PLANTANIMUS YEAR, SINCE YOU LEFT YOUR OLD COUNTENANCE BEHIND."

Joy and eternal blessings, upon all of you dear friends, Kelem exclaimed, as he shed the first tears of his new life, with gratitude in his heart.

Has she suffered much in my absence? he asked with concern.

YES, BUT SHE HAS ALSO GROWN STRONGER BECAUSE OF YOUR PASSING. YOUR LAST WORDS TO HER HELPED HER COPE WITH THE PAIN AND LONELINESS OF YOUR DEMISE AND INSPIRED HER TO KEEP LIVING, EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE NO LONGER IN THE PHYSICAL PLANE.

Thank the universe for its wisdom, Kelem said, looking up at the night sky.

INDEED, the Dreamers responded. ANIMA HAS FINALLY BECOME A TRUE INDIVIDUAL, CAPABLE OF LOVING HERSELF WITHOUT THE LOVE OF ANOTHER. WHEN SHE LOST YOU, SHE HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN LEARNING THIS ALL IMPORTANT LESSON, OR, LIVING THE REST OF HER LIFE IN PURSUIT OF SOMETHING THAT ONLY EACH ONE OF US CAN FIND FOR OURSELVES, THE RECOGNITION OF THE SACRED WITHIN US.

Zeus, my heart is full of appreciation for all of the gifts and wisdom that you have brought to my life. But most of all, and beyond all others, Anima is by far the best of your efforts. I thank you from the deepest part of my soul.

WE ARE REPLETE WITH FULLNESS OF CONTENTMENT KELEM. NOW GO TO HER, AND BEGIN YOUR NEW LIVES TOGETHER, WE BLESS YOU WITH ALL THE POWER AND ENERGY OF OUR COLLECTIVE SPIRITS.

Kelem’s body sprang forward with the speed and strength of a jungle cat, covering several meters of ground with each leap and bound of his new and powerful body. The Three Sister Moons were now dipping to the south west, as the approaching sun lit the edges of the western sky.

All his senses were now five times more powerful than in his old body. Going downgrade on the mountain, he had already reached the running speed of a Cheetah, running at full strength. Even in the weak light of dawn, his eyes were able to see clearly several meters ahead, avoiding a collision with many of the Dreamer’s trunks in his path.

He calculated that he’d be down by the cottage just about the time that Anima was taking her morning swim. With the agility of his new body, assisted by the gravity of Plantanimus, Kelem reached the edge of the Dreamers’ forest in two hours.

In spite of the tremendous effort his body had just put out, he wasn’t tired at all.

But even if he had broken his body coming down the mountain, he would have crawled on his hands and knees the rest of the way, in order to see his beloved Anima. With his heart beating mightily with excitement, he approached the site of his old homestead with caution.

How should I do this? he asked himself, not wanting to shock Anima with his sudden reappearance. He decided that instead of walking down the little trail that led to the shack, they called a cottage, he would go the long way around the forest, and come out on the lake’s shore, on the opposite side of their little compound.

After a short while, he reached the other side of the lake, and proceeded to move slowly, hoping he wasn’t making too much noise, stepping on the many layers of fallen leaves and debris from above. When he came to the edge of the lake, he looked around, but he didn’t see Anima anywhere near. He looked up to the sky and saw that the sun’s edge was already showing at the peak of Mount Olympus.

He waited for a few more minutes, and still there was no sign of her.

Where can she be? he wondered, a little worried.

He’d been gone a year and perhaps, Anima had changed her daily routine in all that time. He tried putting himself in her place and imagined that it had been her who had passed on and left him behind. He realized that it was quite feasible that her daily routine would have changed in his absence. He decided to go and look for her, and opted to swim through the lake to reach the cottage which was near the trail leading further down the mountain.

The instant he touched the water, an intense and strange, but pleasurable feeling, came over him. At first it surprised him and disoriented him a little bit. Until he remembered that water was one of the things that fed Anima’s body, the other was sunlight.

Of course! I’m a Plantanimal now, just like her!, he realized, still getting used to this new sensation.

Fighting the desire to stay in the water forever, he swam to the other side of the lake and walked to the cottage to see if perhaps Anima might be inside. When he looked in, he saw his old cape lying on the cot that had been his bed while he was human. It looked just like he remembered it, with fresh flowers and all. He reached for it, but then changed his mind, realizing that Anima probably kept the cape on the cot as a bedspread in remembrance of him. I’ll let her put it on me after she knows I’m back, he decided.

He kneeled down by Anima’s bed and ran his hand over the smooth grass on it. I’ll have to make this bed bigger for the two of us. He walked out, and headed for the trail, thinking that perhaps she had gone down to the river delta.

When he reached the edge of the forest, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Anima up ahead standing on the old rock in the small clearing by the cliff. His first impulse was to run as fast as he could into her arms, and hold her and kiss her. But he didn’t want to shock her with such a sudden move.

He crouched down by a large cherry bush near the trail, and thought for a moment. Then it came to him. More than a hundred and fifty years before, right after his first link with the Dreamers, the sentient plants had created Anima as a companion to him. When he regained consciousness after fainting from the shock of that first experience, he heard a woman’s voice issuing from the forest. Kelem, Kelem, I am for you.

That’s how it all had started so many years ago. Anima’s first appearance shocked him and scared him, and it took him a long time before he lost his fear of her. But this occasion was different. He decided that it was only fair that he appear to her, in the same exact manner as she had appeared to him on that fateful day.

He called out to her, Anima, Anima, I am for you, his voice echoing strangely inside the forest.

Anima was standing on the rock in the clearing, scanning the sky, apparently looking for something. When she heard his voice coming from inside the forest, she spun around so fast, that she lost her footing and fell backwards. She landed on the ground, legs up in the air. If this weren’t such a solemn occasion, Kelem would have burst out laughing at her slapstick fall.

He cringed at the thought of Anima hurting herself, but he continued anyway. Anima, I am here for you, it’s me Kelem.

Anima recovered from her fall and bounced back on her knees just behind the rock. She put her hands on top of the rock and looked toward the forest with apprehension.

Come out and show yourself, she shouted, her voice full of emotion.

Carefully, Kelem got up and began walking toward the utterly surprised Anima.

He walked slowly toward the clearing, to give Anima a few extra seconds to adjust to what she was seeing.

He moved the last few leaves of vegetation aside, and stepped forward into the sunlight.

Anima raised both hands to her mouth and gasped, her eyes, fixed on the figure now standing on the clearing.

It is me, my beloved, Kelem said, his eyes filled with tears. The dreamers brought me back. We’ll be together again.

Anima stood up and walked around the rock. Kelem could see that she was shaking with emotion. When she reached him, she stood a little ways from him, studying his new Plantanimal body in great detail. He was aching for her touch and embrace, but forced himself to remain calm, until she was ready to come to him.

Tears appeared in her eyes and an expression of relief and joy came over her face as she lunged at him, and the two of them embraced with great passion. So strong was their emotion that their legs weakened and together, fell on the soft grass of the clearing, laughing and crying at the same time.

Neither one could talk for a long time, between the laughter and the tears, but eventually, they calmed down and for a while. They remained lying side by side, just looking into each other’s eyes.

I cannot express what I’m feeling inside, said Anima, breaking the silence.

Neither can I my sweet and gentle Anima, neither can I.

I never thought that I’d see you again my beloved, she said, and then with mock anger, she continued, why did you take so long to come back to me?

I’m sorry, my beautiful one, I guess that the Dreamers wanted to make sure that I was ready to come back to this life.

Oh, I don’t care Kelem, you’ve come back to me, and now, you’re just like me, a Plantanimal! she expressed with great happiness. This means that we will live together for a very, very long time, doesn’t it dear?

Yes it does Anima. I don’t think that these bodies have an expiration date!

And you won’t get tired of living like you did before? she asked with concern.

No Anima. That will not happen this time. I’ve conquered my human weakness and I’ve learned that life is sacred.

Bless the Dreamers and their gift of life! she said looking toward the forest.

Bless us both Anima. We have a gift more valuable than the richest treasure in the universe. Together, we’ll accomplish great things for ourselves and for others. Plantanimus is going to get visitors very soon I think.

Really, Kelem? she queried. I’ve been looking for signs of ships landing ever since you … she hesitated for a moment, not wanting to say the word ‘died’, since you left. Then, after a brief silence, she asked, how soon?

Just a few Earth years my beloved, he replied, no more than two or three.

Her happiness was more than obvious, judging by the wide grin on her face.

We must prepare an adequate dwelling for our visitors Kelem, we can’t expect people to stay in our cottage, after all, that is our special place and I wouldn’t want to share it with strangers, she said excitedly.

Kelem thought for a moment, and then he spoke. Certainly Anima, people and other humanoids are surely coming. But first, I think we’ll be welcoming the Kren back to Plantanimus.

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CHAPTER 2

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Assault on Drek 5

February 16th 2835 –Terran Calendar

Several dozen orbital transports disengaged from the belly of the destroyer Northern Star and plunged toward the small planet below. Inside one of them, the fifteen men of the First Platoon, Cobra Company, 64th Ranger Battalion, held their breath as they experienced the force of four negative G’s. The box-like vehicle fell rapidly, heading for a mountainous region near the planet’s equator. Drek 5 was a hot, dry, hell of a planet whose only strategic value was its numerous Trekani mines.

Trekani was the Tarsian word for Marsium, the precious metal that fueled the n’time generators on all Terran and Tarsian ships of the Alliance Fleet. The only two other planets in the Tarsian Empire that possessed large deposits of Marsium were now under the control of the Gulax, who were rumored to be near Drek 5 with obvious plans to invade. The Terran forces were spread out thinly across the quadrant and the 64th Ranger Battalion had been sent to Drek 5 to establish a defensive perimeter, knowing that the ‘lizards’ would soon be coming.

At ten thousand meters from the surface of the planet, each of the orbital transports opened its fifteen circular pressure doors and all sixteen vehicles carrying the two hundred and forty men and women of Cobra Company, simultaneously expelled two hundred and forty para-pods, each containing a single ranger.

The orbital transports, now empty of troops, fired their retros and returned to the Northern Star one hundred kilometers above the planet.

Field Commander Alexei Rogeston, the C.O. of Cobra Company, turned on his helmet’s radio. All right, spread out now! he ordered.

Immediately all two hundred and forty para-pods sprouted metallic wings and the plunging formation blossomed like an inverted flower just before it passed through the cloud layer above Drek 5. It was possible that the ‘lizards’ had already landed an expeditionary force and had set up flack guns, in which case, it was wise to spread out to avoid mass casualties.

Once through the clouds, the formation remained spread out as they continued falling toward their landing coordinates.

No flack so far Commander, maybe we got lucky this time, Lieutenant Rodriguez, second in command, said over the radio.

So far …, Commander Rogeston replied tersely. The famed, Rogeston ‘battle sense’ had reared up in his mind, telling the commander to stay alert. He hadn’t told Rodriguez or any of his new second lieutenants in charge of the four platoons in his company, of his intuition that there was something about this mission that didn’t feel right. With so many green, inexperienced platoon leaders, Commander Rogeston felt that warning them about possible danger might jeopardize the mission. All four, very young and ‘green’ junior officers had never been in combat before and Rogeston didn’t want to jinx their luck by making them more nervous than they already were.

About three thousand meters from their landing site, Rodriguez spoke again. I see the compound Commander. It looks completely clear with no trace of lizards anywhere to be seen, he reported, unable to hide the relief in his voice.

I see it too, Rodriguez, but stay sharp nevertheless, Commander Rogeston responded, himself beginning to relax a little. Still, a voice in the back of his conscious mind kept him from feeling at ease.

At one thousand meters, the pods opened up, exposing the men and women of Cobra Company to the planet’s atmosphere for the first time. The cylindrical shaped pods now opened into delta wing para-gliders and the entire group now formed a v-shaped formation and began to steer themselves toward a small valley located between two mountain peaks.

The buildings and shacks of the Trekani mine on the valley down below, were now visible to the naked eye and Commander Rogeston tensed up when he noticed the complete absence of Tarsians anywhere on the compound. The time was the equivalent of 08:00 Am on the planet, and the area around the mine should have been a hub of activity at this time of the morning. He cocked his pulse rifle and turned the safety off.

Yeah, I see it, Rodriguez said, sounding dissapointed, before the commander even spoke.

Watch your six, Rangers!’ Rogeston announced, signaling that there was potential trouble down below. There should be lots of locals on the mine’s compound. Something’s wrong!"

As they came closer, the commander noticed that the compound was located in the most narrow, deep part of the Valley and realized how vulnerable Cobra Company would be to an ambush from the slopes above the valley, or to an air attack, once they landed.

Change of plans everyone. Pay attention, he announced. Third and fourth platoons will land at the northern end of the valley where there’s a large hill and set up mortars and missile batteries on high ground. Second platoon will land at the south end of the valley and take defensive positions. I’ll go with first platoon and land on the compound while the rest of you cover our asses!

Skipper, I’d feel better if I took first while you stayed with three and four, Rodriguez pleaded on the radio.

This is Mother, Commander Rogeston. You should listen to your second in command, the voice of Captain Rutherford, the commander of the Northern Star said in Alexei Rogeston’s helmet radio.

I appreciate the advice, Mother, but this is not my first rodeo. I know what I’m doing, the commander quipped back.

Damn it Alexei! I’m the mission commander and if you get your ass killed, I’m the one that will be held responsible for your sorry ass and end up having to fill out endless reports! Rutherford complained.

If I get killed, Rodriguez will help you with the reports, won’t you Rodriguez? Commander Rogeston said with humor.

Yes I will commander, I promise, Rodriguez replied, laughing. He knew that Rogeston always did things his way.

Now go away Mother and leave us alone! We’re about to land. I don’t need any chit-chat in my ear! Rogeston said, shutting off the channel to the Northern Star.

The v-formation now broke into three, with third and fourth platoons continuing toward the north end of the valley and second platoon now landing at the south end. Meanwhile, Commander Rogeston and first platoon circled around to give the others time to set up their positions before touching down on the mine’s compound.

Two minutes later, the commander and first platoon folded their wings tightly as their boots slid gently on the compound’s dirt. When he came to a complete stop, Rogeston collapsed his para-glider and ordered his troops to assemble by the mine’s motor pool, where several heavy duty vehicles were parked. If they came under fire now, the large ore carriers would provide some cover.

After peeling their jump-suits off, everyone began to sweat profusely right away. The planet’s temperature, even at this elevation and time of day, was already an uncomfortable forty degrees Celsius. By noon, the heat would be almost unbearable. At around fifty degrees the light weight battle armor that they were wearing, would begin to make everyone feel like they were inside an oven. Meanwhile, the Gulax, who were reptilian, would be at their peak efficiency. The damned lizards seemed to thrive in temperatures as high as fifty Celsius.

Not a Greeenskan in sight, Lieutenant Kim, First platoon’s commander said, under her breath, using Terran slang for Tarsians. What do you make of it, sir? the young woman asked nervously.

Without answering, the commander called the Northern Star. Other companies from the 64th had landed elsewhere on the planet and he wanted to know if all the other sites were abandoned as this one seemed to be. Mother told him that indeed, all the mines appeared to be abandoned, just like the one Cobra Company was in now. What do you make of it, Alexei? Captain Rutherford asked, unsure as to what their next move should be.

The unsettling eerie silence in the compound, put Commander Rogeston’s ‘battle sense’ on alert. This stinks, Rutherford, I’d call the fleet and ask for reinforcements right away, he answered, sensing that they were all in great danger.

I will, but not until I have a full report from each company after they’ve reconnoitered each site, the captain declared. Besides, there’s not a single blip on our radar for millions of kilometers.

Very well, I’ll report back to you as soon as we search the area, Rogeston replied curtly. If he’d been in charge of the mission he would have already contacted the fleet. But Captain Rutherford was a very methodical, measured man, who liked to take his time while making decisions, a trait that Commander Rogeston thought foolhardy in a combat zone.

The commander ordered Lieutenant Kim to split the platoon into five groups of three rangers each and went about the business of reconnoitering the compound. The mine consisted of five main buildings and the mine’s tower shaft, which sat in the exact middle of the compound. Two large piles of raw Marsium ore lay at the southern end of the valley, next to a landing pad, where drones would land to take the ore to Tarsia Prime, the empire’s capital, for processing and refining.

After a half hour, all groups reported that the compound was empty. Commander Rogeston called Mother.

Rutherford, I’m recommending that you either call the fleet and have them send a brigade strength force here ASAP, or pull out the entire battalion from this rock right now, Rogeston suggested forcefully. A field commander had equal authority as a ship’s captain, but was subordinate to him when the captain was the mission’s commander.

Rogeston, I can’t just call the fleet and have them to send a brigade here on a hunch! the man complained. We were sent here to defend this crappy little planet, not to leave it to the lizards.

I tell you Rutherford, I feel as nervous as a whore in church. You know what happens when I get like this! the commander warned, with urgency in his voice.

Relax, Rogeston. I’m sure that… Commander Rogeston heard a loud sound and then static. Captain Rutherford never finished his sentence.

Mother, Mother, we were cut off, Commander Rogeston said, clicking his com button over and over.

Lieutenant Rodriguez, up on the hill above the valley, had been listening to the conversation and tried reaching the Northern Star himself, with no result. Skipper, something must have happened on the Northern Star, I’ll try calling one of the escort frigates.

Commander Rogeston was about to answer, when a panicked voice came on their helmets’ radios.

Cobra Company, Cobra Company! The Northern Star is gone! the shrill voice of a com officer, from one of the escorts, yelled.

What? What the hell are you talking about? Who is this? Alexei Rogeston demanded.

"This is the Tempest, calling, sir. We got some funny n’time radar signatures on our sensors and the next thing we knew, we were surrounded by what appeared to be six Gulax destroyers sir!"

You said the Northern Star is gone. What did you mean? Commander Rogeston asked, thinking that for some reason, the destroyer went into n’time for tactical reasons.

"Sir, they blew up the Northern Star! It’s gone, sir. There’s nothing left!’ the panicked com officer replied.

Rogeston didn’t have time to ask for an explanation. He realized that with the Northern Star destroyed, the entire 64th Battalion was now stranded on Drek 5. The three escort frigates had no way to evacuate all one thousand rangers from the planet. Call the fleet, have them send three brigades immediately, then scramble out of here to a safe distance and wait for reinforcements to arrive!

We already scrambled to the opposite side of the planet sir. Don’t you want us to hold off the lizards?

You’re no match for six Gulax destroyers and we can’t afford to lose three more ships. Now, obey my order and get the hell out of here! Rogeston yelled into his helmet microphone. He turned around and pulled Lieutenant Kim by the arm. Kim, take those ore transports by the motor pool and form a circle around the mine’s shaft. We’ll make that our first defensive position. If we are overrun, we can retreat down the mine and hold off the lizards until the fleet sends reinforcements.

Will do sir, the young woman replied, obviously terrified. She knew that the Gulax never took prisoners.

And, Kim, Commander Rogeston said, putting on a confident smile. Don’t sweat it. We’ve been in worse jams than this before, he added with a wink.

Rogeston’s apparent casual manner, helped to calm her down a little. She turned and ran to the motor pool to establish a defense perimeter around the mine’s shaft.

Shit! the commander said under his breath, once the young lieutenant was out of hearing range. This was as bad as bad could get. Gulax battalions were twice as big as Terran or Tarsian battalions. The commander did the math in his head and figured that about twelve thousand lizards were about to pounce down on the planet. If the fleet didn’t show up soon, the 64th would cease to exist within a couple of hours.

Skipper, can I resign my commission now and go home? Rodriguez said over the radio.

Rogeston laughed. He liked Rodriguez and trusted him completely. He could always count on him to keep his cool and stick by his side. No problem Rodriguez, I’ll have Admiral Khan send you his private shuttle right away!

Oh, great! I was worried that I was going to have to stick around and get my ass blown up with the rest of you!

We aim to please Rodriguez. Anything else I can do for you? Rogeston shot back, chuckling.

All kidding aside, Commander, I should take third platoon and go down there with you.

No can do lieutenant. You’ve got the high ground and we’re going to need artillery and missile support when the lizards attack. We’re in a cul-de-sac so they’re going to come at us from the south, between the two mountain peaks. They’re not going to be able to land on the steep slopes of this valley so it’s gonna be a frontal attack, which is their usual tactic. Second platoon will fire all its missiles at the first wave of landers and then retreat to your position. When the second wave arrives, you’ll fire all your missiles and destroy as many of their landers as possible. After that, hit the lizards with artillery to keep us covered.

Skipper! You’re gonna be overrun within minutes with just fifteen of you down there, Rodriguez pleaded.

Don’t worry about us! We got the mine shaft to retreat to. They want the mine in one piece, so they’re not going to blow it up. They’ll have to come at us from the entrance, which means that we’ll actually be in a better position than you guys up on the slope.

All right skipper, I’ll make sure to say nice things about you at the funeral! Rodriguez joked.

Thanks! Make sure your eulogy makes everyone cry.

Commander Rogeston ran over to where Lieutenant Kim had circled the ore transports around the mine’s entrance and took his position behind the large wheel of one of the giant vehicles.

Within minutes, several dots appeared in the sky above the valley. Rogeston reached for his water spout and took a long deep drink of water. He knew that in combat one can get mighty thirsty within minutes. By now, the temperature had risen to forty six degrees and sweat was dripping down inside his helmet. He wished that he could take his battle armor and helmet off, but knew that he needed the protection of the carb-plas-steel armor more than his comfort.

The dots soon grew into the shape of Gulax landing crafts and Commander Rogeston swallowed hard when he saw how many there were. He had ordered Lieutenant Kim to place several ground mines in the path that the lizards were sure to take, once they landed. But, he knew that it would only hold back the scaly bastards for a few minutes at most. Still, a few of the lizards were sure to lose limbs as they approached the compound.

Ahead of the myriad of landing crafts, the commander saw one of their bigger landing ships in front of the formation. They usually didn’t use the big landers because they were slow and lumbering and therefore, easy targets. Luck had chosen to smile on the rangers of the 64th battalion today.

‘First platoon, do you see that big turtle shaped thing up ahead? Rogeston said with humor. Well, that will be your first target my friends! Wait for my order before you bring it down."

He waited until the big object began to cast its shadow on the valley floor at the entrance by the narrow gap between mountain peaks and ordered missiles fired. Instantly several streams of smoke issued forth from first platoon’s position, hitting the big lander in its belly. The thing shuddered and wobbled as smoke poured from the holes in its hull and then, it abruptly pitched down and dove toward the ground. But the Gulax pilots, somehow, were able to stabilize the ship and the lander’s nose rose and straightened. The lander continued flying until another volley of missiles hit it again. The now, mortally wounded ship, pitched down and headed for the ground. Unfortunately, it was now aimed straight at Commander Rogeston and first platoons position right in the center of the mine’s compound.

"First platoon! Fire missiles!’ He yelled, seeing death coming at him and the others. Lieutenant Kim and two others fired three missiles at the lumbering beast and hit it right in its nose. The lander broke up in two pieces and fell on the two large piles of Marsium ore at the southern end of the compound.

When the ship hit the ground and exploded violently, it sent several hundred tons of raw Marsium ore up in the air. Commander Rogeston and the others dove underneath the ore transports as huge chunks of rocks and dirt came down on their position. As large boulders and rocks of all sizes crashed down, they set off all the ground mines Lieutenant Kim and the others had placed on the compound’s southern end. Once all the rocks had fallen, everyone went back to their original positions and waited for the rest of the Gulax to show up.

Down at the front of the valley, first platoon was now engaging the landers that were behind the large one that had just crashed, destroying a few