Free The Blue People of Cloud Planet by Brian Wolfenden Page A
Authors: Brian Wolfenden
distributed about the equator making a total of 20,000 emanating from the planet and just under half are illuminated at any one time.’
Spellbound, the astronauts peered intensely at the display and the shafts of light which appeared to rotate like the spokes of a wheel.
‘These shafts of light are ‘switching’ on and off in rows every 1.2 minutes as the planet rotates on its axis. Finally those near the equator are more intense than their peripheral neighbours and there are regularly spaced very intense light shafts distributed around the equator itself.’
The astronauts continued to be amazed at the complex symmetry unfolding – surely this was the work of an intelligent life form – but guessing was all they could do at this point.
‘The light shaft which has been flashing SOS for 25 years is situated on the equator and is of medium intensity.’
On the mimic display, one of the light shafts now started flashing in the now familiar – dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot - signal that had brought them ‘rushing’ to investigate.
‘And now,’ continued Zec-C, ‘look at the real planet at optimum magnification!’
The mimic display disappeared and nearly the whole dome filled with a view of Cloud Planet – it was breath taking. They could see details in the ice caps, seas of blues disappearing under the white cloud collar. They watched these mesmerising shafts of golden light streaking out into space and the whole planet seemed to jerk around as one row of lights extinguished and another illuminated at the extremes of the planet day.
And there, in the very centre, one shaft of light pulsed –
dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot
dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot
dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot
‘This is the most unbelievable sight I have ever seen!’ cried Scott, ‘What on ‘Earth’ is happening below those clouds? What is causing those circular shafts of light? What or who is generating the message?’
Surprisingly Zec-C answered,
‘I cannot answer your direct questions but can only deduce from measurements and facts; but here is an interesting observation. If I, a mere computer, were responsible for this signal then it would start and finish precisely, to 2 decimal points of a second, at the same time each day. Also each repeat would be to the same accuracy. Therefore I deduce that this signal which varies its start, finish and repeat times is not generated by a precision source. However, it does operate for approximately 2 hours every day either side of noon at this same position on the planet.’
‘I recall from my studies that Morse code operators were recognisable by their style of tapping the message,’ advised Olivia, ‘ I believe it was called ‘their signature’ – are we seeing a signature here? – is this distress call being sent by a life form!’
The astronauts could only look at one another in astonishment – what would they find on Cloud Planet?
Chapter 17
High Orbit and First Landing
‘21 years after leaving Mars base, LifeSeeker-1 moved into orbit 1,000 kilometres above Cloud Planet. The orbit was carefully chosen to keep the starship well outside the radiating shafts of light and to keep the day side of the planet in view at all times. Now it is possible to see the detail of the planet with the naked eye.’
As the crew stared at this beautiful planet, they were interrupted by the voice of AJ.
‘Fellow astronauts, Zec C has analysed various approaches to landing on the planet surface and there are three possibilities. Firstly, there is a vertical descent from high altitude directly at the diagonal intersection of four outer light shafts – the less intense ones. The probability for success is calculated at 65-70 per cent. Secondly, a lateral insertion into the cloud collar from a point out to sea and
Spellbound, the astronauts peered intensely at the display and the shafts of light which appeared to rotate like the spokes of a wheel.
‘These shafts of light are ‘switching’ on and off in rows every 1.2 minutes as the planet rotates on its axis. Finally those near the equator are more intense than their peripheral neighbours and there are regularly spaced very intense light shafts distributed around the equator itself.’
The astronauts continued to be amazed at the complex symmetry unfolding – surely this was the work of an intelligent life form – but guessing was all they could do at this point.
‘The light shaft which has been flashing SOS for 25 years is situated on the equator and is of medium intensity.’
On the mimic display, one of the light shafts now started flashing in the now familiar – dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot - signal that had brought them ‘rushing’ to investigate.
‘And now,’ continued Zec-C, ‘look at the real planet at optimum magnification!’
The mimic display disappeared and nearly the whole dome filled with a view of Cloud Planet – it was breath taking. They could see details in the ice caps, seas of blues disappearing under the white cloud collar. They watched these mesmerising shafts of golden light streaking out into space and the whole planet seemed to jerk around as one row of lights extinguished and another illuminated at the extremes of the planet day.
And there, in the very centre, one shaft of light pulsed –
dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot
dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot
dot dot dot – dash dash dash – dot dot dot
‘This is the most unbelievable sight I have ever seen!’ cried Scott, ‘What on ‘Earth’ is happening below those clouds? What is causing those circular shafts of light? What or who is generating the message?’
Surprisingly Zec-C answered,
‘I cannot answer your direct questions but can only deduce from measurements and facts; but here is an interesting observation. If I, a mere computer, were responsible for this signal then it would start and finish precisely, to 2 decimal points of a second, at the same time each day. Also each repeat would be to the same accuracy. Therefore I deduce that this signal which varies its start, finish and repeat times is not generated by a precision source. However, it does operate for approximately 2 hours every day either side of noon at this same position on the planet.’
‘I recall from my studies that Morse code operators were recognisable by their style of tapping the message,’ advised Olivia, ‘ I believe it was called ‘their signature’ – are we seeing a signature here? – is this distress call being sent by a life form!’
The astronauts could only look at one another in astonishment – what would they find on Cloud Planet?
Chapter 17
High Orbit and First Landing
‘21 years after leaving Mars base, LifeSeeker-1 moved into orbit 1,000 kilometres above Cloud Planet. The orbit was carefully chosen to keep the starship well outside the radiating shafts of light and to keep the day side of the planet in view at all times. Now it is possible to see the detail of the planet with the naked eye.’
As the crew stared at this beautiful planet, they were interrupted by the voice of AJ.
‘Fellow astronauts, Zec C has analysed various approaches to landing on the planet surface and there are three possibilities. Firstly, there is a vertical descent from high altitude directly at the diagonal intersection of four outer light shafts – the less intense ones. The probability for success is calculated at 65-70 per cent. Secondly, a lateral insertion into the cloud collar from a point out to sea and
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