What is an Aerthernaut anyway?

Commander Zero sat in his command chair on the bridge of his atomic powered dirigible that his saurian crew had affectionately dubbed the Albatross. The heads up display in his light intensifying goggles told him all systems were nominal. The trans dimensional transfer had brought him and his crew to yet another earth like world. This world seemed nearly lifeless. He detected only basic plant and animal life. Haliss his saurian second in command clicked his claws to get his attention. "Excuse me Zero" He intoned. "What is it?
Zero asked.

"We are detecting the signature of an atomic powered craft that was operating on this world less than eight standard time units ago" he intoned. Haliss maintained a posture that his people used to indicate that he had more to say and that he should inquire further. "What else Haliss?"he asked trying to keep his patience with his reptilian friend."Yes Zero, If you will turn your long range sensor read outs in your H.U.D. you will see what is bothering me"nodding slightly to indicate that was all the information he had for me.

Haliss' people used a wide range of postures, ticks, clicks and head movements to amplify their language. Their reptilian facial features allowed for little expressiveness. The U.T. did an excellent job translating their language word for word but it was necessary to be looking at them for complete communication. Zero touched the wrist control panel on his exoskeleton to activate the display that would relay the information from the main differential engine. He Immediately saw what Haliss was referring to. It was a life sign and what was more it was a human life sign. He had not come in contact with a fellow human in many cycles. "Haliss"I said,"bring us about". "Zero I recommend caution, it could be a trap"Haliss warned. "If it were a saurian life sign would you counsel caution?"I asked. "Doubly so"was his answer.

There was a brief flurry on the bridge as Haliss issued his orders to the crew. The navigator transferred the coordinates to the helmsman and touched the control on his panel that would give him full power from the super conducting motors. The engineer watched and nodded with satisfaction checking his displays to see that the impellers were operating at optimum efficiency. power was flowing from the mighty migma atomic pile to the six super conducting motors causing the the great air ship to surge forward.

Mookai the saurian tactical officer clicked claws to gain Zero's Attention. He assumed the posture of respectful interrogatory . Zero acknowledged him with a nod and a head bob that a superior would use for a respected subordinate. Mookai partially opened his mouth, the saurian equivalent of a blush at the compliment. "Commander should we go to battle stations" Mookai said with an emphatic head bob. "Yes" zero said with his own emphatic nod. "Weapons operators to their stations" announced the Tannoy system.

Active armor and the particle beam weapons came to life. And for good measure the recoilless rifle turrets came on line. Mookai's clawed hand flew across his panel. The engineer noticed the indicators for the weapons systems as they became activated, Mookai was not taking any chances. He had enough fire power to destroy a small planet at the ready. But as always, it's better to be safe than sorry. The gun crews barely had time to get to their stations before navigator announced that they were close enough to get a visual. So anxious was Zero that he did not wait for Mookai to throw up the image on the main display. Visually there was no mistake, it was a human.

Next week: A new ally?


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