Command Decision (Project Gliese 581g #1) by S.E. Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

sure it is safe.”
    Julia bit her lip, but nodded. “You’re right,” she finally admitted. “That still doesn’t make me any less excited.”
    Josh didn’t respond. Instead, he gazed at the image one last time before turning away. They had a lot to do before they reached the object. He also needed to inform his superiors that it was real. While the question as to whether or not humans were alone might have been answered; the question of who or what left this behind and how long ago still remained a mystery.
     
    *.*.*
     
    Josh leaned over Julia and Ash’s shoulder, studying the massive structure as the ROSV moved closer. Small discharges from the nitrogen thrusters sent out bursts of ice crystals.
    “Maneuvering to the left,” Ash murmured, working in sync with Julia. “Three bursts. Sergi, keep the tether loose.”
    “Roger that,” Sergi replied.
    “Julia, go down ten degrees,“ Josh instructed, leaning closer. “Mei, are you getting the recordings?”
    “Yes, commander,” Mei replied.
    Each of them had reverted back to their professional status as the intensity of the situation sank in. They had reached their objective several hours ago and had immediately been energized at their first contact with an alien device. Josh’s mind ran through his meeting with a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his Commander in Chief, the President of the United States.
    “It’s real?” The President had asked in a calm voice.
    Josh remembered the intense intelligence glimmering in the man's gaze. Even though there had been a several hour delay in the conversation, the recorded questions and his responses had been enough to let him know that this was having a major international impact. The mission was still classified top secret/sensitive compartmented information in order to limit it to a handful of people who absolutely had to know. Regardless, the findings shared within the group were causing a ripple effect throughout the different levels as information was sent back.
    “Yes, sir,” Josh had answered in a clipped tone.
    He had answered what questions he could, but there hadn’t been a lot he could tell them until the crew of the Gliese could begin their analysis. He meant what he told Julia. He would do everything in his power to keep the crew and the Earth safe. The President had instructed him to destroy the object if it looked like it posed a danger to Earth.
    “Look at that,” Ash replied with excitement.
    Josh jerked back to the present with a frown. He blinked when he saw what Ash was talking about. From the angle that the cameras were positioned, they could see the other circular objects that Julia had mentioned.
    “I count six,” Julia replied with a grin. “They look to be evenly spaced.”
    “What is holding them together?” Mei asked, glancing over her shoulder from where she was sitting in front of another console, recording the events. “There is no telling how long they have been here, surely they would have separated.”
    “Not if they are anchored together,” Sergi replied.
    “I don’t see any type of connection between them. I would estimate they are approximately half a kilometer apart,” Julia said.
    “I want a map of it, front and back,” Josh ordered.
    “You got it,” Ash replied, releasing a long whistle. “This thing is pretty incredible.”
    “You can say that again,” Sergi muttered under his breath.
    Josh watched as the ROSVs moved over the black metal surface. It would take them several weeks for the ROSVs to complete the mapping. Each section would be carefully recorded. Folding his hands behind him, he noted the complexity of the piece of machinery. If each one was the same, he wondered what their function was, who had put them there, how long they had been there, and most importantly, where in the hell were the aliens that built them?
     
    *.*.*
     
    Five weeks passed as they continued to take readings and send the information back to Earth. Josh ran his