Gateway 8 Landing

Gateway 8 -- Landing!

Sadler looked around at the four officers sitting at the conference table, his face impassive. He nodded.

"You did a good job yesterday, and I'm able to tell you that both flitters will take part today. Leaving the probe on the planet was good thinking, Captain Janizi, and the comms people have managed to track the signal. It's not really surprising to know that the signal comes from the fourth planet. After all, it is that planet's moon around which the portal is orbiting. Not only that, but the fourth planet is the only one in the system capable of supporting human life. The atmosphere is near Terra-normal. Slightly more oxygen, slightly less nitrogen, so you shouldn't need breathing equipment.

"Orbital survey indicates that most of the settlement is in the northern temperate zone, where the temperatures are higher than on Terra, but not too uncomfortable. There seems to be plenty of water, even though there also seems to be plenty of desert, too. The planet is about three-fifths ocean, with ice-caps at both poles. Three main land masses, two mainly northerly, the other from the equator, south.

"All of the indications of life we have found are on a single continent, the larger northerly one, and the tests indicate a population globally of only about three million people." He looked around. "Questions?"

"Any sign of technology, sir?"

"None, Lieutenant Mackay. No powered vehicles, no radio signals, no transmissions in any part of the spectrum, in fact."

"Did anyone manage to analyze any of their speech, sir? Determine whether it is a known language?"

"A very good question, Lieutenant Larsen, to which I'm afraid the answer is no, or at least, not yet."

"Are you sending both flitters through the portal, sir?"

"No, Captain, I'm not. Lieutenant Larsen will take

Green Dragon

through the portal, but Lieutenant Mackay will make a conventional landing with

Red Dragon

from orbit."

"Personnel, sir? Are we taking full squads?"

"Your thoughts, Captain?"

"Full flight crew, half squad of grunts, and xeno-liaison people, preferably with language specialists, sir. Those people seemed friendly. Curious, definitely, but friendly. And we need to know more about that dragon, or dragons. That is a definite first."

"Indeed it is, Captain. Good thinking, by the way.

Green Dragon

will carry eight troops, plus Lieutenant Delacroix and two of her language people.

Red Dragon

will take eight troops, plus three members of Colonel Jackson's liaison team. They're going to observe and learn what we can. The major problem we think will be language, so any assistance anyone can give to Lieutenant Delacroix will be encouraged. Right, any questions?"

"When do we launch, sir?"

"You're so eager to fly though that hole, Lieutenant?"

Larsen gave a wry smile. "It will be a first for me, sir."

"And everyone else, too. Launch in one hour. Lieutenant Mackay, you are authorised to land, but try to avoid contact with anyone until we know the portal is open. Once that's open, we'll have two flitters on the surface. They're both going to be fully fuelled, in fact you'll find that the optional booster tanks have been fitted while you've been asleep. You're taking rations for four days, and you're fully armed. I want all officers to carry only side arms, but your troops will be fully armed. Anything else?" He looked around. "No? Very well. I shall leave it to you to decide on who goes with you. I'll pay you the compliment of assuming you know your own people.

"Good luck, and may I just add, I wish I was going with you. Do us proud."

"We will, sir!"

"Very well. Dismissed."

As they made their way back to their quarters, Janizi moved to walk with Larsen.

"Any thoughts, Karen?"

"On personnel?"

"Yes. I think Callaghan, and although I'm tempted to take Sally Ewen, I think it ought to be Arnold. Three from

Andy

-origin troops, and three of the others. I'm not ready to play favourites, yet. If we're going through the portal I want everyone in pressure suits, including Delacroix and her people."

"I'd like Sally, yes, but I think you're right. If we can't take Sally, take Anne Jenner as one of the

Andy

people. She's good. And I totally concur on the pressure suits point."

"Okay, thanks, Karen. Anyway, you have your own problems, so I'll leave you and Perrault to get the shuttle ready. I need to get on to Delacroix, see if she has anything that needs loading. Rendezvous on the flight deck, launch minus fifteen, okay?"

"Aye, ma'am. Launch minus fifteen."

"Go!"

Janet Perrault was already on board when Larsen arrived.

"Everything on my console is in the green, Lieutenant."

"Good. Pressure suit on for take-off, corporal."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Stand easy, corporal. It's not so very long since I was a corporal myself."

"We've both changed since then, I think." Perrault grinned. "I can run, now, if I need to."

Larsen laughed. "Let's hope not, eh?"

A voice came on the hangar-deck comm. "Permission to come aboard?" The ID-sensor showed that it was Delacroix.

"One moment, Lieutenant. I'll meet you at the ramp."

Delacroix, a corporal, and a private were waiting when Larsen made her way to the ramp. Three boxes of equipment stood waiting. the three were already in pressure suits, faceplates open.

"Lieutenant Larsen? I'm Anne Delacroix. This is Corporal Pinner, and PFC Lee. Have you somewhere we can stow this lot? The equipment isn't that big, but we have it

well

padded, just in case."

"Sure thing. Come aboard. We're not usually this formal, by the way. It's just this whole thing is so different."

"You mean like orbit to surface in milli-seconds, that sort of different?" said Delacroix, dead-pan, then grinned.

Larsen laughed. "Yes, that sort." She looked at the other lieutenant. Early thirties, she guessed, bespectacled, an air of quiet competence. "Made anything of those recordings yet?"

Delacroix shook her head. "Not yet. There are similarities to several Terran languages, so we're hoping that close contact will do the trick." She gestured. "Here?"

"Yes. Those tie-downs should hold your gear. If you and the others belt-in just behind the flight-deck bulkhead, I'd like the combat troops next to the ramp. Just in case."

"Will do."

"If you'll excuse me, I think that's Sergeant Callaghan and his troops."

It was. Callaghan, Corporal Arnold, Anne Jenner. Of the other five, Larsen recognised Tony Molina and Jack Evans, both from the

Andromeda

, but the other three were still only vaguely familiar. All wearing combat pressure suits.

Callaghan saluted. "Permission to board, ma'am?"

"Granted, sergeant," said Larsen, returning the salute. "I'd like you next to the ramp, just in case. Pressure suits for the transit, but ordinary combat gear should be okay for the surface. That's for Captain Janizi to decide, of course. For the transit, it's no pressure suit, no go."

"Absolutely, Lieutenant." Callaghan turned to the others. "You heard the Lieutenant. We belt-in next to the ramp."

"Everything ready, Lieutenant?" Janizi, in pressure suit.

"Yes, Ma'am. If you'll excuse me, I need to get my own suit on."

"We lift in five minutes, Lieutenant."

"Five minutes. Aye, ma'am."

Twenty-five minutes later, they were holding position ten metres from the ring, at the moment still inert.

"Anything yet, corporal?" said Janizi, who'd come forward to the flight deck.

"No, ma'am," said Perrault. "Still inert. No, wait! Power coming on, ma'am. Yes, portal open!"

"Ah! We have a welcoming committee," said Janizi. "Our friends from yesterday, what looks like six soldiers, and a second dragon." She touched Larsen's arm. "Ease forward, dead slow, straight at the middle of the portal. See what our friends do."

Caressing the controls, Larsen eased the flitter towards the portal. "Looks like they were expecting us, they're clearing the path."

"Keep going, Karen," said Janizi quietly. "Corporal, keep a damned close eye on your sensors." She triggered intra-squad comm, into which Delacroix and the others had been patched. "Faceplates closed, everyone. We're going through. It looks like we were expected. Sing out at anything strange."

As the nose of the flitter entered the portal, it disappeared, the flitter appearing to dissolve as they went. Janizi and Larsen traded glances. Janizi shrugged, and Larsen continued to ease the flitter forward, concentrating on keeping it central. There was a brief moment of dizziness as the cockpit area went through, then Perrault's voice, slightly unsteady, began to give the readout.

"Temperature twenty-nine celsius, twelve life-forms, ten of them normal, two very big. Nothing significant." A pause. "Readings holding steady."

"Portal visible through rear scanner, Captain," Perrault added. "We're through."

"Put us down, Karen," said Janizi. "Brilliant piece of flying, by the way."

"No, ma'am, that was the portal. I hardly needed to touch the controls. Um, we're down."

"Atmosphere check, corporal?"

"Almost Terra-norm, ma'am. We don't need breathing gear."

"I'm going back to get Callaghan," said Janizi. "When I say the word, lower the ramp, let us out, then close again. Keep the comm open, okay?"

"Affirmative, ma'am."

Janizi made her way aft, and Larsen watched the strangers. Apparently calm, the troops disciplined, forming a line. The younger man, the apparent leader, stepped forward, and paused, a scant five metres away, gazing in at them, his face impassive.

"Okay, Larsen, let us out," said Janizi. Larsen keyed the controls, waiting for Janizi's command. "We're clear. Close up."

"Company waiting for you at the bow, ma'am."

"On our way. Keep us monitored."

Larsen held her breath as Janizi and Callaghan, pressure suits discarded, marched smartly forward, came to a parade halt. Janizi saluted the young man, who gave her a stiff half bow, then straightened, a smile on his face.

"Welcome," he said.

"You speak Standard?" said Janizi, surprise in her tone.

There was a pause. "No. I not speak. Standard?"

"Standard, yes. You just spoke it."

"Hroth. He - put - words in my - mouth?"

"Hroth?"

The larger of the two dragons stepped forward, lowered and raised its head, and stepped back again.

"That? Is Hroth? The dragon?"

"Not - dragon. Dracon."

"Dracon?"

"Is - correct."

Janizi turned slightly, facing the dragon, and bowed. The dragon repeated the gesture.

"I - Alnar. Prince Alnar. Lord of Kesrin." He gestured. "Hroth wishes to bespeak you." He beckoned the dragon forward. "Touch your - head - to his. You will be - disturbed? No - confused. You will be confused for a moment. Then you - understand? Yes, understand. Then you understand our speech."

"A moment, please." Janizi stepped back a pace. "Did you get that, Larsen?"

"Yes, Captain. He wants you to touch your head to the dragon's head."

"Any thoughts?"

"They seem friendly, Captain. Careful, yes, but we must be something new to them. Your decision, but I'd be tempted."

"I already am. Okay, I'm going to accept. Callaghan, Perrault, be ready. I think our weaponry would take out all of them, but I don't want it to come to that." She stepped forward again to Prince Alnar. "I am ready."

He nodded, and beckoned, and the dragon stepped forward, lowering its head, arching its neck so that the broad forehead was at the same level as Janizi's. She stepped forward, paused for a moment, then touched her head to the dragon's, forehead to forehead. The watchers saw her motionless for a long moment, then she stepped back, unsteady for a moment, then drew herself to attention and saluted the dragon, whose head dipped in acknowledgement.

"Larsen?"

"Captain?"

"You've had sub-lim teaching, I know. Well that experience was the fastest sub-lim I've ever had. Be damned if I don't know their language. My Dracon friend, Hroth, says he can only do that with females, although he can talk mind-to-mind with males, given that they share a language already. I asked him if my pilot and my language expert could avail themselves of the experience and he says yes. Would you and Lieutenant Delacroix join us, please."

"That's us potentially stranded with both you and me away from the controls, Captain."

"Ah. Good point. I'll just make it to Prince Alnar." She turned away and what she said next was incomprehensible to the listening Larsen, but Janizi broke off her dialogue with the prince after a few moments. "Larsen, I'm coming back on board. You and Delacroix be ready to say hello to Hroth."

A few minutes later, Larsen and Delacroix made their way forward to where Callaghan waited. "Your grunts are getting twitchy back there, Sergeant," said Larsen. "The Captain would like you to bring them out as an honour guard, but wait until I get the language, so that the Captain can let Prince Alnar know, okay?"

"Sure thing, Lieutenant. Big mother, ain't he?" said Callaghan, nodding at Hroth.

"Yep. Wish us luck. Anne?" The two lieutenants moved forward, pausing to salute Prince Alnar, who nodded, and gestured them towards the dragon. Hroth lowered his head, and Larsen pressed her forehead against his, almost surprised to find it warm.

She felt a - presence - in her mind, and realised it was the dragon.

You are ready?

"I guess so."

Relax, let your mind accept

"Okay." The next thing she knew her mind was whirling like a child's kaleidoscope, but one that was moving faster than anything she'd seen before, until with a jolt the dragon broke off contact and she stepped back, unsteady for a moment, realizing now why Janizi had also been unsteady. She looked up at the dragon, which eyed her with what she was sure was amusement.

You are well, Karen Larsen?

"I am, Hroth. My thanks."

And my pleasure. You have an interesting mind

"Thanks, I think."

I spoke but the truth. Bid your colleague approach. She is your language expert, is she not?

"Yes, she is."

I look forward to this. I think we can learn from each other

Larsen turned, and beckoned Delacroix forward. "You are going to love this, Anne. The images I got from Hroth are incredible."

"You know their language now?"

"I think so. We'll find out for sure in a moment." She watched as Anne made her way forward, then turned to Prince Alnar, who waited, a smile on his face.

"You find that interesting?"

"Better than just interesting, my Lord," said Karen, surprising herself both with the words, and the honorific.

"You are Captain Janizi's - pilot? You fly this machine?"

"I do, yes."

"Are all of your officers women?"

"No, not at all. I think three-fifths of our Fleet personnel are men, but women officers account for almost half of the total. Our most senior officers are almost all men, though." She smiled at the prince. "If our other flitter had come through the portal you would have met male officers, and Hroth could not teach them."

"I confess myself relieved that it was you and Captain Janizi, in that case," said Alnar, a twinkle in his eye, and Larsen grinned.

"If you'll excuse me, my Lord. Captain Janizi will wish to be relieved of control, and to rejoin you."

"Of course."

On the flight deck, Janizi smiled to see her. "Interesting, no?"

"Hell, yes. Quite a guy, that Hroth. Okay, Captain. I have the conn."

"Thank you, lieutenant. Keep the channel open, and I'll see what Prince Alnar wants. See if you can contact Mackay. He should be here soon. Tell him to come straight in."

"Will do, ma'am."

"I'm sending Callaghan back to get his men, an honour guard. Put the camera view on the main cabin monitor. May as well let the others see what's happening." She grinned. "Anyway, Hroth and Hmeth are kinda too big to hide, aren't they?"

Janizi made her way back to the prince, and Larsen opened the inter-ship comm. "

Green Dragon

to

Red Dragon

. Come in, please?"

There was a burst of static, then Mackay's voice. "

Red Dragon

. That you, Larsen?"

"

Green Dragon

Affirmative, Mackay. Where are you? Can you see me?"

"Three klicks up, seven klicks south, and affirmative, we have you on the scope. What gives?"

"Captain wants you to come straight in and land here. The natives are friendly, and I've just been taught their language by a very nice dragon called Hroth."

There was a long moment of silence, and Larsen fought a giggle as she caught Perrault's eye.

"Say again, Larsen?"

"You heard me. Language lessons from a dragon."

Another pause. "You can tell me about it in five minutes. I need to concentrate on flying. Mackay out."

"

Red Dragon

's on the scan, ma'am," said Perrault.

"Thanks, corporal. Keep me in the loop."

"Aye ma'am."

It was only a couple of minutes later before the comm burst into life. "

Red Dragon

to

Green Dragon

. Where do I land, relative to you?"

"

Green Dragon

. About a hundred meters due west of us is an open area. Land there."

"Will do.

Red Dragon

out."

The arrival of the other flitter caused a certain amount of excitement among Prince Alnar's party, but they settled when no overt move was made.

"Larsen?" Janizi's voice.

"Aye, Captain?"

"Patch me through to Mackay, please. Listen in so you know what's happening."

"Understood, ma'am." She keyed the link. "Link open."

"Lieutenant Mackay?"

"Yes, Captain?"

"Hroth -- the dragon -- can teach the language here, mind to mind, but only to a female. Would you ask Corporal Uhula if she would be willing to undertake the transfer? Voluntary. No order from me, and no shit-storm if she says no."

"Will do, Captain. We have PFC Hanaka, too, if you want two for

Red Dragon

?"

"Good thinking. If they're willing, ask them to make their way over here. No pressure suit, and side-arms only. Is Lieutenant Krauss there?"

"Here, Ma'am."

"Come here with the others, and I'll introduce you to Prince Alnar and his chief advisor, Jayan. Mage Sanzar is here too and bubbling over with questions, but I've persuaded him to wait. Mackay, the reason I'm not asking you is so that both flitters still have trained pilots at the controls. I don't think we need to worry, but it goes with the rank."

"Understood, Captain. The others will be with you in a couple of minutes."

"Roger. Janizi out."

"Lieutenant?" said Perrault.

"Yes, Corporal?"

"What was it like, mind to mind with that dragon?"

"As a child, did you ever have a kaleidoscope? Sort of thing you revolved as you looked into it and the patterns kept changing?"

"Yes, I did."

"It was sort of like that, but very, very fast, and mental rather than visual. A kind of thirty second sub-lim language teaching course."

"I think I'd like that experience."

"See what I can do. After all, we haven't been on this planet an hour yet. Having native speakers has to be good." Larsen frowned.

"Something bothering you, Lieutenant?"

"I don't know. Something that came over with the language transfer from Hroth. Magic."

There was a pause. "Magic, Lieutenant?" Perrault's tone was carefully neutral.

Larsen grinned. "Yes, I know, but definitely magic." She shrugged. "Not as something mythical or imaginary, but as an everyday thing here. I don't quite know what to think."

Perrault stared at her for a long, long, moment, then smiled. "I think we'll all have to wait to find out. This place is certainly interesting." A pause. "Lieutenant?"

"Yes, Corporal?"

"Do you think our dragon insignia are making us more readily accepted?"

"Yes, I do believe they are. Not sure why, but having seen Hroth and Hmeth, I'm really glad we chose dragons. Okay, neither of them could be described as either green or red, but they're certainly like the picture your brother drew."