Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 3

Chapter Three Consequences

After the crew returned to Mars, everyone laughed at the outrage coming from earth concerning their "adventure" on the moon. Shortly afterwards, Meta and general Zennor began to talk to someone broadcasting from a place called Nevada asking if the ship we flew in had weapons on it.

"Yes, we've got six Floron Mass Drivers, on the front nacelles and a auto turret in the rear equipped with two."

"Wonderful," came the reply, could you do a favor for us?'

"Perhaps, it depends. Who would this favor be for?"

"The world."

"I see," replied the general, "

What exactly do you wish us to do?"

"Well for starter's could you come down here and wipe out the countries of Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, oh and Pakistan."

"And why would this help your world were we to do this?"

"They are the cause of all the trouble in this world, wipe them out, and I guarantee, you would have our undying appreciation." Since it generally took several minutes between response and reply, Meta and general Zennor grew weary of this very quickly, as well as realizing what was really going on here. Then general Zennor replied,

"Perhaps what your looking for is what we call a cagal bomb, were we to drop it on…Oh let's say this Iran you spoke of it would literally vaporize a massive part of the country, along with creating massive earthquakes, I'm afraid untold millions would die."

"Oh that would be fine with me," came the reply, "A Cagal bomb you say?"

"Yes."

"You're f*****g with me aren't you?"

"What?"

"f**k you!"

Both howled with laughter at that one.

Editor's note; "Cagal" is the Grocyrian slang term for "shit."

Another transmission that came their way was far more "official."

"Could we speak to Queen Angelika please?"

"And who is speaking?"

"This is NASA, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, we have a request."

Queen Angelika then took over the microphone,

"This is Queen Angelika, what is your request?"

"Well, um, your highness, over the years we've sent several what we call "rovers" or robotic vehicles, you and your crew were um, posing in front of what is our latest one which we call "curiosity." It was programmed to land in Gale crater. There are others however that were sent but for some reason have failed to work. You must have found the first one we sent way back in 1971, it's the one you have trained on a picture of yourself."

"Ahh," replied the queen, "Let me guess, you want us to find the others and perhaps repair them?"

"Yes your highness, we aren't certain if they malfunctioned due to atmospheric conditions, internal malfunctions, or other causes."

"I see," she replied. "What is their function?"

"Basically to give us an idea of what is on the Martian surface, analyze soil samples, so we can try and determine id conditions for life exist there."

"We'll we're here, what else do you need?"

(Long pause) "I think you know what I mean your highness."

"I know what you mean, can't you take a joke? However, rather than send all these "toys," why not come in person?'

(Another long pause) "I'm sorry your highness, but I think you know why we can't."

"I do…All right, we'll see what we can do, oh one more thing."

"Yes."

"We were speaking with one of you earthlings who asked us to come to earth and wipe out …What was it? Oh yes, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and a couple others. We could do this; we have weapons on board that could simply obliterate these places, what say you?"

"Please your highness, we don't know who you were speaking with, but we assure you they were not representing the United States or even the United Nations, please, this would not be advisable."

The queen was laughing when she replied,

"Don't worry about it, if we were to undertake anything of a mercenary nature, payment would be the first thing on the table anyway."

After this long session, refreshments were in order, so while everyone was sitting around the lounge, Rek said,

"So that's what those things are called, "Rover's. Well I've been looking for something to do, why don't we find the other's and I'll fix one up give them something to be proud of, show them what real technology can do."

"Fine with me," replied the queen, I'll let them know, maybe stick a little knife into them, turn it just a bit." Everyone laughed at that, so the next day, she called back.

"Hello, "earthlings" at NASA, this is Queen Angelika speaking.

"Yes your highness."

"We were discussing your request and have decided to honor it. My technical people will repair at least one, perhaps combining the others, but we will give you an incredible machine that won't break down. We will perhaps build one that can travel the entire circumference of the planet, spitting back information."

"You could do this for us?"

"Absolutely."

"Your highness, please be advised that the distance between earth and Mars can vary quite a bit, quite a number of miles in fact during it's rotation."

"I will so inform them."

"Thank you so much your highness, we are so much in your debt, uh one more thing your highness."

"Yes."

"Were you planning on visiting earth?" The queen turned to the others and winked, giving a sly smile as well.

"Well…Since the scheme to destroy those countries is off, I'm not quite sure, from all that we know of your technology, there's nothing you can offer us, and to be quite honest, from everything we've been monitoring from your planet hasn't been shall we

say indicated a warm and friendly population. If however we do, you will never know it, why…Is there something we could bring you?"

"We resent those accusations, but that's for the politicians to deal with. However were you to come, a nice big chest of rocks and soil from the planet would be nice. Just let us know where you dig the sample material from, and where you leave it."

"Before I go," replied the queen, "I was told to ask you to send us a map of some sort indicating where these rovers are located."

"We will be glad to your highness, but be advised that due to the nature of the transmission, and the distance involved it could take awhile."

"We've got the time."

"Very well."

After an hour or so, they had a passable map of the planet, Mikha, and captain Yarod began to study it but radio transmission of the map made it difficult.

When they felt that they could figure out the map, our hero's took a spin around the planet, stopping to pick up Mer-A "Spirit" lost in 2004, and the Mars pathfinder "Sojourner," the first rover. Taking them back to the base, Rek, Tarf, and Dori began to tinker. Mikah, captain Yarod and general Zennor, became absorbed in the transmissions from earth. With nothing better to do, doctor Temuchin began to write of their continuing adventure, while Queen Angelika, Sharla and Meta talked politics.

"Do you think we'll ever see home again?" wondered Meta.

"Sadly, I'm not so sure," replied Queen Angelika, "We could be anywhere in the universe. The fact that we've never heard of these "earthling's, or even the Falthian's this base belongs to. Mikah has been studying star charts the Falthian's had recorded, but nothing makes any sense."

"Well if you ask me," replied Sharla in disgust, "I think we've wound up in the backside of creation, this "earth" must be the end of the line."

"Not necessarily," replied Queen Angelika. "According to Mikah, the universe is like a spoked wheel. We could be at the end of this spoke or even the beginning, and Grocyra is just the next spoke over."

"True, replied, Meta, "Then again, we could be here, and Grocyra is way out here."

"Well, replied Angelika, I'm more interested in this Falth. Look around you, look at the technology in just this small base, it certainly isn't anything these earthlings are capable of. Rather Ironic anyway, here these Falthian's have a rather advanced base, here on Mars, and all these earthmen can do is send these devices to ramble around taking black and white images." Both laughed at that one.

It wasn't long before Rek Tarf, and Dori had a splendid rebuild of one of the rovers. Whenever original parts were either broken, not compatible, or obsolete, he used bits and pieces scrounged or fabricated from the Falthian base, or from the Giuffrida. Speaking to NASA again, Rek told them;

"I've completely reworked the camera head to turn in any direction, even out to space towards your planet, but never towards the sun. It will never get stuck. Should that happen, I've installed a small Levi pad that will lift it up over the obstacle. The best parts are the propulsion and the operations computer. I installed two artificial intelligence chips from a broken maintenance bot. It will make traveling decisions based on what it comes across. This rover as you call it will completely traverse the whole circumference of this planet; the propulsion system will last for a hundred years."

The NASA people were beside themselves with delight. Rek then transmitted all the corrected operating signals, using Mikah's translation program.

"We will release this machine tomorrow, and wait until you signal it to begin it's trek." The NASA people asked him to place the rover at a point halfway between the North Pole and the equator. As a humorous and final touch, Dori made a stuffed figure from rags and scrap depicting Queen Angelika. The queen thought her effort was commendable and gave it her blessing. So the next day they loaded up the Giuffrida and flew to the halfway point and unloaded the rover. Relaying signals between the ship and the base, the machine finally came to "life." After awhile, it began to move beginning its long trek over the Martian surface, with a figure of queen Angelika riding in a little seat, with a cover made from a recovered parachute over her head. Rek had made sure that whenever they wanted to, the technicians from earth could rotate the camera to see the "queen." Before returning to the base, Tarf dug up a nice supply of Martian soil, as well as interesting looking rocks and placing it all in a metal chest they found in the base hanger.

"Well I see that we're all anxious to return to "earth", so I suppose we might as well leave," announced the queen. She and captain Yarod as well as Sharla decided to land at a place roughly central to the country most of the English transmissions were coming from. It was also well away from all population centers. Captain Yarod as well as general Zennor thought it best to remain cloaked in stealth mode all the way to earth, long before they reached their destination the captain announced.

"We're being scanned by their scanners and whatever else they use to locate flying objects." General Zennor also confirmed it,

"These "earthling's" may have primitive technology, but we are really being scanned, it won't do them any good however, our ship deflects it all."

There were a few conversion problems concerning the coordinates but they landed around midday in a small clearing next to a wood dwelling. With Meta, Tarf and the general leading the way, Queen Angelika and her crew cautiously exited the ramp and started walking towards the large dwelling. About halfway there, an old man began to come towards them, followed by two other men. Meta and the others pointed their weapons at him but he held up his hands palms out. Coming closer, he began to say something, but no one could understand him. Mikah then cautiously stepped forward and handed him a translator pointing to his ear. The old man quickly caught on, then began to speak again.

"I thought that you were Falthians but I see that you're not, who are you?" Queen Angelika then spoke up,

"I am Queen Angelika from the planet Grocyra, you spoke of the Falthians, how do you know of them?" The old man simply smiled, and pointed towards the house.

"I can't do it out here, follow me, into my kitchen, and all will be explained. Oh by the way, this is my great grandson Cory, and his son Jake."

The old man led them all into his kitchen, indicating that they all have a seat,

"Just a moment, please," Sitting down, he bent over, and removed tiny disks from his eyes. Then looking up, he revealed his cat- like eyes, causing Sharla, Rek and Mikah, gasped when they saw his eyes.