Consortium of Planets: Alien Test by Jack Wells Read Free Book Online

press as having the squeaky-clean personality of Superman, and his exploits continued to fuel that reputation.
    The chancellor rode the elevator one floor down to his luxurious waiting room and stepped up to look at his secretary’s monitor. “I don’t see anything but rocks,” he said skeptically.
    Ellen sat rigid, spellbound by the screen. She was breathing heavily and could only whisper, “Keep watching.”
    And then it appeared: a massive jumble of dark tubes, various shiny silver panels, and a massive square-shaped metallic basin. The center of the massive bowl was pointed right at them. They sat in wonder for about fifteen minutes as the camera continued to pan across fantastic images.
    Jonathan was visibly shaken. “It looks like a staging facility for an invasion!”
    Ellen whispered again, “Did you see that big square bowl?”
    Jonathan nodded. “Yes, it was in the middle with everything connected to it.”
    Ellen had been his secretary for twelve years and at times was much more. Occasionally, Jonathan used her on difficult assignments that called specifically for a woman. Earlier in their association, they had been intimate, but Jonathan soon decided that she was more valuable to him as a part-time agent. She never completely recovered from the sudden change in their relationship. Her flowing auburn hair was still beautiful, but the dazzling sparkle in her emerald green eyes was lost forever.
    “Get Forge on the horn!” Visen barked at her.
     
    ****
     
    Lunar surface:
    As the Sun climbed higher above the Moon’s horizon, Dean and Beth watched with concern. In the center of the alien camp, the huge metal basin was beginning to give off a golden glow. Heavy camouflaged webbing dropped away from the structure while steel columns rose from each corner. The tips of the columns began to arch slowly toward each other, finally connecting about a hundred meters above the bowl’s center. The basin had become a massive antenna array. Dean guessed it might be drawing power from the Sun.
    “Beth, use your visor. I don’t like how bright it’s getting.” After a short pause he said, “I’m going down for a closer look. I think I see something moving.”
    Without thinking about Dean’s rank, Beth’s training took over and she snapped. “Are you nuts? We’ve got no backup and no idea what’s going on!” Realizing her breach of protocol, she stopped herself and took a deep breath. “Sir, we only have about an hour of air. I recommend we check in and see what Command wants us to do.”
    Ignoring her lapse, the colonel reminded the lieutenant, “Our assignment is to find out what’s going on up here, and right now we don’t have squat. We’ve recorded all we can from this location. I need to get closer.”
    Even through the heavily tinted faceplate, he could sense the worry on her face and so changed his approach. In a softer tone, he continued. “Look how long it took Visen to mount this mission. By the time those politicians make a decision, the aliens could destroy our world – a world finally at peace. I’m not going to let that happen. I want you to stay here and brief Visen on what we have so far. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    Beth was shocked. She knew the colonel was wrong and tried one more time to change his mind. “Sir, with all due respect, if they take you out, I’ll have to go in anyway and finish our mission. Together, our chances are much better than going in one at a time.”
    She didn’t want to be protected. She was anxious for the hunt and ready to test herself against the unknown. If necessary, she would make the aliens sorry they ever messed with Earth.
    Dean realized that he was trying to shield her from danger. She was right: if he couldn’t deliver, she would have to go in by herself and the risk to her would be even greater. He cleared his throat and stammered, “I just…well, my partners don’t seem to stick around very long these days and you…”
    She