Beech Wood Embers

  YEAR: 52028 SHIP: Matriark II, Super-frigate exploration Class SUPERVISORY COMPUTER SYSTEM: Guard Drone Eight LOCATION: Purple Mountains, Hahao   Drone Audio Recording      ORT: We need to talk.      PINE: That bitch Larkina sent her dog to come and get me did she.      ORT: I came of my own volition.      PINE: Go back to your master.      ORT: What’s wrong with you? You steal a death shower and take a hundred troopers into the wilderness. You think we wouldn’t come and try to reason with you?      PINE: Reason? Reason? Larkina has lost all reason. She thinks these grey mother-fuckers are peaceful. They have killed one of ours and they have taken another into their lakes. He will not come out alive. The time for reason is over Captain. The time for action is now. We have tracked the raiding party to this lake. We’re just waiting for them to show themselves...

  YEAR: 52028 SHIP: Matriark II, Super-frigate exploration Class LOCATION: Purple Mountain Valley, North of Landing site.   Professor Adam’s Earpiece Log DAY THREE      The draft of sacred water is wearing off. I slept for a full day and woke up with a calm I haven’t felt since a Child. They are busy making a meal for their young. They come and go from the cavern with various bundles of leaves and fragrant herbs. It’s hard to see during the night. For the only source of light are little glowing orbs. When the sun rises, the cavern is lit through a series of crystal lenses. They harness the light and the crystals magnify the rays that pour through the water.      I have picked up many new words. Garsh is there word for water. I hear the little prayers uttered to their water gods. I am there Nivah, which I assume means outsider or alien. They often mention their Ruki.      They appear to be connected t...

  YEAR: 52028 LOCATION: Purple Mountains, Hahao SUPERVISORY COMPUTER SYSTEM: Guard Drone Eight IN ATTENDANCE: Sub-Captain Ortner, Sergeant Dinn     Sub-Captain Ortner’s mission Log      ORT: We are a day’s journey from Pines and the other deserters. I have ordered a halt. I have decided to wait and gather intelligence. We are outnumbered and Pines may fire on us. We have enough supplies to scout for a day before trying to make contact.   Drone Audio Transcript      DINN: Why did he run away?      ORT: Because…Larkina humiliated him, but it’s more than that. He is scared. We all are. I want to bring him home. And I want those troopers loyal to him to be back where they belong.      DINN: Do you think she should have handled things differently?      ORT: Larkina did what she believed to be the best course of action. We cannot afford to be over...

  YEAR: 52028 SHIP: Matriark II, Super-frigate exploration Class LOCATION: Purple Mountain Lakes, North of Landing site.   Professor Adam’s Earpiece Log DAY ONE      They rode hard last night without stopping. My belly is raw. They put me down and I was sure it was the end. A large Brown-Haired Pond Ape, possibly their leader, came over with a long thin bone knife. I expected to be gutted and left for dead. Instead, my binds were cut. They studied me without speaking. Then the leader broke the silence.      There language is harsh and birdlike. I can pick up a few words. I think they refer to me as: Nivah. Every time they look at me I here it. They call their mounts Ruki. They appear to be herbivores. The Ruki are highly intelligent and follow complex commands. I believe they understand the pond ape language.        We passed through the purple mountains to get to this lake. Some of them have disa...

    YEAR: 52028 SHIP: Matriark II, Super-Frigate Exploration Class SUPERVISORY COMPUTOR SYSTEM: Hahaoya X80 (HX80) LOCATION: Prime-Captain Larkina’s office IN ATTENDANCE: Prime-Captain Larkina, Sub-Captain Ortner   Meeting Minutes      LARK: Sit down Ortner.      ORT: I’d rather stand.      LARK: Sit down. I have been up for three days. I haven’t got time for disobedience. I want to know what you think we should do about Pines.      ORT: I want to take a small twenty-strong team to go and get him back. You should stay here and mind the ship. The crew needs you.      LARK: Do you think I can loose another Captain?      ORT: You won’t lose me.      LARK: What if you don’t come back? What if those grey skins get you?      ORT: How else are we going to get them back?    ...

  YEAR: 53028 LOCATION: UTOPIAN MINISTRY AUDITORIUM, HAHAO CITY SPEAKERS: UTOPIAN PRIESTESS ADAMINN, VOO AMBASSADOR GROUK OOHA   Annual Voo-Human Peace conference      ADAM: Today marks a thousand years since our ancestors landed on we used to call Hahao. We were arrogant and have taken to calling by its original name MaVoo. The Voo were the first to call it home and after a rocky start, I am proud to embrace them as our brothers and sisters. We are glad to share their world. I would like to introduce the Voo ambassador Grouk Ooha.      GROUK: Thank you Adaminn. I have travelled many, what you Earthies, call miles to get here. My Ruki was glad when I got to the shade the city. She has been treated well. I want to thank the Utopian Ministry for their ongoing work to keep the peace between Voo and Humans. It’s been generations since the last war. I hope that we never resume our tension, and that peace carries on forever. Teevis...