Maharg67's Den (shorter works, short stories, poetry, etc.)

[Maharg67]

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Mistakes were made in the two posts above that were supposed to be the first two episodes of Chapter Two of Zombies From the Sky; I have fixed this mistake!

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-One

Was Zero 5.1[5]{19}

Zero 8.1[8]{40}

The League of Nations Aerospace Agency atomic rocketship, the LNASA Lunar Pathfinder, came into low orbit above the Moon. From there astronauts did closer telescopic sweeps of the Lunar Surface, searched for life with N-ray sensors, took movies and photographs, took basic video recordings and charted what they could as detailed as they could.

The existence of the green, blue, brown Craterlands had been confirmed by powerful telescopes for many decades including the existence of the semitransparent domes that covered them. Satellites, probes, and surface wheeled remotes had done more to confirm their existence, despite the cynicism of a few people including so called experts. The wheeled remotes had reached the top of two Craterland crater walls only to be halted by the semitransparent domes. No efforts had been made to get through the domes but partly successful attempts were made to record what was going on inside.

Transmissions, of video feeds, had showed glimpses of life; it appeared to be flora and fauna with some humanoid activity. There were also hints of what appeared to be artificial structures though it was hard to identify what they were; some appeared to be buildings, towers and walls.

Then, with great rapidity, wheeled remotes across the visible Lunar Surface had been attacked and ceased to transmit signals. The same had happened to unmoving surface probes.

None of the remotes, or stationary probes, were found though the rocketship viewed the positions where they had been attacked. With no atmosphere to interfere, the details of the ground were easier to see and record visually. Odd combinations of tracks were found, along with other traces, showing that the attacked machines had been taken away. It had been done by some kind of wheeled vehicles. The following of a set of tracks led to them vanishing at the edge of a rising cliff face. Another trail vanished into an area of great, up thrusting, rock outcrops. None led directly towards Craterlands but all led generally in such directions but never reached them.

The rocketship kept orbiting Luna!

Edited September 6, 2015 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Two

Was Zero 5a

Zero 9.1[9]{41}

The LNASA Watchguardia Spacestation Protector was two big wheels spinning, in opposite directions from each other, with a series of optical and radio telescopes along with secret technologies. Two rocketships, and five smaller rocketshuttles, were parked in special bays or were inside hangers. Figures, in armoured spacesuits, were active completing work on parts of the mostly finished structure. It had been an immense project and many had questioned its value in the past but since the comet-projectiles had begun to strike at the home world, only a tiny minority did so.

The LNASA Watchguardia Spacestation Protector was truly a thing of graceful ugliness.

Despite being very important, the armoured spacestation had only self defence weapon systems. Nor was is it the orbital site of a spaceplatform where new machines were to be assembled of varied kinds. It had been wisely decided not to focus everything in one place and to have weapon spaceplatforms elsewhere that could be retaliated against. It was only one of over a dozen orbital structures to be constructed in future.

Yet the spacestation looked downwards, at the surface of the home world, as much as it did into space. Powerful telescopes, and cameras with telescopic lens, were seeking out something of great importance to the survival of that planet.

So it was from that spacestation that a confirmation was made of the vast tower rising out of the ocean, the very one that the two airships had encountered. The top of that incredible structure reached lower orbit. Soon plans were under way to send some kind of space expedition there.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Three

Was One 15.1[16]{20}

Two 3.1[3]{42}

How the decision came to be made was not straight forward but it came to be that all of the animans, from the surface settlement, moved down into another glowcavern with all they could carry. The other glowcavern was smaller than the already settled one but not by much; it was also quite fertile in part and it had a river of its own. The former settlement was to become a general purpose outpost even as many structures were dismantled to be shifted down cave.

All helped as much as they could, the ship's doctor being forced to do so by the threats of the First Mate. Nombies shifted large amounts, of heavy stuff, with ease as did the damphirs.

The move went with surprising speed and efficiency; it was largely because the settlers, from above, feared that more threats would come and that the underground settlement should be easier to defend. It helped to know that the glowcrystal burned the undead, sometimes even driving them back.

The professor, and his daughter, were immortals who were far more than archaeologists. They focused on helping move the settlement, for a while, but then on carefully studying the caves of records. They studied the tradegoods also along with other items. They were trying to confirm their fears while hoping to find something that belayed those very fears.

The move would be the main focus of the group for some time even as others came to join them, in small groups, being both animans and other peoples.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Four

New Episode

Two 4.1[4]{43}

The newcomers, as led by Cragigula and Salisha, joined the Oracle's growing community now spanning out into new outer settlements along with the main one. The drive to gain more resources, to support the growing population, was an important one. Plans were formed to make more changes to Freedom Island's networks.

The reavers, that came with Cragigula and Salisha, spoke of increasing fragmentation and friction both between and inside factions at the heart of the known islands. The reavers, being a mixture of warriors but also families, had escaped from a situation where they could no longer be certain of their own safety; as it was their masters were also in danger, as powerful as they were. Many were fleeing from the growing chaos, violence, and yet nobody seemed to know just what was going on. Odd alliances were forming, not so long ago considered impossible, out of fear.

CalamityJane, DocHoliday, and BillyKid moved through ancient biological crystalic structures of silicon based quasilifeforms. They were bathed in green light as they paced quietly through the semiruins of one of the many ancient, exotic, civilisations that had risen and fallen in the archipelago. They passed semitransparent crystalic globular growths in which were suspended, in status, bizarre appearing entities of a multitude of kinds. As they did so they picked up the empathic message, placed there a very long time ago, that was a warning not to try to free the entities for they were terrible monsters; the three entities 'sensed' the truth of this warning.

Small dragons landed on Freedom Island to start building fortified nesting sites in some higher areas; they were but pathfinders to more dragonfolk to come.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

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Wanderer: One

Zero 1.1[1]{1}

At Post #49 of Page 5

Wanderer: Two

One 1.1[1]{2}

At Post #51 of Page 6

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Five

Was One 16.1[17]{21}

Two 5.1[5]{44}

The black things, undead creatures flying when the sunshine was not too burning with ultraviolet, came in larger numbers as the wingpires that they were. That is they came to Freedom Island where Captain ManMonster was with his new people, the two lifeboat group were with their new people and the Oracle was to be found with her people along with others.

Other undead things came also, being small wiry humanoids like distorted leathery monkeys, that were carried to the island and landed carefully in treetops. Only fear, and powerful mind control, stopped the wingpires devouring their passengers; this was despite that the undead gained little from feeding on other undead. Wingpires were not enabled with any real intelligence or wisdom.

The arrival of the monkapires was supposed to be a secret infiltration but soon local animans, and others, were spreading warnings of their arrival. Very experienced hunters, scouts and warriors went after the undead spies to kill them until the Oracle advised that observing the intruders was better.

The monkapires were clumsy in their attempts to move with stealth and easy to sniff out thanks to their strange odours. At first it was hard to know what it was that they were seeking until it was realised that they were heading towards the sea shore, fairly close to the big lagoon. There were a few strong possibilities to be found in that area including ancient places and whispered of hidden troves either blessed and cursed, if not both.

It was just one more event in a series of unfolding events in the saga that was being played out in the Isles of Mist.

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Six

Was One 17.1[18]{22}

Two 6.1[6]{45}

In the brightening sunshine the rebel animans fled away from the unlifen reavers, a kind of damphir, until it was realised that the newcomers had no interest in fighting. As tough as they were, the rebels were relieved for the fighting abilities of the bizarrely beautiful beings were renowned. Even other kinds of damphirs tended to keep away from them.

The reavers moved along the golden sands of the beach, crabs and seagulls avoiding them, examining everything that they could. Then they stopped at what seemed, at first, to be just a basic piece of wooden junk. Except it was not so and the reaver commander was soon intently interested in it. It was a badly damaged boat of what seemed to be a false wood of synthetic materials. It was very modern, perhaps futuristic, and exotic at closer examination with strange control consoles, instruments, control devices, and other features. The reavers dragged it further up onto the dry sands, with ease despite its heaviness; part of the reason it was easy to move that it was surprisingly light for its size. There were no oars, sails, or propellers but holes in the back and front hinting at some kind of aquatic propulsion system.

The long dead thing, in the smallish vessel was perhaps human once but on the big side for one. In a strange metallic jumpsuit it had perished and had largely burned away. The reavers 'sensed'that it had been some kind of powerful undead, perhaps a lich or even a vampire. There were other items, in the boat, that the reavers' masters would want but the most important factor was that the boat was there at all. It's coming, as the reavers knew, was somehow both very important and a warning of something very bad to come.

The female reaver took out a flat, softly glowing gem, out of a pouch and placed it against her forehead. With a grimace she focused and soon another mind, far away, was using her senses to examine the boat. The experience only lasted for a few seconds but left her with a throbbing headache and feeling nauseous. With the help of two other reavers, she lay on the warm sands until she felt better.

The master's mind, the one who had 'used her senses', had supposed to be shielded from her but she had picked up deep concern from the powerful damphir named CrarlLanta. The responsive surprise was greater because CrarlLanta was renowned for his calmness in the face of deep trouble and hard challenges.

Soon came a very surprising telepathic order, one that the reaver had never expected to be given, that the group was to try to make contact with the Oracle's people, even the rebels if it helped, for the Lord Reavers wished to communicate with her and to form some kind of alliance against a terrible threat coming to the islands.

After a rest, the reavers set out again but this time they moved slowly as they sought out the very rebels that they had ignored earlier. It took some peaceful effort, and patience, to convince any rebels to come forward to speak and then the rebels were astonished by the message that they received.

Locals helped the reavers to carry the boat, along hidden paths, to the a main hidden settlement where the Oracle, and others, would soon come to examine the strange boat and its contents.

Edited September 13, 2015 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Seven

Was One 18.1[19]{23}

Two 7.1[7]{46}

Captain ManMonster spoke to the elders of his adopted people with a tone a firm command but also respect that he had gained for they who had survived well so many threats. "A door has opened for us, in the Home Chamber of wondrous resources, and though we do not know why it leads to a network of tunnels; there is a promise of new resources, of more freedom from the threats that face us, but also the possibility of more danger."

Elder Fredtom Junior, a chimpman animan elder, sat from where he sat on his own floor mat. "We think that ancient spirits, of the metallic stone gods, did recongise your greatness and generosity, Captain ManMonster. We would make you Chief Elder and place you on the Council of the Elders. You would have to pass our really big examination except its boring and we have excused you from being bored; so we now vote you to be our Chief Elder."

All of their elders held up at least one hand and waved them enthusiastically for some seconds before putting them down again. Thus the formal voting was carefully carried out with absolutely no counting of hands or records being made of the number.

Captain ManMonster, who was sitting on his own bigger mat, bowed from the waist. "I humbly thank you!"

The elders seemed relieved that such tedious formalities had not taken too long. There were much more exciting, and interesting, matters to discuss. Anyway it was mere formality for Captain ManMonster had taken up the role of Chief Elder even with out being named so. The former Chief Elder had been killed by the raiding tigerchimps but very few had liked him anyway; he had been set to be replaced and exiled to the forests.

A doorway had opened in one metallic stone wall of the Home Chamber. It led to a short metallic stone hallway that led to a much bigger metallic stone chamber. Exotic crystal like spheres dotted the ceiling and provided light. Then there was the big alcove with all of its smaller, but still large, alcoves. One was a toilet chamber, another for bathing, yet another for storage and so forth; they were still being worked out.

There was what seemed to be some kind of big, exotic, vending-machine. It was being worked out along with some other devices such as a machine thing with two of its own alcoves.

Yet the nine large metallic statues were somehow the strangest being tall figures of women in long flowing robes or ornamental armour or other exotic garments; there were three of each kind. All had two pairs of wings, two pairs of bare breasts, two pairs of arms and a third eye in the center of each forehead. The breasts, and arms, were one pair above the other. All were youthful, slimly voluptuous, and yet their metallic eyes somehow managed to give the impression of vast age and wisdom. The wings were both vaguely bird and bat like, being exotically and elegantly beautiful; this was true for the women in general.

All, but some guards, had been temporarily forbidden from going into that other chamber. Yet the new Chief Elder was concerned for some animan types were ever curious, tending to get into trouble, and so it was no surprise when a great hue and cry began. It did so as two excited guards raced through the open doorway, clutching spears and crying out about a guard vanishing away.

Edited September 14, 2015 by Maharg67

[Maharg67]

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Zombies from the Sky: Forty-Eight

Was One 19.1[20]{24}

Two 8.1[7]{47}

Rebel leader Daninna, of the outpost colony, was not happy to be facing the reaver leader but the other was calmly almost smiling, or at least trying to do so with some success. She was a strong, fast, catman woman but she knew she was no match for a reaver. The other spoke in a cool voice, alive but not so, but one that was noticeably female.

"The Reaver Masters serve, in a semiautonomous fashion, the Unlifen Lords of Utopia. They are some of the survivors of the living immortals who once ruled the Utopian Isles to the bountiful good of all. Now I have finished the propaganda, I will get to the point; a great threat is coming to the Utopian Isles and there is need for a mutual alliance to take place. The Unlifen Lords of Utopia know of, and fully support, this idea of such an alliance being formed."

Around them stretched a fairly large cave chamber, that was outside of the settlement proper. The walls were painted with simple, but informative, murals of the everyday lives of the locals. There were some damaged wooden barrels, empty, and some other such items all in one 'corner' of the cave. A couple of off duty animan guards were sleeping on mats, close to one wall, in odd armour and with weapons at hand.

Finished the propaganda? Daninna found himself starting to like the reaver despite her efforts not to do so. "I can only promise to send a message to the Oracle. I do not speak for her, of course. We rebels are separate from her people but in truth we depend a great deal on her and are very protective of her. You have killed many animans."

The reaver shook her head. "Far less than your wild stories would have it be. Tigerchimps have killed far more and, in truth, they are a unique kind of triple hybrid animan. That is a dark irony that your cousins are more dangerous to your people than we are, despite your stories. We must remain here and protect the strange boat. I take it that you will go some distance and contact the Oracle in some kind of psychic fashion."

Daninna nodded. "Yes though I sometimes think it would be easier, and less painful, to use pigeons."

The reaver looked surprised. "Yes, I agree, much less painful."

That response surprised the catman in turn.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Maharg67