Wraiths of Caledonia Read online

  Chapter 02

  to: Caledonia Mining Company HQ

  date: 28/10/2057 22:57 Earth Time

  As of 10 hours ago, Base 10 entered the night cycle. Only few minutes away from the dawn, we received a distress call from Colonel Tanner. We located that the call was coming from 3 miles south of Base 10.

  After receiving the call, I mounted a rescue mission which succeeded to a certain degree. A transporter and hangar facilities were damaged, but we brought Tanner's people in without casualties.

  We are currently accommodating remaining crew of Base 9, 15 men and women, in our facilities. The details of the attack on Base 9 will be included in my next log. Also the report of the rescue mission and the last cycle's quota are attached in this file.

  We will be cut from our communication satellites for the next 50 Earth days, but my reports and logs during the night cycle will be uploaded to a communication buoy ready to launch in case of emergency.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 29/10/2057 10:50 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency.)

  Except one patient, Colonel Tanner and his crew are recovering remarkably. I had a chance to get a report from Tanner. What he told me was an extraordinary story of survival.

  Two day-cycles ago, Base 9 started having equipment problems. Those malfunctions rose to a dangerous level at the end of the day cycle. Colonel Maser gave orders for stocking emergency and survival supplies in mining shafts. This proved to be the right course of action, because there were unexpected breaches in the beginning the of the night cycle.

  Colonel Tanner had to evacuate the outer levels of the base. There were 50 casualties during this period. Following weeks, they had to evacuate even deeper into the mountain. This finally led to the remaining 15 survivors retreating into the old mining shaft for the remainder of the night cycle.

  With coming of the day cycle, a short survey done through out the base showed that repairing the systems would be out of the question. Except Colonel Tanner's personal com device, all the communication systems in the base were thoroughly destroyed and every fuel cell depleted. Colonel decided the right course would be trying to reach nearest mining base; Base 10. It took them almost 6 weeks but they came as close as 3 miles before the sunset.

  It's hard to believe the wraith would mount an attack so vicious. Other than their predatory nature, there never was a case wraiths deliberately attacking. Colonel Tanner is insisting I take necessary precautions. Besides our long friendship, I tend to value his advices. I gave orders for preparing one of the new shafts for emergency situations.

  A detailed report, written by Colonel Tanner, regarding Base 9 is attached to this log.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 31/10/2057 08:30 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency.)

  The work in the emergency shelter is going well. With the help of Base 9 crew, we managed to modify the shaft extensively. It should be safe to live for a duration of 3 weeks or so.

  Colonel Tanner and our chief engineer had promising results in modifying one of our mining cannons according to the instructions left behind by the Base 9's xenobiolog.

  I have hopes that we'll survive the night.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 05/11/2057 07:45 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency.)

  There was a breach in section A4 last night. I had to lock-down the whole section A; 23 souls dead, half of our water supply gone.

  Doctor Emerich's patient isn't getting any better either. He says he's starting to see similar symptoms in the rest of the crew.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 08/11/2057 11:20 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency.)

  Following Emerich's suggestion, we moved some of the medical supply to the shaft we're using as emergency shelter. The doctor thinks we'll need them. He still can't find the source of the infection the crew is suffering from. 5 more of my crew are showing symptoms.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 11/11/2057 20:00 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency

  Another goddamn breach in section B; 10 dead.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 17/11/2057 08:00 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency.)

  I gave orders to retreat into the shafts to spend the rest of the “night”. Our good doctor insists we take only the uninfected with us. I made it very clear to him that we're not leaving anyone behind.

  Colonel John Maser

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Colonel Maser's Log

  date : 07/12/2057 07:45 Earth Time

  (Marked to be forwarded to CMC HQ in case of emergency.)

  I'm afraid this will be my last log entry.

  I'm starting to regret my recent decisions. We're stuck in here, like rats. It seems unlikely that we'll survive this-

  God, here they go again, begging, calling, and swearing out there day and night. Tanner calls to me again. How about a chess game, he says behind the barriers. It's not long now.

  I'm afraid.

  Colonel John Maser,

  CEO of Base 10 Mining Facility.

  Chapter 03

  A lone man in a dirty uniform stood and watched the sky patiently as a bright metallic object soared over the clouds and left an easy to follow trail behind. A fast search through the man’s memory showed it was called a transporter shuttle; a vehicle capable of escaping the planet’s powerful pull and reaching a high orbit above Caledonia. It moved with accurate and fast maneuvers and landed 50 feet away from the man.

  “You took your bloody time.” The man called out to the soldiers leaving the shuttle. It seemed like the thing to say under the conditions.

  “What's the situation like, Colonel?” asked one of the soldiers.

  “We're barely surviving. We lost most of our food and supply stock during the attacks. I really hope you've brought my replacement, sergeant, because I'm not staying on this hell hole a minute longer than I have to.” The man used to be known as Colonel John Maser said. It was surprising to learn that this body was sharing the wraith's desire to leave the planet.

  It looked at the shuttle through the Colonel's eyes, then up into the sky. A ship that travels among the stars and visits planets, it thought. The idea was foreign to it, but the implications were not.

  “Our first objective is making a detailed estimation of the situation, sir.” The sergeant said.

  “You must want to start immediately then. Follow me.” It said, turning his back and starting to walk. It had noticed the hidden distrust in the sergeant’s stance and his voice, but soon it wouldn't matter.

  “Why is it so chilly here anyway?” the soldier asked. “I thought, this planet was supposed to be burning hot during the days.”

  “Not this time of the year. It's a new season, sergeant.” It said. “A new beginning."

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