Dead Planet: Three Tales of Invasion

By Joseph Pesavento

An invasion has come to Earth. Two different travelers from distant worlds are here to control

the planet by overpowering humanity. These invaders, however, are foes from across galaxies.

These three tales speak of the human interaction among stronger, alien species:

 One alien contacts a space station with the aid of a power-

• Language: English
• Publisher: Self Published
• Release date: Aug 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798218265984

Book preview

I - From the Depths of Space

The void of space was the sole view for the crew aboard the Sempiternal. The glow from the controls was barely noticeable anymore. Randall, the ship’s pilot, stepped in front of the main window to look down upon Earth.

Navigator, how much longer until we reach Earth? Randall asked.

Seven days, three hours, and eleven minutes until we enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Is there anything else I can help you with, Randall? Navigator asked.

Navigator was the highly intelligent operating system controlling Sempiternal. Not only did it provide the obvious coordinates for any destination, but it was the crew’s source for transmissions, onboard controls, and an endless music playlist that kept them all sane for the duration of their mission.

That is all for now. Thank you.

Macy approached Randall, wrapping her arm around his waist. She leaned her head against his shoulder blade.

Better than any honeymoon we could have chosen, my captain. She gently kissing Randall’s arm.

Randall swung his arm behind her, pulling her close to his side.

Well, in about a week, we can go anywhere down there we want. No need to be on this ship again for a long time.

Carter approached Randall and Macy, scoffing at their intimacy.

I could use a break from all this PDA. He sat at the table and fiddled with a small piece of machinery.

Macy leaned over the table, shooting Carter a look.

This ship is small, but you’ve had your private quarters. Relax. Macy walked back to the main window.

Carter continued with his fiddling. He was easily silenced when he had gear to fix.

Randall stood beside Macy, gazing at Earth as if it were their retirement party calling to them.

The ship rocked back and forth, throwing him off balance. Macy braced herself against the frame of the window, and Carter dropped the machinery he was working on to brace himself at the table.

This ship can’t even stand space anymore, Carter said sarcastically.

Was that gravitational pull? Macy asked.

Most likely not. I think we are still too far out for that, Randall said.

Gunther entered the room from the hallway. He approached Randall as he held on to the walls for support.

It’s as if we’re in a gravity pull, but we’re too far from any planet or moon for that.

Hey, guys. Look at this. Macy pointed with a troubled expression on her face.

As the rest of the crew moved toward the main window, a small black hole opened slowly in the distance. A large vessel crept out from the expanding hole, emerging to reveal its size, dwarfing the Sempiternal. It was black sections of chrome that reflected the sun. The edges grew visible while it emerged further from another side of space.

Look at the size of that thing, Macy said.

Is that showing up on radar? Randall asked.

Gunther looked at the controls to see the radar blank. Satellites often appeared on the radar, but not the ship that dwarfed the Sempiternal.

Nothing. Makes no sense.

The team gathered around the main window and watched the rest of the ship emerge from the black hole. It hovered above Earth, spanning the entire width of the planet. The black hole closed, almost as if it were shut with a remote, as the ship aligned with Earth.

Carter searched the controls, pressing a series of buttons. He grew frustrated. Too bad we don’t have any guns on this ship.

Even if we did, we can’t scratch that thing, Randall said. Let’s just wait and see what happens.

The colossal vessel remained still and then a light beamed out from the bottom. The crew turned away from the blinding flare, and when they looked back, they saw a tiny figure floating down toward the surface.

Is that... Is someone coming out of the ship? Gunther asked.

It’s not a telegram, buddy, Carter scoffed. Whoever that is, let’s just hope they aren’t hostile.

Not who, but what. That thing is glowing, Macy said.

The figure had a faint purple aura. As it closed in on Earth, the aura pulsed with intensity. Thankfully, the figure stopped after several seconds of descension. Then the pulsing became rapid and the purple aura brightened. A flash emitted from the figure.

When Randall looked back to the colossal ship, it was gone, having left the glowing figure behind. A smaller ball appeared below the figure, hovering there and growing nearly twice its size, and glowing just as brightly.

The ship’s gone, Randall said. That ball of light is new.

The figure pointed down at the glowing ball, which then began to descend slowly on its way toward Earth. It moved with a steady decline until it vanished into the atmosphere. Its brightness intensified as it neared the surface.

Another giant flash emerged, and the Earth glowed in an amber hue.

Fires formed all across the Earth’s surface. The bright glow disappeared into the planet while the flames intensified. The unnatural glow along the Earth spread further, crossing one another until the planet was illuminating orange from the blaze.

Macy shrieked in horror, breaking the silence and the breadth of emotions they’d all been holding back.

No! No! Randall yelled.

This can’t be real. This can’t be real, Gunther repeated.

Randall looked to his crew, all of their expressions reflecting the horror he felt. Carter stared, in silence, as the planet burned. Randall struggled to comprehend the loss from so many decimated towns. He imagined the screams, the explosions, all the horrific loss playing in his head like a disaster film.

The figure hovered higher as the scorched planet burned. And then Randall locked eyes with it when it glanced up at their ship.

What are you? Randall thought.

I am the one who will end it all.

The figure appeared in front of the main window. It had lanky limbs and a pastel purple skin. Its bone structure resembled that of humans, but its ability to breathe in space and its black eyes indicated to Randall that its body had already surpassed humanity’s capabilities.

Everyone froze as it stared back at them curiously. Locking eyes with Randall again, the figure stretched its long arms to grip the ship outside the view from the main window. And when it spoke again, it was clear they all heard its words.

I am the one who will end human existence.

The figure pushed at the ship, and the crew stumbled as the Sempiternal soared into the deepest reaches of space, beyond