4 First Home

HAMMADA: A planet midway from the center to the defined edge of Andromeda Galaxy. A medium sized planet, nearly the size of Arimhada, it is the first planet inhabited by the Mekholis after The Great Exodus.

***

"We're here, Sir."

"Scan the planet."

Xamai asked for the planetary data from the Control Room, but after a few seconds the Control Room reported only visual data.

"I am sorry to tell you sir, but the planet does not have a Sensor Satellite."

"No sensor? How can this be a former allied planet if it does not have a Sensor? That is odd. Who are the assigned Star Sailors here?"

Xamai asked the Control Room again.

"Lah Ribheg's group, sir."

"Do we have a spare Sensor satellite?"

Emmer decided to talk directly to the Control Room.

"We have one but it is not calibrated for the planet. We can send a mission so we can get the basic data. It will take several days to make final adjustments. A trial run is necessary as well so we can tune the Sensor to the planer's minor disturbances or anomalies."

"See to it that they place one, but I prefer to make the mission personally."

"It could be dangerous and you are the Imperial Prince." Xamai warned.

"What type of Prince would someday rule a Galaxy if he cannot even make a simple mission? I cannot be a Xai if I let fear and danger overcome me."

"I am merely reminding you, sir. My job is to keep you safe and alive."

"Then do your responsibilities and I will do mine."

The shuttle quickly flew out of the WormRider. Emmer saw nothing on the planet at first. It is in complete darkness. They were forced to use infrared visors and viewers when the shuttle descended slowly to the surface. When Emmer tried getting visual data, all he got is total darkness. Thick, dark haze covers the planet's troposphere. The normally dry and hot ionosphere that he expects from a planet inhabited by humans is humid. Large amounts of water vapor accumulated in the ionosphere, and he detected even greater amounts of particulate and humidity in the lower reaches of the planet. The temperature barely changed, suggesting dense, but mobile atmosphere.

"Did we land on the night side of the planet?" Xamai asked.

"Do you see that very faint glow at 45 degrees? That is the sun of this planet."

"What happened here?"

"I remember Emperor Kowes said it was refashioned after the meteor tragedy. Is this how terra-forming is done? There is no Sensor at all and therefore no Polar Steeples to control the weather and geologic activities. But the atmosphere is tamer than I expected. I was anticipating huge electrical storms."

The shuttle detected a wet but otherwise solid surface below. The visuals continue to show an eerie darkness with patches of light caused by the electrical discharges in the thick clouds. The otherwise bright sun of the planet barely contributes light - as if it is only a large moon. Dark fog dominates the landscape. Emmer could not ascertain immediately whether there are mountains or lakes around.

"Do we need to get out and investigate? This is a medium sized terrestrial planet and there could be hostile creatures here."

"The shuttle's internal data gathering system is enough to calibrate a Sensor satellite. I assure you that there are no hostile creatures here. Grandfather Kowes said this was once an allied planet, the intelligent creatures here are humans." Emmer noted, still looking at the viewing screen of the shuttle in disbelief. His eyes strained further. "Xamai, I think the closest thing to the hostile looking creatures here are us! Especially a huge Kersian like you could provoke a hostile reaction from its inhabitants."

Wearing the usual multilayered protective outfit for missions like this, the Prince and his Kersian bodyguard went out of the shuttle's safety and ventured into a dark, and possibly dangerous world of Hammada. Although as much as he likes to teleport on the surface, it is safer to be on foot, but under constant surveillance of the WormRider above.

"I still think this is not a good idea, Sir." Xamai insisted.

Emmer stopped and looked at Xamai's face. He has accustomed himself to looking upwards. Hidden beneath the transparent face mask, is the face of a beast. Typically hairy and devoid of expressions seen on the faces of other species of Kersians, one may not be able believe that beneath Xamai's appearance is a creature who can show concern and gentleness. The fangs, along with his large hands and arms will obviously give any hostile creature second thought before attacking them. With his legs, he can attain terrific speeds given a proper terrain.

Emmer respects his bodyguard's warnings but he must follow himself eventually, otherwise he cannot move at all. It does not mean that he ignores him totally, since there are cases that he heeds his protector's words. In his mind, he admires his father's excellent selection of the Imperium's forces - loyalty, efficiency and unquestioning obedience are traits of a Kersian that he cannot deny.

"Xamai, we will be all right here, so stop worrying." His voice calmed the tense Kersian. To further prove his point, Emmer called to the WormRider. "Bomoi, do you have visuals of surroundings?"

Lah Bomoi responded from his voice transmitter. "The visuals are too dark, but they are better than none."

"Where are we going?"

"Now that is something I can neither say nor know for now. However, the area we landed on is based on an old map from the WormRider Archives. That data reproduced to the smallest detail Hammada's terrain before the Emperor terraformed it." Emmer then pressed a certain button on his wrist. His mask drew graphically an approximate view of what should appear from his position, overlaying the dark landscape with outlines of mountains, and possible structures.

"According to the old map, there should be a hill to the north of us, and the planetary capital city should be a hundred meters to the south."

"I cannot see images of buildings from this position, sir."

His master signaled him to go south.

Their walk was rather brisk. Xamai matched his master's rapid strides. The Prince seems confident of what lies ahead. They walked for several minutes until Xamai noticed the gradually decreasing speed of the Prince. Something is distracting the Prince although the landscape drawn on his mask seemed good enough. Xamai expects a tower or gate ahead, although the faint flashes of light do not reveal anything ahead. The Prince continued to slacken his pace.

"This is supposed to be a flat and grass covered land." Emmer said.

Xamai noticed that Emmer is studying the surface when he looked at his direction.

"We're stepping on a rocky land, and . . ." Emmer noticed that Xamai went ahead. "Stop!"

Emmer's commanding voice brought Xamai to his senses. He stopped on his track.

"You cannot hear from your audio?"

"What, Master?" Xamai tried to listen. The Prince is more alert than he. He heard a faint sound, but it was there nevertheless. The weak sound can be dismissed for wind movement or anything, until he realized that it is the sound of moving water, hitting a rocky shore.

Emmer saw Xamai's faint figure step back.

"The sound is that of a large lake or a sea. The air is so thick and still that it barely makes ripples on the surface."

"Water? How can that be unless the data is wrong or the direction is wrong." Xamai said.

"Our bearing is not wrong. It is the planet that is wrong!"