The Black Ship by B. V. Larson

Author:B. V. Larson [Larson, B. V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sci-fi
Amazon: B0767717XQ
Goodreads: 36362350
Published: 2017-10-05T03:00:00+00:00

Eight

The Black Ship arrived in orbit over Faust as the small, spinning world's main continent passed from day into night. The planet looked inviting enough from space, the oceans were deep blue and the land was dark green. The main continent possessed the vague shape of a horse's head. Countless jewel-like islands ringed the landmass.

The crew scanned the planetary emissions in disappointment. There was very little that registered on their sensors.

"No cities?" demanded the Captain in disbelief. His orbs were glued to the scope.

None of the others on the bridge dared to respond, lest this disappointment somehow become their fault.

"There's precious little of anything down there. It's practically empty. I'd expected a backward colony--but this is a wilderness!"

He raised his orbs and scanned his bridge crew. The Navigator busied himself with computer scrolls charting escape velocities and refueling points. The Weaponeer fiddled with his controls, despite the fact there was nothing of significance to target.

"Where's that Engineer?" the Captain demanded. "Get him up here this instant!"

The crew sighed in relief. The Engineer! Yes, it was easy to blame that one. They hastened to obey and relayed the summons to the doomed mech who toiled below the main decks.

Within a few minutes, the Engineer arrived. He strode onto the command deck with purpose. "We've arrived? Excellent."

The Captain stared at him. "Have you lost your faculties? Have you seen these readings? This place is useless."

"It is a class-four world, to be sure. But we don't need much. May I participate in the scan?"

The Captain scoffed. "Be my guest."

The Engineer approached the scope and worked the controls. His silvery orbs stared into the device for perhaps two minutes, before he made an exclamation of discovery.

"There it is," he said. "That will do nicely."

The Captain tapped and scraped his grippers over planes of metal. Reacting to the rough contact, the board brought up an image which was transmitted to everyone on the bridge via the local net. Mechs from Talos had little need for viewscreens, they could share vid feeds remotely, and review them in their own individual minds.

"I see nothing but a rocky island."

"Ah, to the untrained orb, this would seem to be true. These people are primitive, but not without resources. See the circle of stones in the middle of the island?"

"Yes, but I fail--"

"That is our target. Those stones did not appear there magically. They were cut, dragged, placed and apparently melted into place. Each stone is quite large, meaning--"

The Captain cleared his throat. He had the disconnection device in his gripper again. The Engineer never glanced at it, although avoiding it with his orbs took a great effort.

"You will explain yourself, or you will be replaced. I do not detect any significant emissions from this site. The structure might not be natural, but there is no evidence indicating advanced technology."

The Engineer lifted a gripper and gestured with it emphatically. "Exactly!" he said. "This world isn't a proper colony. There is no central government. There is no ruling body that enforces coherent laws.

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