Dies Canicularies

Grateful thanks to An Delen Dir for the loan of one of her characters. I will take great care of him. Promise. And to dragon, who not only makes an appearance, but gave me valuable help.Thank you to both of you.  This story is set some time after Calan Geaf by An Delen Dir

Chapter 1

‘Coming?’ There was no reply, but Straker was used to that. He frowned more in amusement than annoyance and walked on, turning round once to call to his companion. ‘I’m not waiting for you.’

He paused, shrugged his shoulders and opened the outer office door, making sure it remained open behind him. Another scorching day, the sun blazing in a brilliant blue sky and the heat-haze shimmering over the sticky tarmac of the car park. Even the brief walk from his vehicle had made his shirt cling to his back. For once, it would be pleasant to spend the day in the coolness of the underground and air-conditioned workspace. He tugged off his sunglasses with a sigh of relief.

‘Alone, Commander? Is everything all right?’ Miss Ealand gave him a look of concern.

Straker tilted his head and shrugged. ‘He’s flirting with Janice in Reception. Seems to think he stands a chance of getting what he wants from her. He’ll be along soon.’ Continue reading

Moment of Truth

A UFO Story
By Lightcudder
©May 2012
Usual disclaimers apply.
Takes place approx three weeks after ‘The Man Who Came Back’

Dedicated to: ‘The London Five’.

The green light gave the go-ahead, I punched the button and the carriage door slid open, releasing me onto the platform. Commuters hurried past on their way to work, holding newspapers, briefcases and the ever-present umbrella, even in such mild conditions. I had nothing to carry except the letter and, for once, I was travelling by train. Parking was always a nightmare here, and it was easier this way, especially for such a brief meeting as this. I did not intend hanging around afterwards. I would give him the envelope and my explanation and then… walk away. After that? I had no idea what I was going to do then. Continue reading

Midnight: A Hallowe’en Story

A ‘Hallowe’en’ UFO story

I’m back. He’s back. Not sure which of us is the happier.

 

Chapter 1

October 19th 2013

‘Time.’ Straker glanced around the Control room before swinging the microphone around and leaning forward to speak. ‘All sensors to maximum. All stations Red Alert.’ A satisfying silence. No unnecessary noise, no distracting replies, just a well-trained workforce in action. Foster looked up from the satellite image he was studying.

‘Here it comes.’

Penumbral lunar eclipse. Not uncommon, but with solar activity rendering the Antarctic satellite system temporarily out of contact, the whole continent was an open target for any UFO fortunate enough to get past the lunar defences. Straker stood there, arms folded and watching as satellite images displayed the lunar surface turning red, Ford concentrating on the sensors, head tilted to one side as if he was listening to some faint, far-away sound, Foster tapping his fingers soundlessly on his thigh. Alec, out of contact at the other end of the world would be listening as well.

They were all waiting. Continue reading

The Needs of the Many (A UFO story)

©Jan 2013 (work in progress.)

Chapter 1

Ochio

Straehk reached the end of the path and turned to look back. This season’s crop promised to excel even his expectations, the fields full, the plants weighty with enough seed to keep the colony provided for next year and beyond. He had done his last walk-through just an hour before, trailing fingers though the heavy-headed ears of grain. Dark golden and ripe, they bobbed under his touch. It was only right that he should feel a sense of achievement in his work. Not pride, just satisfaction. A job well done. He would begin harvesting in the morning when the crew arrived, but his work here was completed and he could rest for a while.

Continue reading

The Shepherd Pt 1: Lamb to Slaughter

The dim light in the alleyway pooled down onto the huddled figure. Late at night, in this less salubrious area of London, there were few late-night revellers. Not even an insomniac dog-walker. But the man had been spotted nonetheless. It was dealt with in the usual efficient manner. Photographs, forensic evidence, SOCO’s. Processed, collated, labelled. Then the body removed to the central morgue for the next step. Formal identification and cause of death. Continue reading