African Showdown

            “Okay, everyone, Admiral’s the fly boy, hold onto your hats,” Captain Mitchell joked with his away team. That earned him one of Archer’s characteristic smiling frowns but it didn’t last long. With Discovery in orbit, the shuttle easily flew out of the newly designed bays that resembled an ocean faring air craft carrier but with a roof. The deployment arm was no longer part of the equation in when flying a shuttle pod. It added the step of clearing vertical bay doors but eliminated the step of disconnecting from the extension. Landing was significantly easier, and quicker, as well.

            “Since this community is space faring and non-indigenous,” the captain said, “we can set down in any clearing near the town that’s suitable. I got word back that they’re expecting us.”

            “Aye, Captain,” Archer said dutifully. “I have the coordinates.”

            “Jamison, your first job is to assess their ability to protect themselves from the gamma rays. They’re within the radius, only about 5 degrees off the projection.”

            “The problem, Captain, is they’re on the southern hemisphere. Space faring or not, it’s unlikely they know about the explosion if they’ve colonized only the southern hemisphere in the last 200 years, at that degree and the planet’s inclination,” Jamison responded. “They probably have no space defenses even against a meteor, much less a hyper nova.”

            “All the more reason for us to make sure they have a plan, either for protection or possible evacuation,” Archer added. “How’s that spot look over there?”

            “You’re the driver,” Mitchell said. Archer found a clearing just outside of the city to avoid unnecessary panic.  The door opened; Jamison, Mitchell, Archer, and Osborne, Discovery’s full time astronomer, all left the pod emerging in odd daylight and penetrating heat waves. The planet was part of a newer blue-white main sequence star system, larger than Sol, and twice as hot. They were exposed to more ultra violet light as well, but fortunately they orbited 5 AUs out. “Let’s get the business done and get back to our journey.”

             The grasses were dry but the land was also dotted with ancient, small leaved trees that sported rough bark and thorns. Small reptiles and rodents scattered at their feet with no shortage of the tiny beings in sight. The settlement appeared to be about a kilometer from there landing site. Before they got too far, a party of six bipedal, vaguely humanoid people approached out of the buildings. They were dressed the same, and carried hand weapons.

            The landing party stopped in their tracks. Captain Mitchell and Admiral Archer stood in front of Jamison and Osborne. No one drew weapons. Both the native party and away team stood waiting for someone to blink, or speak, or shoot.

            “Who are you?” one of them called. Archer deferred to Mitchell since he considered himself primarily a passenger on the mission.

            “I’m Captain Peter Mitchell. We’re from Earth, about 50 light years from here. We’re headed to the Eta Carinae nebula.”

            “Never heard of it. So why are you here?”

            “We are stopping at inhabited planets to see if anyone needs assistance in preparing for the explosion. Your governor, Tillan, is expecting us. ”

            “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you have no business here. I suggest you leave before someone gets hurt.”

            “We’re only here to make sure you knew about the hyper nova,” Archer added. “Your settlement will be subjected to gamma radiation that could kill all life on this planet.”

            “Could we speak with your astronomers? We have no hostile intentions,” Mitchell continued.  Behind the alien party more people approached.

            “We didn’t invite aliens to help us with anything. Get in your ship and leave this planet.”

            Archer and Mitchell looked at each other, then at the men behind them.

            “I don’t force help on anyone anymore,” Archer said quietly to the rest of the team.

            “Could we speak with Tillan? We may be able to help you.” Mitchell asked the man. “The blast could happen any time-“

            The man grabbed his sidearm and fired a few shots at team. The others took up their arms and aimed at the crew. All four officers drew their phase pistols and aimed at the inhabitants.  The tension escalated, and the standoff resembled an old western movie set in the plains of Africa.

            “Very well,” Mitchell said. “Pull back everyone, slowly.” The four began to step backwards, slowly, in the general direction of the shuttle pod. The six were joined by another ten from the colony.

            “Wait!” shouted one of the inhabitants. “Stand down,” he said to the four military guards. “Tillan is expecting you. Come with me.”