Earth's Last Days: The Invasion

The massive, cloaked mothership hovered over the first planet on Council Leader Vorik's list. It was the first of three planets found with breathable air for all three races aboard the ship. He had chosen to hover over each one, scanning its surface and collecting data so they could decide what to do as well as which planet to try to inhabit. They didn't know if the planets were inhabited by intelligent life, so they remained cloaked, hoping not to be seen by their technology.

"Scan the surface," Council Leader Vorik ordered, staring out the large window on the bridge at the planet below them. Unlike Earth and its blue glow, this one was green.

"Scanning," Bridge Officer Remmy stated, pressing a button, then swiping down with his finger.

Lights flashed on the panel as the ship scanned the surface of the planet. They were scanning for air quality, water quality and any life on the planet. They needed all the information so that they could decide if it was one of the ones to choose from when all three planets had been visited.

Council Leader Vorik watched the planet as the bridge officer scanned its surface. He liked the look of the planet from above. Its green glow was radiating throughout the sphere as if lit from within.

The panel beeped. A list of data formed on the screen, each line appearing quickly.

"Finished, sir," Bridge Officer Remmy stated. His gaze was on the information on the small screen.

Council Leader Vorik walked to the panel and peered down at the data before him. "The air quality is similar to Earth. There are bodies of water, but much smaller than our own planet as well as Earth. I wonder how the greenery stays that way without much water?" Vorik mumbled to himself. Bridge Officer Remmy still heard.

"The core of the planet is liquid. It's almost like it's filled with water. This planet could turn into a water world easily if the surface is disrupted. I believe the vegetation on the planet is what's keeping it from doing that, sir," Bridge Officer Remmy stated, still looking at the readout of the planet.

"Any signs of life?" Council Leader Vorik asked the bridge officer.

Bridge officer Remmy scanned the data, swiping with his finger from one screen to the next. "Yes, there is life. There are very large creatures in the water. They are able to travel from one body of water to the next by going through the water in the center of the planet. I've never seen anything like this world," he said in awe. "On the surface, there are also creatures: they are also very large. It is undetermined if they are intelligent beings or creatures of the planet. There is no readout showing any types of technology."

Vorik looked back out the large window. He was desperate to find his people a home. This one didn't sound like it would be it. He needed more information to determine it. "Scan for the use of fire and technology, as well as any indication of dwellings."

Bridge officer Remmy pressed several buttons, scanning again, this time for unnatural elements on the planet. When the scan finished, the readout shot across the screen. Remmy waited for it to complete before beginning to read.

"I don't see anything know to us that there are dwellings. There is no indication of the use of fire either. There appear to be only large creatures on the planet. Perhaps this planet is newly formed. Life is far larger when the planet is young," Bridge Officer Remmy suggested. They still needed to do a full bio-scan, though.

"Is the planet sustainable for us all?" Council Leader Vorik asked. His gaze remained on the green sphere outside his window.

"It is. I don't believe that this world is stable, however. I think we would end up evacuating again if we tried to inhabit it," Remmy said, studying the information in front of him. "The planet appears to be barely stable. I've never seen a world like this, so I am only making assumptions."

Vorik nodded. "Do a full bio-scan. I want every piece of information we can get. See if you can take a close-up visual of the planet's creatures. We need to know what options we have."

Bridge Officer Remmy pressed more buttons and then set the parameters of the scan in the computer before starting the scan. After several moments, the panel flashed, indicating the scan had been completed.

"The scans are complete, sir," Bridge Officer Remmy stated. "Do you want me to send the files to the council room?"

"Do it," Vorik stated. Then, he turned to the Helm, where Fleet Commander Lerian was sitting. "Set course to the second planet. Stay cloaked. Once the course is set, come to the council room."

*** *** ***

Council Leader Vorik waited in the council room for everyone he had called. He watched as the green planet moved farther away, its bright green sphere growing smaller and smaller the further they got.

The door to the council room slid smoothly open. Fleet Commander Lerian walked in with Bridge Officer Remmy. Behind them were Guard Commander Drevick, Aleigha, Orik, Jada, Trei, Niki, Jess, Verion, and Mikiel.

"Where's Medic Renn?" Council Leader Vorik asked, scanning the group, seeing that only one whom he had called was missing.

"He's on his way, sir," Mikiel responded. "I believe he's gathering some equipment first."

Council Leader Vorik nodded, then gestured for Bridge Officer Remmy to set up the recordings. Just as he finished setting everything up, the council room door slid open, and Medic Renn walked in. He was carrying a bag filled with equipment. He rushed into the council room and quickly sat down, setting his bag beside him.

"I'm sorry I took so long," Medic Renn apologized to no one in particular. He hated being late, especially for a meeting called by their leader.

Everyone in the room looked at him in question.

Seeing the curiosity on everyone's faces, Medic Renn smiled. "I did my own scan. There is intelligent life on that planet. They live and breathe underwater. I found a city underneath the crust of the planet. The water hid the technology. I scanned for anomalies and found electrical currents. When I checked further, they were harnessing power from some of the aquatic species in the water that is able to produce an electrical current."

Aleigha smiled. "That makes sense. We had electric eels in the ocean on Earth. I'm not sure if anyone has ever attempted to harness the electricity produced by them, though. It wasn't something I looked up, so I don't know."

Medic Renn nodded, acknowledging Aleigha's comment. He scanned the room. "I do not believe we would be able to inhabit that planet. The planet's crust is thin. The only thing that keeps it in place is the vegetation. The planet's crust and plant life work together to keep the planet stable. It's what keeps everything in balance. Moving to the surface, I believe, would disrupt that."

Council Leader Vorik pointed to the bag of equipment at the medic's feet. "What is the equipment for?"

Medic Renn shrugged. His face darkened with embarrassment. "I brought all the data in the event you wanted to see it for yourself."

"We are heading for the second planet now." Fleet Commander Lerian told them. "Perhaps we will have better luck on the next one."

Council Leader Vorik still needed to see the information. There was still a possibility that it was the only planet available out of the three. He needed to continue the meeting about the first planet and the information they had collected. He turned to Bridge Officer Remmy. "On the last scan, was there new information?"

Remmy flipped a switch, and the screen lit up. A close-up of the planet showed it lush and green. Animals roamed the surface that resembled lizards. Fins were seen on the sides and tails of their massive bodies.

"It looks like those creatures can breathe in and out of the water," Aleigha observed. Just as she said it, one of the creatures dove into the water, disappearing under the surface.

Orik nodded. Just like everyone else in the room, he had just witnessed the creature going into the water. "I believe you're correct."

Remmy pressed another button. The lighted outline of the planet appeared. Under the crust was a cluster of lights.

Medic Renn smiled widely. "That's the city," he stated, looking at the screen.

Pressing another button, the image spun and then zoomed in, showing only the cluster of lights. It showed large bubbles that had electrical currents shooting through them. The bubbles seemed to have tentacles. Each tentacle had a current shooting through it and connecting to something else.

"Looks like giant electrical jellyfish," Jada said, studying the image in front of them.

Niki and Aleigha nodded. The Ramesians in the room didn't know about jellyfish, so they just continued to peer at the image on the screen.

Council Leader Vorik sighed. "Looks like the surface is too delicate. I'm not sure I want to attempt inhabiting that planet," he said. "Even if it's the only one of the three inhabitable," he added.

"Ecologically, disrupting the balance of the planet would be a bad thing. The air may be safe for us to breathe. The water may be safe to drink, but it sounds like if we attempt to populate that planet, we will end up destroying it in the process. I think we should move on and try somewhere else," Niki stated. She had been using her authority more often since they had come to the ship. It was making her more outspoken with her thoughts. This was a big decision. She felt like she had to put in her own input. She didn't want to be responsible for destroying a planet and all those who already live on it. In this case, they seemed to live in it.

"I agree," Council Leader Vorik nodded. "This planet is not acceptable. Too much can happen to it if we attempt to live on it. We move on."