Free The Solarian Celebration: Book 3 of the Alliance Conflict by Jeff Sims Page A

interrupted by the computer.
    …An artificial structure has been detected on the surface…
    Carank: “Computer, show the camera image of the structure on the main monitor.”
    The computer showed a large structure.  It was difficult to see clearly because the ship’s cameras were partially blocked by the planet’s cloud cover.
    Lorano approached the monitor and squinted, trying to find the object.  He highlighted and enlarged an area, but it was still unable to get a clear enough image to determine the object.  He tried a different path.  “Computer, create a visual image based on the results of the scan.”
    The computer built a model based on the scans and displayed it on the main monitor.  Both Carank and Lorano looked at the image.  Lorano started to speak, but Carank beat him to it.
    Carank said, “Okay, so we aren’t the first beings to find this planet.”
    Lorano responded, “I see your power of observation is as astute as your intellect.”
    Carank ignored the insult and said, “Okay, you are supposed to be one of the smartest Altians alive.  Why don’t you explain why there is an Altian energy pyramid on an undiscovered planet?”
    Lorano responded, “Altian inspired certainly.  However, it will require closer inspection to determine whether or not it is actually an Altian pyramid.”
    Carank said, “Look, the scan shows the pyramid is roughly 4,000 years old.  Who else could have built it?”
    Lorano responded, “Humans built pyramids on Earth about the same time.”
    “Are you suggesting that Humans somehow managed to travel through hyperspace 4,000 years ago, randomly built a pyramid here, and then returned to Earth?  I think that is extremely implausible,” responded Carank.
    Lorano: “No.  I am not suggesting that Humans built it.  I am just stating that there may be another answer and we shouldn’t, we shouldn’t…What was that Earth saying you were so fond of, we shouldn’t leap over the ending?”
    Carank responded, “I think it was jump past the conclusion.”
    Lorano continued without acknowledging the clarification, “Pyramids are fairly common design elements.  A civilization could have arisen here and then died off, leaving this pyramid as the only proof of their existence.”
    They impatiently waited the remaining 1 ½ hours for the ship to complete the full rotation of the planet.  The scan showed that there were several vast forests on the planet and that they were populated with wildlife – though nothing larger than a fox.  There was no evidence of an intelligent, native species.  At this point the pyramid was the only thing of interest to the scientists.
    Lorano guided the corvette through the atmosphere and down toward a large plain area.  The plain was relatively close to the pyramid and could function as a landing site.  The ride down was shaky, due more to Lorano’s poor piloting skills than the planet’s atmosphere.
    Carank, meanwhile, washed the make-up out of the 4 vials from Lexxi’s travel kit.  It was probably a spare kit, but Carank had heard of this particular brand.  The make-up was DNA sequenced to her skin and was very expensive. 
    He knew that Lexxi would be angry if she found out that she had lost the kit.  She would be furious, however, if she discovered that it was emptied just so they could use it collect some dirt.  Carank had a plan in place for that eventuality though; he would simply blame Lorano.
    Lorano said, “It would be nice to have one of the humans aboard.  I kind of miss them.”
    Carank thought, translation – he wanted a pilot for the landing and also wanted a test subject that he could send out on the surface without an environmental suit.  Carank responded, “Yes, I recall how much you enjoy playing chess with them.”
    They landed the corvette in a large, relatively clear area about ½ of a kilometer from the pyramid.  The computer had chosen this area for landing because the area was generally flat and had