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The streaks of light that rushed by, stars, grew slower and shorter as the Star Chaser deaccelerated as the destination world appeared in the ships proximity sensors. For over three months now Maya had watched the stars, no more than flickers race past her. She yearned to go to every one of them but knew not only was it impossible, but also pointless as only a small percent had plantetary masses circling them, and of those a yet smaller percent would have solid worlds that could be of any interest to her studies. Even so, each passed star was a missed oppertunity.
"Orbit in fifteen minutes, standard system speed will be reached at the seventh planet." the navigators voice broke Maya from her thoughts and brought her to the present, where her mind was needed. What oppertunities would this world bring?
Maya left the bridge and headed for the flight deck, passing by ships crew as she went down the bright and shiny corridors of the Star Chaser to the rear and lower part of the ship were her team of experts were waiting for orbit so they could shuttle to the surface and inspect the world. With her team, a squad made up half of Lt. Armstrong's soldiers and half of ships crewmen would occompany them for protection. Although they had been required on only a few worlds and not the majority, distaster could have fallen if they had not been there. While her sister Chelsea still didn't like their precense Maya knew that she was reassured after the incidents that had occurred.
This world, designated Upplov - each crewman was allowed to name a world when selected by lot (only once, until all crewmen had done so) - had been picked as suitable during the last planet-trip when the Star Chaser's sensors were set to look for a range of suitable worlds within easy reach and along the main course which was headed to the other side of the Galaxy. Scanning as the Star Chaser had approached the system showed that the world had a thin atmosphere, suitable for breathing without aid but prolonged exposure would lead to fatigue. A fully detailed scan would be ready before the shuttle left the Star Chaser and made its way to the surface.
Maya arrived at the deck to a regular site of crewmen making sure everything was correct, a process now so routine they could do it in their sleep. So routine that she could even do it, if need be, although that would be more of Chelsea's interest. She saw Hakka, the leader of the security squad for this mission talking to the military corporal. Both wore special cameoflague suits, had helmets ready and weapons strapped to the webbing that criss-crossed them like a spiders web.
The Corporal saluted when she stopped next to them. She nodded back in return. "Looks like a nice world Ms Maya." Hakka handed over a PDS (Portable Data System) , "moderate temperatures, clear skies and some strong deposit concentrations."
"That's where we'll be heading down?"
"Yes ma'am." said the Corporal. His name tag read Huckock, another O'ckchuka. Apart for humans, the stocky O'ckchuka comprised the bulk of the Prime Union Armed Forces, especially in the ground forces.
"Huck here, " Hakka pointed to the Corporal, "had made some good recommendations for landing sites. There's a plateau near what could be very large deposit of Base-Ersium, another one here, " he scrolled the map on the PDS, "has rich metal veins."
"It's strange Hakka, " Maya cradled the PDS in her hands, reading over the data quickly, she would have enough time for a more thourough look on the trip down, "you sound like a seasoned prospector rather than a security officer."
At this, the O'ckchuka pulled himself up to his full height. "I am and always will be a warrior first Ms Maya,"
Laughter escaped Maya's lips, "No need to get so upset Hakka, I wasn't critising your profession or skill."
"Yes Cousin" (O'ckchuka of different units generally call each other cousing when familiar with each other) "she meant no offence, " Huck too was laughing, allowing a moment of relaxation before the mission, "but such a skill of prospecting is still valuable to the Union for it will bring wealth and, with this world, metal and power for ships and the Forces."
"Always trust the O'ckchuka to reference everything back to the Army." Maya departed the men and joined her own team of experts in the fields natural and constructed sciences.
Chelsea stood next to her command chair at the bridge of her ship. She stroked the cool brass coloured armrest with her fingertips, a soft caress. The Star Chaser had been through many troubles but it had always survived, with the skill of its crew and in its own perfect design, her design.
"The shuttles are ready to go Ms Chelsea," the Space Watchman announced. She nodded her head and the Watchman gave the go ahead. With barely a tremour the shuttle thrusted out of the flight deck a hundred and fifty meters to the rear and with glowing exhaust ports made its way to Upplov's atmosphere.
"Con, take us on a slow course to scan the planet completely, there will be more deposists on the other side where we haven't looked yet."
"Yes Ms Chelsea,"
***
Trembling, High Priest Miant Modincloba willed his lead heavy feet to mount each step one at a time until he reached the top of the Sun Temple. He dare not look behind him, in fear that his will would fly from him completely and he would become rooted to the spot, or even worse run down the steps in terror away from the eight majestic figures that stood in a loose line before the sacred Altar at the top of the pyramid Temple.
Miant's mind kept returning to when the death-white face and body of one of his congregation rushed into his modest home. Alarmed and fearing something terrible had happened he sat the shaking girl down and asked her what had happened. All she could do was mumble that 'The Gods have come'. He could make nothing of it until more and more people came to him and told him that suddenly, atop the Sun Temple figures where seen. They did not come down, nor did they respond to any challenges by the few brave enough to speak. When from one of the eight multicoloured wings appeared stretching wide the crowd that had gathered fled and came to him. He was their sheppard and voice of the Gods. Now they said the Gods had come, and he would meet them first.
So he had come to the Temple, seen the Eight and the one that was winged, all of them glowing as brightly as the sun itself and he was struck. The crowed, concentrated behind him urged him forward and his acolytes and fearfully they began the rise of fifty steps to the top of the Temple.
All was silent. With each step reached the Priest could make out more of the Eight. Seven, not the winged one, were covered in bronze metal, their head and faces covered by a helmet, a Y was all that broke the smooth blankness of the helmet. In one hand they held at rest a long spear. Like snakes, gold and silver coils wraped around their metal bodies. He could feel their eyes on him, the gaze of the Gods. Nervously his own gaze shifted from one to the next and down to his feet so he would not stumble on the stone steps but always avoided the Eight, the winged one.
And when he felt its eyes fall on him his blood froze and he faltered. Cold sweat seeping from his pores Miant looked up and into the eyes of a Goddess.
Green, deep green eyes, that was all he could see. Not her wings, not her arms or shoulders, or her headress of coloured beads crowned with a plumage of jewel encrusted gold, not her smooth cheeks, or her smirking crimson lips. He was aware of nothing but her eyes.
And then the Goddess spoke to him in his mind.
"Who are you?" the Goddess asked.
"High Priest Miant Modincloba. Are you a God?"
"Bring your flock closer High Priest, let me see them."
Miant felt himself turn around and open his arms wide. "Come forth my children and behold your Gods who have favoured us and wish to be amongst us!"
Slack jawed Acolytes stared at their High Priest. He motioned to them, "Bring the people up the steps, bring them closer to the Gods so they can see their devoted worshipers. Go, go!" Hesitantly they moved down the steps while the High Priest continued to call for the people to come to him.
The tallest and thickest of the Eight stepped next to the winged Goddess, one shoulder bare, the other covered with golden cloth that run under her bodice, the left side , the side of her bare shoulder, a wing beast stretches forth its wings. A plain cord encircles her neck, a pair of tear shaped precious stones hand from it below her throat. Another pair of stones hang from her ears, caged by thin chains of gold. When she turns her head slightly to acknowledge the other her stones and beads rattle against each other.
No sound passes between the two but communication is obvious. The taller clenches his hand tight around the half of the tall spear and steps back to its place in the line.
The large crowd that has gathered before the Temple, thousands strong is packed tightly around. The brave and devoted answer their Priests' call and climb the steps to come closer to their Gods.
High Priest Miant smiles and encourages the climbers, "Come, come and be Blessed by the Gods." His heart nearly freezes, is that what the Gods wish, will be bless or was that presumption on his part? He turns to the Goddess, "Will those that climb be Blessed Goddess?"
The Goddess smiles, her eyes leaving him to watch the climbers. "Yes," she answers, "All of them will be Blessed, and you High Priest will be the first, come to me, kneel before me and receive your Blessing."
His heart filled with joy, he would be Blessed by the Goddess himself, for all his life he had devoted it to the Gods and the people. His fear gone he quickly mounted the last few steps between himself and the Goddess and knelt befor her. The other seven had come forward, would he be Blessed by All or just the Goddess? All eight were close to the edge of the top.
Maint bowed his head, staring at the shins and sandled feet fo the Goddess and he felt her hand press down on the top of his head over his Priests cap. Warmth spread through his body, from his head down and out along his limbs, deep inside his body to his heart.
The Goddess looked down at the High Priest, her fingers spread over his head. The smirk remained on her lips. Small, hardly visible but appropriate. How many times before had she been witness to this, an uncivilised race bowing befor her. All it took was to unfurl her wings, speak to their mind and they would obey. Do anything she asked because to them she was a God. Billions of beings in the Galaxy worshiped her as their Goddess. Because she had come from the heavens, was perfect, imposing and surrounded by other metal covered Gods.
A small laugh, a rice tone escaped her lips. A laugh not of joy, but filled with malice. She did not need worshipers. She did not need to be idolised, to have satues and buildings built for her. Not this time. This time she wanted answers, directions, and the crowd below would give them to her.
The Priest stirred at her laugh and looked up into her eyes. Their gaze met and in a brief instant she let him into her mind and she let her mind laugh freely when his recoiled in horror and tried to escape. She let the Priest go, not that he would be able to do anything. His fate was sealed and the same as the crowd below.
Eyes wide with terror Miant tried to stand but the Goddess' hand kept him kneeling before her. The warmth that had spread throughout his body turned in an instant into a raging fire.
The Priests chest and heart exploded over the Goddesses legs, covering the golden cloth with blood. Limp, the body slipped from under her hand and rolled over the edge and tumbed down the steps.
The crowd went silent.
An Acolyte stopped the tumbling of the Priest and then looked up at his killers. It was the last thing he would see.
The Goddess raised her hands, pointing them down at the crowd, her fingers apart. Jewels covered her hands, the stones brightened with life and ten forks of azure light shot forth from the finger tips.
The pair of Acolytes shook as if struck by lightning, their bodily functions giving way as the light struck them and passed through jumping to the crowd behind.
A scream from thousands of throats shook the air as the crowd realised what was happening. In an instant they turned into a fleeing mass.
The Goddess struck down the people of the steps next, her tendrils exploding their flesh on contact. Gouts of blood spewed onto the stone as rank after rank were lashed. As each body fell lifeless the tendril reached out and struck its next victim cutting a bloody swath deep into the crowd.
Tens, dozens, scores died with barely time to scream for their lives before the death whips cought them. They fell lifeless over each other, a carpet of bodies.
"Finish them, sacrifice all of them for the augury!" the Goddess commanded. Her eyes were wide, nostriles flaring as she eagerly sought out the next victim. Directing the whip from body to body, watching them tumble, the blood pour onto the ground.
Wings spread from five of the others and they took to the air. Cracking beams jumped from the tips of their spears into the crowd. Bodies were ripped and blown apart, knocke down into the quadmire of gore. Blast after blast shot forth from seven spears in all directions spearing nothing. No matter the age or injury, a blast would come to end their life and add their body to the expanding mass that lay heaped and dismembered.
The life in the stones died and the Goddess lowered her hands to her sides. She let the others continue the killing. She would read the message the increasing number of sacrifices would tell her, from their screams, the patterns of their broken bodies, the flow of the blood, its thickness on the ground. Laughing, crimson lips pulled back she dismounted the steps walking amongst the carnage her feet deep in streams of blood as explosions surrounded her.
"Tell me, tell me what I need!" she shouted her foot sliding into the disembowled body of a mother. A small feeble hand grasped at her calf. A child, legs lacerated looked up at her pleadingly, "Why are you doing this to us? We have always been good."
The Goddess pulled the child up by its hair, twisting it around her hand. With her other free hand she pulled a curved knife from her belt and as she slashed the child's throat open, a spray of blood covering her perfect face, saying "For your goodness, this is your reward."
Atop the Temple pyramid the two remaining bronzed Gods cease their firing. Together they stare down at the Goddess wading through the muck of the dead and dying.
***
Maya wiped away the sweat on her brow and leaned against the cool granite rockface. For three hours the mission team had climbed and winded their way deep into rocky mountains searching for a strong concentration of minerals near the surface to take samples from. The shuttle was kilometers behind and down, parked on a large plateau before the mountains and overlooking the rolling plains below. She glanced at her chonometer, it showed that it was still early morning by Upplov's rotary period. There would be many more hours of climbing before the experts of her team found a location to drill for samples, and hours more waiting, then hours more making their way back to the shuttle. For a building, or a dated carcass to find Maya wished, not rocks and metals.
***
Chelsea was in her cabin when the excited voice broke through her study of hyperspatial motion. "Yes, what is it?" she asked drawing her eyes away from the text.
"Buildings ma'am, weve found buildings," Chelsea stood up, the chair scraping against the floor, "and people. There's a whole civilisation down there!"
"I'm coming right up."
Thirty seconds later Chelsea was in the bridge and staring at the main viewport which was displaying a zoomed surface shot of a village. The buildings were solid, most likely made out of hardened earth and had flat roofs. Small figures could be seen moving about, people, in the fading light. It was dusk at this part of the planet.
Jake said "The report didn't say anything about beings existing on this world."
"It's a bit hard to see them from a thousand light years away Mr Armstrong." Chelsea replied. "Too bad Maya's already down there, she'd want to go there right away." she paused. "So, I will instead."
"Isn't that going against your own procedures? No more than half of the senior officers and crew can be off-board the ship at any time..."
"The mission team had their own job to do, and if this world is suitable and the Union decides to use it then we had better let them know about the natives and their technological and societal level. We don't have long here, and we can't take or split the team from what its currently doing, that only leaves us to investigate the natives. I'll leave you in charge and Nagyona will head security."
"I don't like this,"
"It will be night there soon, they will not know that we're there. Sensors, find out how populated this world is." Chelsea left the bridge.
Jake frowned, and then called up the Manoon Na soldier on the ships intercom system. "Lieutenant, Ms Chelsea is going down to the planet to investigate some recently discovered population centres, you and your men are her bodyguard. Keep a tight watch out, link into the ships sensors to get the video feeds of the ground."
"Yes Sir."
***
The Gods of Death had gone, their grusome task finished. She had lain under a pile of bodies that had been her family, their deaths saving her life, their blood running over her body, down her throat. The smell of their carcases had knocked her out and she had just awaken and fearfully pulled her family from her until moon light lite her face. With a grunt she pulled herself free from the grip of the dead and stood calf deep in blood. With each step she had to fight from falling into the horror, she dared not look down to avoid seeing a face she knew, had talk to and laughed with staring up at her with empty eyes. The hands and limbs of the dead grasped at her wanting her to join them. To complete the murderous task that the Gods had begun.
She made her way to the Temple. Everything around her was destroyed. All the buildings smoldering piles of rubble from which clawing charred hands and bodies rose through. Burned and buried alive. She reached the steps, a thick layer of bodies covering them. She began to climb on all fours, the stone slick with blood. She slipped and started a small avalance of bodies. Blood washed into her open mouth. She coughed it out, spitting and tears streaked down her cheeks. She rose back onto her hands and knees and carefully climbed past the bodies of her people.
She reached the Acolytes and the High Priest. Their white robes stained red and brown with their insides. She sobbed. The Gods, if that's what they were, had killed their Priest and their people. Slaughtered them, the whole town, thousands. From the neck of the dead Priest she took his beaded necklace and drew it around her own neck.
She climbed the last steps to the top of the Temple, where only the Priests and Acolytes had been allowed to step before. The necklace gave her that right to be here. She, now, the last survivor was the High Priest, of a following that included no one else.
She looked around in horror at the devestation. In all directions the buildings were destroyed. Small fires still burned. Everywhere there were bodies. Densely packed at the base of the Temple, thinning out further away from it until only scattered clumbs and invididual corpses could be seen in the distance. Nothing else moved. There was no sound but that of the soft wind.
In the sky movement cought her eye. She looked up. Across the sky a star raced and then did something peculiar. It slowed down, changed direction and then vanished behind a hill line.
"Shamazar," she whispered. A village smaller than her own was on the other side of the hills. Panic flooded her heart, had they too been destroyed? Or were they about to be? Was that streak of light the Gods returning to slaughter more of her kind.
She cried out, a scream of pain. She hoped, wished, prayed - then caught herself, her prayers would not be answered. Her Gods were false, murderers. She could not save the village, she would not reach it in time, but maybe she would arrive and the Gods would still be there, and maybe she would have revenge for her people.
***
