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Post by feralferret on Dec 27, 2023 0:35:09 GMT -6
Forthteller, a very interesting chapter. Thank you.
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Post by forthteller on Dec 31, 2023 15:52:12 GMT -6
Chapter 20 After Effects.
Dec 15th, 2026, East of Thunder Bay, Ontario
From his easy chair, Paul Wilson looks over at his brother, Wayne. “How is the freeze drying going?” “Excellent. I think the strips will be quite tasty and from what I have read, they will be extremely nutritious. Had to reinforce the shed though because the bears are quite interested in getting in. I shot two so far and they are in there waiting their turn as well. How is your smoking going?” “Pretty good but I am a little worried the smoke might attract varmints with long guns. With our first batches, we should be going into town and trading for ammunition. If we get into a firefight, we could run low on ammo and then how do we even hunt?” “Agreed. Ever since that idiot put in the new ammunition rationing law a few years back, we have used more than we were able to resupply. I am very grateful that we probably had more than we would ever need in a lifetime before that, but with the new reality, how much do we really need?” “I think we need as much as we can get. If we go into town, anything else we might need?” “I think we should wait until Jarret and Rachel get here. I am not comfortable leaving the place unprotected for any amount of time anymore. Most folks are getting desperate and desperate people do desperate things. Like break and enter, squatting or vandalism.” "I agree, we should. How about I go into town and you wait. Sit on the front porch with your 308, dogs watching with you and a couple home brews. Should keep em away.” Wayne nods. “I guess we kinda have to, we don’t know when or if they are coming over. He got a buck last week and wanted to smoke the rear quarters so I told him he could use our smoker.” As they are speaking, several gunshots sound to the East. Then a couple of loud shotgun blasts. Then silence. Then a few isolated shots. Several minutes pass with no repeat. Both men stand, staring off to the East. Wayne says, “Jarrett and Rachel are over that way. I hope that was not them.” “They are well armed and both are very good with firearms. That shotgun blast could have been Rachel, I have seen her shooting skeet and she never misses.” A concerned Paul says, “we should go over and see if they are okay.” “Good idea. Let me lock up and put the dogs out.” “Great. Not like we will face any lawsuits if either of them takes a chunk or two out of any trespassers.” “Out on the road, which is now a lightly packed trail between the two properties, they trudge, both armed. Wayne cradles an Ar 15 and wears a military holster containing an aged but still serviceable 9 mil ex military Browning. Paul is carrying an M1 9 semi automatic and has a 12 gauge with solid shot on his back. The 2 kilometres is uneventful as they pass several set back homes, farms and estates. Nothing stirred.” Once at the Reed residence, they ring the cowbell at the mailbox. Wayne holds it towards Paul. “We should get something like this at our front gate.” “We should. I don’t want anyone coming up to the house unannounced anymore. I also think we should have the dogs out all the time from now on. If anyone is too arrogant, or stupid, to announce their presence before being invited on to the property, that is on them.” From behind cover, “who’s there?” “Wayne and Paul. We heard gunfire. Just checking if everything is okay.” Coming around the corner, Jarrett responds. “Not too good for some assclowns from town. Rachel took down two of them, one dead and the second probably not going to make it. I hit another but I don’t know how bad. He and two others got away. The wounded guy is in the shop, probably going to take him into the clinic if it is open, on a sled behind Ella. Where are your horses?” “We walked over. We put the dogs out to keep the place secure.” “The 5 idiots who tried to get into our place today would have just shot them. I don’t think that is going to stop. We have probably just seen the beginning. We need to start working together to provide enough security.” “How? We can’t leave our place and join you at your place and I doubt you feel any different.” Jarrett answers, “We have some friends we trust in town. We are thinking of inviting a few to join us at the farm. We have several outbuildings with wood stoves and a couple spare rooms in our house. I have heard some gangs are roving around the city now, looting and violating anyone they can overpower. Most city folks don’t have guns and are almost defenseless. Paul asks an obvious question. “How do they defend the market place and some of the producers?” Jarrett replies, “A former local MP, Ramjet Singh Bhagwan , some local municipal police and several ex RCMP set up a sheriff's office and two small satellite detachments on the east and west outskirts. They get paid in merchandise by the merchants and the producers who are starting up. Some of the local farms are also contributing to the Sheriff's office in exchange for security patrols.” “The Wilson's contributed several horses and so have several other farms. It is hilarious seeing thoroughbred horses now saddled with western saddles. I think all the officers are now mounted.” Jarrett continues, “of course, some families and communities are well armed and united. They provide their own security. To the East are a group in the Howard's place but they are not the Howard's. I know Stan got sick and probably died last spring and his wife and 3 daughters went into the city to stay with family but I have not heard from them since. I have no idea who the group is, just scary looking squatters, at least 20, with lots of guns.” “And the local first Nations reserves seem to be reasonably well set up and armed as well. I guess, communities where common goals and challenges are met head on with corporate actions will be the best off now. Plus they have plenty of members who know how to hunt, trap and forage so they will fare better in those areas.” Wayne interrupts. “Hey guys, we can chit chat later, are we going into town or not?” Paul responds. “Yeah, we don’t really have a choice. I think I am going to visit the East sheriff detachment. Are they called the mounted Bay Police now?” "Sounds like a good enough name to me. Why visit them?” “I want them to know we are in support of them and what they are doing and to see if there is anything we can contribute to help them out.” Paul looks over at Jarrett. “Do you need anything? We will take our wagon but leave the dogs out. I also rigged a few booby traps which are too high for the dogs but an unaware man might get an ouchie or two. Come in through the gate and up the road, nothing happens, try to come around, oopsie.” “No, we have everything we need. My brother and his kids are coming out later, I hope they decide to stay but this has never been the life for him. Now that may not be as easy a choice.” “Want us to take the dirtbag with us, we can drop him at the MBP on the way by.” “MBP?” “Mounted Bay Police.” “Great idea. I will get him ready, you can pick him up on the way by.” Back at their place, Paul and Wayne coral two horses from the 5 they own. 1 gelded mare and one massive Stallion. They saddle the mare and harness the stallion to the small wagon made from the chassis of a burned out Chevrolet Cavalier. Worn used tires, no lights or wiring and a welded hitch with 2 livestock watering units bolted on top. Makes for a gaudy looking but serviceable unit. 20 minutes later, armed and with provisions and an almost fully loaded wagon, they turn out the front gate and stop to close and lock it. Then they head east down the centre of the road. At Jarrett and Rachel's gate, another home-built wagon sits. When they get closer, they are able to see two covered bodies in it. They ring the bell and a woman's voice calls out at the same time as a shotgun shell is chambered. Wayne calls out to Rachel,”it's us, we are here to pick up the wounded guy but it looks like his wound is healed now.” Coming around the corner, gun lowered, “surprising recovery indeed. He joined his buddy about 20 minutes ago. I guess they are plenty warm now. Jarrett is milking the cows and we were hoping you could take both of them in with you.” Wayne, hefting the first body into his wagon says, “not a problem, do you want us to let the MBP know how they ended up like this and who helped them get here?” “Yep, you can tell the, MBP?” “Mounted Bay Police, we named them.” “Oh, okay. I want them to know and everyone else who hears, we will defend what is ours on the end of a gun and we don’t miss.” “OK, will do. See you all later. We will check in on the way back.” “Jarrett suggested we work on a communication system so we don’t have to come down to the gate everytime you guys come by. Do either of you know Morse code?” “We both do, from the military. I was a combat engineer and Wayne was in special forces and then JTF2.” “Great, I don’t know it yet but Jarrett is going to teach me. We would use smoke, light and sound. You three can figure out how, let me know so I can communicate too.” On the 4 Kilometre trip to the outskirts of what used to be Thunder Bay, they pass by dozens of burned out cars and trucks. Now a burned down 3 story walk-up and several burned down houses. Wayne points at them. “They probably had cars or trucks that caught fire in them. I have heard of high rises which had no vehicles at all in them burned down and also the dam. How can that happen? And all the hydro lines burned up. Plus, all the cable and telephone wires. I cannot make any sense of that at all.’ Paul sighs. “Remember the news before everything went to hell. Some alien cloud or something. It is like it and these octopus things showed up at the same time. Do you think it is a coincidence or are they related?” “Connected for sure, I just cannot figure out how those useless octopus things could burn everything up.” “True, but we both saw them using hand thingies to take the mechanical and navigational stuff off the boats so they must know how to use the technology, else why take it.” “Just makes me wonder, what next. Here is the new station. Let's go in.” They come to a stop and tie the two horses to a newly installed hitching post. Several saddled horses are also hitched to it. They walk up to the station and get stopped. “An MBP officer says, weapons stay here.” The men look at one another, not really wanting to give up their protection. Wayne says, “do we get them back when we leave?” “You do, what is yours, is yours.” Wayne unslings the shotgun from his back and slides it into the cabinet beside the officer. Paul slides his AR 15 and his handgun into the next one. “Anything else, queries the officer.” “Just a hunting knife says” Paul. “You're good, go on in.” “Wayne stops, just like that, no ID or anything.” “An armed person, willing to put his weapon away for safety, tells me everything I need to know about who you are. Go on in boys, I don’t even need to know why you're here.” They walk into the hastily converted bungalow and up to a nicely built rustic counter. The man behind says, “can I help you two?” Paul leads, “we wanted to introduce ourselves and we got two bodies in the wagon outside.” Behind the man at the counter, another man straightens up, “Hey Wayne. Haven't seen you since we got discharged. Haven’t stopped shooting people yet, eh.” “Juan, we both know, if I didn’t shoot that ass-monkey in Gaza, neither of us would be here. But the fact is, I didn’t do these two, Rachael from just down the street did, as they were trying to break into her home with 3 others. One of those other guys got hit too.” “Rachael Breeze?” “Yep, know her.” "Not really, I have seen her at shooting competitions though.” The desk Sergeant says to Juan, “you know this guy?” “Yep, we were in special forces together until the lucky sap got recruited into the JTF2. Never saw him again until 4 years later when we were both at Petawawa getting discharged. We went to school together, I was 2 years ahead of him." The Sergeant says, “Okay, lets get those bodies, see if we can identify them. If we can’t, they get buried with all the other unidentified bodies, after we have put them out for a couple of days for those looking for missing loved ones." They go out to get the bodies and are unable to identify them. One white and the other possibly first nations. The bodies are taken out back and laid out next to 11 more. Mostly dead from gunshot wounds. Wayne looks at the Sergeant, “we gotta be off. Want to do some trading in the market. Is cash currency still being used?” “It is, but barter is a better method. Prices are not very stable but the worth of a cow or a slab of smoked meat never changes.” Paul breaks in. We need to get some ammunition, is there any place we can get it and are there any regulations about that?” “You can only get firearms and ammunition from the central armoury right next to the police station on Balmoral Street. They only take cash and even then, you have to be vouched for by someone they know. A reference letter would suffice. Since Juan knows you and will vouch for you, I will give you each a letter with my seal on it.” “Great. That will be a great help.”
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Post by feralferret on Jan 1, 2024 4:33:11 GMT -6
Forthteller, thank you.
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Post by forthteller on Feb 11, 2024 21:04:45 GMT -6
Chapter 21 Defense or submission
Feb, 2027
A ten year old Ford F250 rolls into Rossville, East of Nashville, Tennessee. Cruising up to the beginning of the new local swap and shop, it parks some 50 feet away from the nearest structure. A middle aged, dark haired cowboy climbs out. He leans in and grabs an AR, straps it on his back and looks about. He then reaches in and takes a strange looking device flicking a switch. He then closes and locks the door. Dozens of shoppers and sellers stare openly at the only vehicle they had seen in operating condition for months. Richard Harkness wanders over to the site. “How did you save your truck?” “You all thought I was a lunatic, nothing more than a conspiracy theorist. But I was right. This is not exactly what I expected as I thought some power group would drop a barrage of EMP devices. But my EMP protection stopped them damn aliens too. House isn’t burned up and all my vehicles and tractors were in my special barn and they didn’t get burned either. How crazy do I look now?” “You had some kind of cage, last I recall. We all laughed at you when you were buying all that mesh and chicken fencing a few years back.” “It is called a Faraday cage and it prevents EMP pulses and I guess whatever the aliens are shooting. I put it around my house before I installed siding and on my barn and workshop. Have all of my cars and trucks engines and electrical systems covered as well. Worked on every one, they all worked perfectly. Almost all my vehicles run on propane and I have enough to last a couple years at least. Gonna plant my 200 acres but anyone who wants me to come till or plow, I am available. Ain't gonna be cheap though.” Richard looks at the truck. Only one in the county, I would be betting.” “Nope. Several families in my survivalist group did the same thing to a greater or lesser extent. You won’t see their vehicles in town until they are sure the law has a good grasp on those that did not prepare.” Holding up a dead man's switch, “This here is my security. I release this button and the truck goes kablooey and so does everything within 20 feet of it. Gonna be like that until I am sure the law has a handle on them that might take what is mine.” “Wow. They won’t even let you in town like that.” “Maybe not, but I parked it away from anything I would not like to take out with it as collateral damage. Once everyone knows what will happen if they try to take anything from me, and that it is safe as long as I am, all good.” “You got security at the farm as well, I take it?” “Pete and little Mackie are both trained on high powered weapons and Shelda can pull up her semi auto quick as a wink. Got some surprises buried around the property in case someone wants to sneak in as well. Been getting ready for sumptin like this for decades, can’t say I am too disappointed it was aliens.” “What you in town for?” “Got 20 cases of shine for trade, wanna let the locals know I can work their land, and gonna let go one of my Pickups. A 2020 Dodge with cumin's in it, the one at home, minus the explosives. Don’t have enough diesel to run it much. Looking for wheat, rice, beans and spices. Also, we could use some ammunition but I don’t expect it to be cheap.” “I don’t have any of the things you're looking for but some you may be interested in. I have coffee, medications, first aid supplies, cleaning supplies, soap and shampoo. Drug store stuff. Mostly stuff I saved from the looters.” “We could work a deal. What ya interested in, Booze or truck?” “If we could work a deal on a case of shine, I could use it to trade for other things we need. The sheriff will be interested in the truck though. The fellas who did most of the looting around town are not all that interested in what I have to offer but they would be interested in booze.” As they are talking, two of the Waller boys, Patch and Pitchfork walk up. Both holding an AR 15. Strapped and wearing body armour. “Lookie there, you all brought us a new truck.” Richard says quickly, “hold up boys. Look what is in his hand.” Bobby nods, holds up his device and says. “Dead man. I release the button and it goes kablooey and will take out the horses you just tied up beside it.” “Go grab the horses, Pitch.” “I don’t think so. They stay there until I finish conducting business and drive away. Otherwise, you lose a couple of horses and whoever was getting the horses, I lose my truck and maybe we all start shooting. Maybe, it is best to let things ride for a few minutes.” Patch looks over at the man everyone in town knows is crazy. Knowing that this crazy man will do exactly what he says, Patch decides he will get revenge another time, with interest. “OK, institution boy. You win this round but it won't be the last time we interact. You will pay for this.” Walking towards the market, the two men look back a few times at the Waller boys. While in the market, they glance over a few times at the truck, horses still there and the Waller boys keeping their distance. They approach the town hall appointed sheriff and let him know what is up and that they just want to conduct business. He is wary of the Waller boys as well. The third one, possibly the most sensible of them all, was shot last week and is still on the mend. He calls over a couple of well armed deputies and assigns them the duty to insure Bobby gets his deals done and gets out of here, and pretty quick at that. They shadow the two men and also keep watch on others. Bobby makes the best deals he can and they hastily load his stuff in the back of his truck as he stands there holding the dead man's switch. Once completed, he switches the device off and allows the Wallers to collect their horses while he stands there brandishing his own AR. They climb up and ride off, making threats as they go. Once out of sight, he climbs inside and shakes hands with Richard, “come on by with Cheryl, never know, we may just have a pie or some cake now. He closes the door, starts the truck easily and drives away.”
Same day at the old Cape Canaveral Space peninsula. Swish, swish, swish. The still surface of the massive aquarium breaks as Venitor Comes to the built in shore area. 5 freshwater Millet now live in the containment unit. They had mostly built it themselves with materials provided by Mai Lin and her associates and some assistance from the military engineers. Venitor looks towards Mai Lin as she approaches. His mind joins hers and he says, “good morning.” Shocked, Mai lin jumps back. She looks toward the communications console 30 feet away. It is not even booted up. Startled, she places her hands around her ears. “I must be hearing things”, She starts towards the console. “You are not hearing things, you are thinking them. You are a very gifted human and we can communicate with you. You only have to learn how to use it.” Mai Lin turns towards the shore of the octopus habitat. Walking up to Venitor, who is now 6 feet tall when he stands, Mai Lin voices. “How do I learn?” Venitor says through his mind to her, “I know you are speaking but your thoughts are a little jumbled so I cannot fully understand. You must concentrate on what you want to tell me and I will be able to understand. With practice, we will be able to communicate as easily as you do verbally.” Mai Lin worriedly looks at Venitor and he senses her worry. “No need to be so apprehensive. Our communication will totally be voluntary. You will be able to speak what you wish to me and the rest of your thoughts will remain private. As are mine. It takes practice however.” Mai Lin looks at the Octopus. She concentrates, “How did you learn then?” “We are born with all the abilities we will ever have in our lifetime. We work towards enhancing and sharpening them as we grow to adulthood. I have lived bodily for 65 of your years and over 10,000 years in stasis. I was an effective communicator then and I have gained much experience in stasis and even more so during our transit to your planet's orbit.” “Experience. You could see your environment as you passed.” “No. I was only able to experience what the watchers saw and wished us to know and see. And I can only pass that knowledge on to those who need to know what they Saw and experienced. I am not yet cognizant of what information and knowledge I will be able to share with you.” “So you cannot lie.” “Not consciously. I can give you any information you wish if it is in my consciousness and I am permitted, during our communications.” “Can you communicate with more than one person at once?” “I can broadcast blanket communications to all who wish and need to know but it is not in my control if they receive it. I have no understanding on what determines what a Millet needs to know but I can give the knowledge freely, knowing that only those with the requisite qualifications will comprehend it.” Realizing that she is now fluently conversing with the Millet without even concentrating, Mai Lin thinks, “How did our communication become so effortless in just a few minutes. I am speaking to you as I would another human only through my mind.” “I do not know. I have knowledge of dozens of others in your nation alone, with similar gifts and there are varying degrees of success. Perhaps, you have a greater desire to achieve success or there could be varying levels of giftedness. My fellow Venitors are also experiencing the same quandary. Or perhaps, you were more open to the experience as some might be as well. Either way, I am quite sure we will be able to communicate quite freely.” “Do you know what distance we will be able to communicate at?” “Range? Uncertain. With Millets, I can communicate 100 s of your miles over open airwaves, but objects, particularly those containing ferrous metals will reduce and possibly even eliminate all communications.” “So, we can communicate when I am not in the lab with you?” “Very unlikely. Your walls and doors are full of metallic based communication blocking materials. It appears they are intentionally built to do this. I believe it is called a Faraday cage.” Mai Lin and the Alien converse for a long period of time. She is careful to not give it any information she does not want it to have but she was cognizant of the fact that it may have been less than truthful when asserting that it could not access any knowledge or thoughts she did not want to share. “Would you be okay with me taking notes of what we discuss next time?” “Notes? A written record? Absolutely, it would be of great benefit when you share our communications with your peers.” As they are communicating, several military personnel, pushing flat carts loaded with supplies enter the lab through a wide roll up door. Venitor says, through the on screen AI. “Thank you very much gentlemen. If you just leave the carts on the shore, we will be able to take it from there. We will put the empties on the carts and push them out onto the floor afterwards.” 2 hours later, in Dr Bowman's office, Mai Lin is seated across from him with a nice herbal tea and some sugar cookies. “I cannot believe how quickly we were able to slip into an easy conversation, as if we were talking with one another. I don’t know if I trust him and more importantly, whatever entity controls what he can and cannot say. I also am not so sure he cannot read my mind without my consent or that the other entity can do that. And can they read the minds of others who do not know they have telepathic abilities? And also, they do not like being indoors. They want an outdoor facility.” “You call it, “him”. “I do. He did not seem to take offence when I did. I will be asking him if there are genders and possibly how they procreate. I do not believe they couple up but it is possible other functions within their community take on that role. They do need a few more different functions to operate efficiently in the current compound so we really need to capture more fresh water Millet. Plus, I think the reason they don’t like being in our compound is they cannot communicate with the rest of the community but he never told me that. He assures me that we would be able to communicate safely if we were out of the underground bunker.” A leery Dr. Bowman says, “and leave our computers and databases unprotected? It would appear that since they were capable of destroying everything electrical on earth, by overloading the circuits, they could probably take out Faraday cages too. Question is, why haven’t they?” “Maybe they can’t. I know that a Faraday cage is always well grounded and the sheer mass of conductive materials would present very little resistance. It might be extremely taxing and possibly even impossible to generate enough heat to overload them. Not being an engineer, that is my best guess. We also need to get them out of our compound because 5 of them could possibly destroy our systems. I just don’t know.” Mai Lin adds. “We could get enough materials together to allow them to build a new habitat outside and we could ask the space station to attempt collection of more particles so we could get them a few more members. It is also possible that they would like us to release them into one of their communities so they can rejoin their collective.” Dr. Bowman thinks about this for a moment. “I think that physical contact is not nearly as important to them as mental contact. That they can get, once they get out of the underground compound.”
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Post by feralferret on Feb 12, 2024 2:47:28 GMT -6
Forthteller, another fine chapter. Thanks!
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Post by forthteller on Feb 13, 2024 12:07:34 GMT -6
Chapter 22
Organizing to survive
June, 2027 9:AM
Knock, Knock. “It’s Wayne Wilson here.” “And Jarret.” A female voice from inside says, “Jarret Reed?” “Yep. I was hoping to have a word with Elaine. Is she there?” The door opens a crack, something blocking it from opening the rest of the way. “Let me check to see who else is there.” Noises ensue as something very heavy is moved from the door. “Come on in boys, quickly. I need to get the door shut.” They step in as she closes the door, and bolts it shut. A large Cabinet is left and it is obvious, that is what gets placed at the door for security. The front window is boarded up with ¾ inch plywood and the balcony door can be seen from the entrance and it too is boarded up. A shotgun is hanging beside the door and one of the daughters, Elsie probably, is standing several feet away with a 12 gauge leveled at the men. “You can put that down honey, these are good guys. They both hunted and fished plenty with dad. He trusted them, I will too.” Elsie, about 24 years old and extremely fit looking, lays the gun on the dining room table. “Ok, but you know I am getting tired of this security crap. When are we going to be free again?” “You know! I cannot answer that. The police are starting to get a handle on security but we still have to ensure our own safety. Did you finish reloading that batch of 3030’s?” “We did. And we did six boxes of 12 gauge solid shot as well. The sheriff's deputy will be here tomorrow to get everything we have reloaded so far and bring us fresh cartridges and powder to make more. When you get the note, I need some shampoo and some creme rinse if they have any left. Emma wants some herbal tea or even black tea and Emily doesn’t want anything, like usual. She just reads all day, nothing else.” “What is she reading now? She has already read everything we have and some things twice.” “Manuals. Auto repair, engine building and other stuff the guy who lived here left in the garage. And encyclopedias. And she was talking to herself as well” “Talking to herself?” “Yeah. She sounded like she was answering somebody and it even sounded like she was repeating what something somebody else was saying. But she has not done it at all today.” Looking at Wayne and Jarret. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Wayne responds. “We, My brother and Jarret and Cheryl were talking. We think safety in numbers is a better way to protect ourselves than plywood and locks in the city. We both have unoccupied accessory buildings on our property and we would be willing to share them with others who are trustworthy and willing to contribute. We have tilled and planted dozens of acres and are going to till several hundred more if interested people want to plant their own crops. We have canners, dehydrators and smoking cabinets for preserving food and we are looking at trying to figure out how to make basic necessities like soap and cleaners.” Jarret chimes in. “We also hunt those octopus things and dry the meat or smoke it. Great value in the market as it is full of protein.” From the stairwell, “You cannot do that. They are just trying to survive and if we continue to kill them, they will respond.” Elaine looks at the stairs, “how do you know that?” “They talk to me, in my mind. It took me a couple of days to get it right but I can now talk to them when I choose. And they sometimes talk to me when they need to.” “They. Who is, they?” “The Millet. They are from the planet Milet and reside in the cloud around the earth and they are also the octopi in our lake. I speak with Venitor.” Intrigued, Elaine asks, “Venitor. Is that one of the octopus?” “No. The octopi who can communicate are part of a collective called Venitor. They all have a number. They all know the same things and have the same experiences so it does not matter which one I communicate with.” Elsie, the middle daughter looks askance at Emily, the youngest. “Don’t be silly, they cannot talk to you. You just made that up from your fantasy imagination. Being alone all the time can drive us all mad. You gotta try to stay in reality.” “Fine, have it your way, miss doubtful.” Looking at Jarrett and Wayne, “Don’t say I never warned you when defenders come out of the waters at Brisco docks and get you both!” She turns to storm up the stairs. Wayne says to himself as much as the others, “how does she know we hunt at Brisco docks?” Elaine shrugs. “I don’t know. She never comes out of her room. Even before the aliens, she was always shut up there doing stuff on her computers. She was making good money doing her content editing so I gave her lots of leeway. She has not let me see what she is doing though, not since her father got sick and died. But I peeked. I Hacked in and saw what she was doing. On top of her regular activities before the crash, she was doing research on the supernatural, communicating with the dead and other spooky stuff I cannot even comprehend. And she had a network of people in discord talking about it. I was trying to come up with the courage to confront her about it but I have not been able to, yet. I think, today is the day,” Wayne says. “Let's just assume she can communicate with the aliens. It makes sense, they must somehow communicate with each other. Both in outer space and in the lake.” From the top of the stairs, “they are not only in our lake, they are in every lake and ocean on earth. They have been there for over a year. There are two main groups, saltwater and freshwater millet and they have been at war with one another for thousands of years.” “They told you that. Why?” “Because they need our help. The saltwater millet wants to exterminate the freshwater millet and make the whole planet a suitable habitat for them. All saltwater and much higher sea levels is what they aspire to achieve.” Wayne responds, “Ok. Let's say I believe what you are telling me, What kind of help do they need?” “I have been reading manuals and technical publications so I can share with them how to make some of our technology operate. The ones in our lake and others like them will make treaties with us that will include protecting our environment and us from the saltwater millet but not if we keep killing them and will not cooperate.” “Can you introduce them to me?” Emily closes her eyes and looks to be concentrating. She nods. “Venitor 1322 will meet with you at your boat. Do not bring a gun or he will not come out of the water and the defenders will.” “Right. I get to be unarmed so one of them can grab me and take me into the water for dinner. I think not.” Emily closes her eyes and seems to be somewhere else momentarily. “He understands. He says that you can have someone on shore with a gun to provide protection but if anything happens to him, the defenders will be there to exact revenge immediately. I will be with you to be the conduit. He will speak to me and I will share that with you. You can speak to him through me.” Wayne looks at Jarret. “What do you think? Is this for real?” Jarret says, “I don’t know. Just to be sure, one way or another, I think we get Cheryl. She is as good with a 308 as she is with a shotgun. We give her the semi automatic and it would take a battalion of those things to get you.” Elaine breaks in. “While you all are talking about all this, can we talk about the reason you came in the first place? What would we be living in and how would we heat it next winter? And most importantly, what would you be expecting from me and the girls?” “Wayne has a three bedroom mobile on a concrete slab with an airtight wood fireplace. I have an older 3 bedroom 2 story with oil heat which will have to be converted to wood by the winter. Both have their own decks and are more than 400 meters from the main house. We will need assistance in the harvest and food preparation and storage. Plus other farm chores like chicken house cleaning and feeding, egg gathering and making sure the hens get shut in safely every night. And, it could be cows or pigs or guard duty and the list goes on. We would have community meetings to set things up and anyone who does not want to contribute fairly, is always free to leave.” “Ok. I will talk with the girls tonight, give you an answer in the morning. Are you going to try talking to the aliens?” Wayne looks at Jarret. “I would rather not go all the way back to the farm to get Cheryl, I have seen you shoot and we have the necessary weaponry. How about you cover me? I would rather get this over with to know for sure, one way or another.”
Later that day, Down at Brisco Docks, Wayne and Jarrett shoo Emily away so they can strategise without her knowing what they intend on doing, just in case she is telling the truth and gives their defensive strategy to the alien. She says Venitor understands. Once done, Jarrett takes his position behind the water tank, a fully loaded AR on the ground and a single shot, fully loaded scoped 308 in his arms. Wayne walks towards Emily and the two of them, wearing body armour, walk towards what is left of Valhalla, Wayne's fishing boat. At the boat, they stop with the water between them and Jarrett and the majority of the dock behind them. Emily closes her eyes and concentrates. She opens them and points at a point in the water and says, “he will surface there and come to the edge of the dock but he will stay in the water.” Wayne watches as the waters stir, an octopus head appears and it begins to move towards the dock.. Grabbing the side with hand like tentacles, it looks directly at Wayne. Emily, who now has her eyes closed says, “hi, I am Venitor 1322 and I have been permitted to communicate with you. You can ask me anything you wish and if it is in my experience, I will answer you.” Wayne is taken aback. This is for real. He is talking to an octopus, in the lake, through a 20 year old girl! He never believed in telepathy before but now he was rapidly changing that stance. “Why would you talk with me? There are far more important people who can actually make deals with you?” Emily says, “I am venitor 1322 and we are hoping you will share what you see today so that others will know and understand that we can cooperate with one another. We only want to survive and exist as does your kind. We can achieve that harmoniously but people like Emily are rare and not all are willing. A major difficulty is that disbelief amongst your kind can make cooperation difficult, but not impossible. If you could convince some in authority to meet with me, we could get it done. There are others in the community who share Emily's gift and we are attempting to work with them as well for corroboration. I can and will come out of the water to meet but treachery will not be ignored.” Wayne thinks for a moment. “If I was to bring the chief of police here, would you be willing to meet with him?” “Yes.” “You can communicate with Emily from how far away?” “About 100 of your Kilometres. It will be more as she progresses in her abilities. But most of your peers will not believe unless they physically see me first.” “Ok. I will go see the chief of police. If he is willing to verify your ability to communicate through Emily, the new council will listen to him and will believe.” Through Emily, the alien replies. “Most will but some will still doubt and there will also be those who will not cooperate even if they believe. Those will be the most destructive and you must watch out for them.” Wayne taps Emily on the shoulder, “let's go see the Sheriff and try to get him out here. Can you tell Venitor what we are doing and that we will be back.” “I already have. He is listening to you as I listen to you. I have been able to turn that ability on but I cannot, as yet turn it off.” “So, if you are within hearing, he can hear everything we say?” Venitor responds through Emily. “That is currently the case but she will gain that ability as she practices and learns. If that were so, I would be overwhelmed with the myriad of voices I can communicate with. I have no reason to listen in and I have other tasks needing to be done so I will not always be there, she however does not yet know how to determine if I am in concert with her.” In the office of Ajeet Singh Bhagwan, Wayne and Elaine are attempting to explain what the aliens want and how they are communicating with them. As a Godly man, Ajeet is having a difficult time accepting this. Wayne says to him, “you know the cloud showed up and is in our orbit, you know the octopus are in our lake and you know that almost everything electrical and conductive on the planet has burned to the ground. And you know they had to have come extremely far away or we would have known of their existence sooner. These are indisputable facts. So your God did indeed create intelligent beings elsewhere in the universe.” “I know these are facts. However, the communication between them and us through the mind of a girl, I do not accept. I have got to see with my own eyes.” Wayne responds, “The alien, Venitor, will meet with us at the docks. He is willing to come out of the water to see you face to face and you can speak to him through Emily. He may be listening to us as we speak, through Emily. Best I can do.” “This is ludicrous. Aliens talking through a girl. Let's go to the dock, I have to see this for myself.”
Down at the docks, they stand near the shore. Ajeet looks over the great lake, where is he now? Tell him to show himself.” Emily responds, he is listening. “He is coming ashore now.” An octopus appears on shore and comes inland a few feet. It stands on its tentacles, about 6 feet in all. He looks over the small grouping with large eyes. Through Emily, “I am Venitor 1322. Is this enough for you to believe?” Astounded, Ajeet looks at the octopus. Everything he has ever known and believed about mankind being unique is shattering. “Are there others?” “Others. Ones who can communicate. Yes but not here. I have defenders with me and they can show themselves to you, however they cannot communicate with you. Would you like some of them to show themselves?” “Yes, three of them.” Within seconds, 3 octopuses with almost identical appearance but noticeably larger and more muscular slowly come to shore and stand on heavier legs. Each with their arms holding a staff.’ They are over 10 feet tall. “OK, I am convinced. We need to go to talk to the council. They will believe me because they know how I am.”
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Post by NCWEBNUT on Feb 13, 2024 14:35:57 GMT -6
Don't know about y'all, but a 10 ft tall octopus standing up in front of me would scare the crap out of me.
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Post by feralferret on Feb 13, 2024 21:08:39 GMT -6
Forthteller, thank you.
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Post by forthteller on Apr 10, 2024 11:12:21 GMT -6
Chapter 23
Carving out an existence.
September 2027
Surveying the slowly developing marketplace in Rossville, Richard Harkness walks out the front door of his now repaired storefront. Looking back at his now repaired storefront and hand painted signage. The drugstore is now starting to trade traditional native remedies, locally produced soaps, creams and lotions and some beauty supplies. He also has salvaged and homemade first aid supplies brought in by trusted locals. Next door is the feed store and across the street, the grocery store. Inside the grocery store, there is little more than local greenhouse produce, unpasteurized milk and cheese and fresh meat from local farms. There is also a small section with fresh game from some small hunting parties and the local first nations community. And then, the section with smoked and or dehydrated meats and vegetables. No prices, everything is bartered or IOUs are issued for trusted people who will trade labor or services or other products when completed. Along the street, several converted trailers also operate bustling businesses and will be taken home behind horses before dark. Homemade clothes, repaired shoes and cobbler service, dried fruit and vegetables, fresh farm fruit and vegetables and even hair cutting services can be had in this market. Protected by the now fully established sheriff and his deputies, the market is bustling with traffic. Almost everyone is doing what they can to survive and contribute. They have taken their skills and aptitudes and put them to work, the new normal is taking shape. Almost everyone! But for the few who attempt to use guns and force to get what they want. They face an equally armed and in some cases, better trained, target group. The Sheriff deputies are also quick to use lethal force and every one of them is combat trained and well armed. For those arrested, justice is swift and final with no appeal. Prison sentences always include hard labor and as of yet, no one has completed their sentence so there is not yet any indication of rectification rates. The sheriffs department and the newly elected Mayor and council are compensated in goods and services and they also contribute by using their skills to manufacture, grow or repair goods for trade. There are those too, who are attempting to rely on the goodwill of their kin or friends to get what they want. Begging does not work anymore and some parents have or are threatening to kick out their youth who will not contribute. In this new world, a person who will not work will not eat. The new Sheriffs department deputies are also going around to unburnt homes and townhouses occupied by squatters. Attempting to get them out peacefully, they allow one chance without repercussions. Failing that, they use whatever force is necessary so that the rightful occupants can reclaim their shelter. Several of the bodies out back of the main courthouse are those who would not leave peacefully. They have also given permits to other homeowners and tenants who have squatters they need to evict and who have the necessary firepower and experience to achieve that objective. In what was once the city of Thunder Bay, a well established police department now exists, an election is in the works and a thriving marketplace is operating. The city that once boasted of a 110,000 population, now has a population of less than 10,000, spread out over 1,000 square kilometres. Horseback, bicycles and walking are now the only means of transportation. Unburnt cars and trucks everywhere have been stripped and converted into makeshift trailers which will be pulled by horses and for a few, by dog teams. A big development for the Canadian survivors is that they have developed a harmonious relationship with the aliens. In exchange for necessary minerals and ingredients as well as salvaged electrical and mechanical components, the aliens provide seafood and permit water travel although most still avoid the waters. Meanwhile, inside what was once a NASA bunker, Mai Lin has now become adept at conversing with the freshwater millet. She has also learned to communicate with another telekinetic man several miles away. In their conversations, she has learned that he is part of a club where several others with the ability sometimes get together and practice. They had always remained a secret group for fear of ostracization, possible incarceration and other attacks from society. Outside, she has learned to eavesdrop on the salt water Millet Venitors. Interestingly, they appear to be unaware of her listening in and she has the ability to focus on a few communicators so that she is not tormented by a cacophony of voices. She has not attempted to communicate with them and does not plan to at this time. Work is proceeding inland at lake Poinsett, where several suitable buildings can be utilized for the military personnel and scientists. There is a substantial area of Arable farmland as well so they will be able to support the detail once current supplies run out. They also have quarters for Mai Lin and her group as well as a platform for the communication enhancing facility which will be built. The instructions for a telepathic enhancing device has been provided by the aliens and they have assured Mai Lin that she will be able to communicate with other telepathic people hundreds of miles away and even further once they build their own amplifiers. With this communication, the humans will be able to coordinate their cooperative activities with the freshwater aliens. And presumably, thwart the efforts to change the climate by the Saltwater Millet. Dr Bowman will be staying in the underground bunker, working with the computers to provide Mai Lin with any data and information she may need. It is believed that there is an insufficient number of aliens in the bunker to destroy or significantly damage the electrical systems inside the bunkers but there will be a risk when they are moved from the main areas to the new outdoors facility. The majority of computers are in separately partitioned Faraday rooms but there will be plenty of vulnerable components and wiring systems along the way out. Dr Bowman has decided to air gap the computers without telling Mai Lin because he is not certain the aliens cannot read her thoughts without permission. Later that day, as Mai Lin walks the grounds to get enough sunlight to ensure good health, she overhears something being discussed by the aliens. They were talking about offshore windmills and the resources they can get from them and could be overheard giving instructions to the salvagers and how they are to extract and preserve the proceeds. One of the things they were after most was Sulfur hexafluoride, which she had heard of but not what it was used in or what it could do. She was going to look it up in her data banks. Inside the underground bunker, Mai Lin is terrified at what she just found out. Sulfur hexafluoride or SF6 is an extremely dangerous inorganic compound, “Over a 100-year period, SF6 is 23,500 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). SF6 is also a very stable chemical, with an atmospheric lifetime of 3,200 years. As the gas is emitted, it accumulates in the atmosphere in an essentially un-degraded state for many centuries. Thus, a relatively small amount of SF6 can have a significant impact on global climate change.” From www.epa.gov/eps-partnership/sulfur-hexafluoride-sf6-basics. Mai Lin steps back, staggered. They have to be stopped! This is what happened to 186f, Millet they call it. How then did the ice age start? She will have to find out what the fresh water Millet did to respond because that caused the cooling. And will they war in other ways, with technology we cannot understand or combat? Dr Bowman comes in as she is standing there. “Are you okay, my dear. You look like you just saw a ghost.” “Worse, I just found out what they used to destroy 186F and they have found sources here on earth.” “What?” “CF6.” “Sodium Hexafluoride? They would not have the ability to make that or even get the materials to make it. Sulphur and fluorine. Fluorine is in the Earth's crust but not in the oceans because of the water solubility. They would need human assistance to do the mining and the production which would require a facility that can burn sulphur in a fluorine atmosphere. They had to have had land dwelling Millets assist them if that is how they did it. I have to wonder how they got assistance from a community that had to know any assistance would mean their destruction.” Mai Lin offers this explanation. “They can get it from salvaged offshore windmills and probably from some high density transmission lines and transformers in or near the oceans. And on Millet, they may have used slavery and possibly force to get it. And the bigger question I have is what did the freshwater Millet do to overcome it. It seems like both sides started something that would have caused total annihilation for all involved if not stopped and they may do it here as well. At least, mutual guaranteed destruction stopped humans from using the nuclear option but not these beings. Can we even trust the ones we are now cooperating with?” “I doubt they trust us. We know that the Venitors can only communicate information they are permitted to give so there is something, someone, a group or another entity who is in authority. They will cooperate as long as we share a common goal but they may have another agenda, we always need to remember that.”
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Post by forthteller on Apr 10, 2024 11:21:35 GMT -6
Sorry it took me so long but I was not sure how to end the story or how to carry on with it. Now I have decided on three main groups and their interaction with the aliens. I am gonna carry on from that point. Forthteller
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