Stories of the Confederated Star Systems by Loren K. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

dull, but not onerous. The specialists that form the crews the Confederated Star Systems’ Temporal Cruisers are historians as well as adventurers, and the planet beneath them was their favorite subject. Months passed at their normal pace, finally reaching autumn and the harvest. But something was tweeking the captain’s nerves.
    Who were those people? Were they humans from another era? Why were they here? Were they the reason the Wells was here? Did they do something down stairs to cause the happenings we are here to observe?
    “Chief’s Quarters, COB speaking.”
    “Krys, come to control.”
    Master Chief McCormack arrived moments later. “Yes, Ma’am?”
    “Krys, take your Kitty to that debris field. Be careful, but find out what you can. And grab a piece of debris. I have a bad feeling about this.”
    The COB looked at her old friend and asked, “How bad?”
    “Like it wasn’t an accident that we found them here.”
    Krystal looked at Erica and shook her head. “The Old Man wouldn’t do that to us, would he?”
    “I don’t know, Krys. I just don’t know.”
    Captain Reordan and her crew departed ancient Earth with a full report to take back to their home era. But they had questions as well. Questions they didn’t dare ask.
    * * *
    Senior Councilor Javonich of the Temporal Directorate paced his office, scuffing the fine carpet as he kicked away his frustration, while First Lord Devero watched impassively from his seat. The report of the Wells’ encounter was in his hand, the datapad resisting his fierce grip.
    “Their mission was a success, though they don’t know it.”
    “Indeed, Councilor. You know that I objected to sending them into it blind.” The First Lord’s voice was soft, but it had a definite edge to it. “A little preparation might have done them a world of good.”
    “I know,” the councilor sighed, “but it was imperative that it appear to be a random act, an accident. We couldn’t let on that we were aware that a battle took place above Earth so long ago.”
    The First Lord stood and walked over to the glass case against the wall. There, nestled in a velvet pad, was a piece of wreckage. It was melted and twisted in an all too familiar pattern, though the metal itself was of an unfamiliar alloy. “To think that this has been buried on the moon for more than seven thousand years. God, can you imagine where we would be now if we had been able to make contact then?”
    Councilor Javonich nodded. “Yes, I can. A slave race or an extinct one from all appearances and the Wells’ report. They attacked without warning, and nearly destroyed the Wells and all hands. Not the act of a nurturing race.”
    “Perhaps so.” The First Lord sighed. “I would like to send them out again soon. They need to be too busy to dwell on this incident. I will be doing enough of that for all of us.”
    “As you wish. Send them to watch something quiet. I understand that there were some remarkable things happening in Europe during the 15 th Century, CE. Let them go watch a civilization being built.”
     
    “Leave Nothing to Chance” © 2008

 
Kachina
    T HE OLD SHAMAN SAT ON THE BLUFF , the hot breeze toying with his long grey hair as he looked up at the sky. His eyes never wavered from the North Star, that fixed point around which all of the other stars rotated, as he sought guidance from the spirits.
    Suddenly a new star flared to life, only to disappear in the next instant. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. He had been searching for a sign from the spirits, but was this the sign that he was seeking? The people needed a new home, but was this the place?
    Sighing, he wished silently that, just once before he died, the spirits would make their will clear.
    * * *
    The Confederated Star System Temporal Cruiser CSS H.G. Wells , TCH-1, flared into being, her drives shutting down in response to a malfunction. Her velocity was sufficient to send her speeding out into the dark reaches of the