S.P.A.C.E: Spacial Populations and Cosmic Enigmas

CHAPTER 1

Trilo-raptors

The immensity of space is hard to comprehend, it is speculated that space has no limits. Therefore one could never travel to the end of space because no matter how long you travelled, you could not reach an end that does not exist.

A singular universe was once all that could be envisaged; now multi universes with numerous complex theories are discussed and debated amongst the universal scholars. One thing that is a constant in all known and unknown universes is life and death walk hand in hand. Stars are born and stars die; as they die they consume the planets, moons, all other solid object and gases that occupied that system. If life had formed on any of the planets or moons that to would be extinguished. This is the way.

This cycle of life and death has been embraced by the life forms that for a brief period in universal time have flourished on certain planets and moons that orbited the once radiant stars. As one star dies, more are created and the life cycle starts over again.

Over the millennia of evolution on each planet or moon, living organisms and various complex life forms have evolved, changed and adapted to survive. Some have evolved and gained immense intelligence. This evolved intellect has expanded so greatly that it has allowed these life forms explore not just their home planet but also the vastness of space itself.

The motive for exploration of space varies immensely; some species wish to seek out new life forms, while other wish to gain knowledge of the intricacies of the universe, others do this out of desperation as they themselves have depleted all the natural resources in their local solar system. But for the triloraptor race it is just for the desire to kill, feed and kill again! This was the triloraptor way, the universe is a feeding and killing ground, one that is so vast they can never run out of prey and one that was always being replenished. This is the way.

The triloraptors are an extremely old race from a planet and system long consumed by the star that once gave them life. That star and planet are now long forgotten, to the triloraptors thoughts of the past are irrelevant, after all it was just a planet, they had seen so many and most just consisted of rock, dust particles, ice and poisonous gas clouds. The ones they looked forward to finding were the ones with an abundance of life. The one they were just about to descend on was perfect.

Day one.

The sun was just rising over Brobryne marsh lands, it had done this millions of times but today was the first day of the third quarter and that meant the cold harsh winter was on its way. Over the summer months the immense marsh lands had provided a rich source of food for all the birds’ species that had gathered there but, today marked the end of this. Each species, some totalling thousands, would over the course of the day vacate this haven and start it’s migration south to the warmer and milder regions. These migrations have been going on for thousands and thousands of years. This was the way.

From space, this migration was being observed and the final preparations were taking place, air temperature, wind speed and weather fronts were being monitored carefully.

Five thousand of miles to the east of the marsh lands lay the vast flat grassy plains where hundreds of thousands of beasts grazed. They had travelled hundreds of miles, faced all kind of perils and hardships but now they could feast on the lush plains. The herds felt at peace and for a time they could settle down, graze and the dominant males would mate. This was the way.

The grazing beasts knew nothing of space, they knew when sunrise and sunset was, they knew about the changing of the season’s and generally a full belly and plenty of drinking water was what all they desired. But the triloraptors knew all about them and within a very short period of time both would meet but, only one would survive!

Water covers over seventy percent of the planet’s surface. West of the grass lands is the Ardian Ocean, this is one of five oceans and six seas on this planet. Numerous rivers and fresh water lakes that scar the planet’s surface discharge surplus water into the oceans and seas.

Each Ocean, sea, lake and river has a huge diversity of aquatic life and each one like all large water masses, had its own uniqueness. The Marlian Sea has an extremely high salt and mineral content, while the Ardian Ocean is a tropical ocean with warm waters. The five lakes of mardina are over 1.8532 kilometres (1 nautical mile) deep; only certain species inhabit this abyss as the tremendous water pressures would crush most aquatic life forms.

The aquatic life forms of the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers on this planet have numerous aquatic predators. Some sea creatures are over twenty metres in length and weigh several tonnes; with jaws five metres wide and razor sharp teeth, these ferocious aquatics can devour any other aquatic in seconds. At the other end of the scale is the ferocious three centimetre long pian fish that inhabits the shallow waters of many of the river estuaries. They hunt in shoals of thousands and with their razor sharp teeth they can strip a one metre fish to its bones in under a minute! None of this is of any consequence to the triloraptors, where life exits, triloraptors bring death. That is the way.

Close to the planets equator is a land mass that was once, thousands of years ago a hive of volcanic activity. The massive volcano’s, some are over 44 thousand metres high, are now dormant. The valleys below are lush in vegetation and have forests of large hardwood trees, while the slopes of each volcano are covered all types of evergreen shrubs and flora. From the basins of the volcano’s, down into the lowlands and forest areas there is an abundance of insect and small animal life forms. To catalogue them all would take years.

To an outsider this is a small piece of heaven. To the triloraptors, even this place of scenic beauty is just another killing field and what they had in store for this area was for them, just the icing on a very large cake!

Back on the Brobryne marsh lands the first few birds took to the air ready to start their migration, almost immediately, as if by instinct other’s followed, within minutes the skies were full of the migrating flocks. It was at this exact point of time that the triloraptors put their first attack into place.

From space the signal was given and at tremendous speed the first trilo-attack craft entered the planet’s atmosphere. As it broke through the planets stratosphere, it immediately slowed down to just less than 1,200 kilometres per hour. In dry air at 20 °C (68 °F), the speed of sound is 343 meters per second (1,125 ft/s). This equates to 1,236 kilometres per hour (768 mph), or about one kilometre in three seconds and about one mile in five seconds. It had done this so it would not break the sound barrier and spook the migrating flocks.

The trilo-attack craft, one of many poised to attack, would, by even the hardiest of space travellers be considered to be enormous. Its overall length equals 1.6093 kilometres, it width an impressive 2682 metres. What is even more impressive is the crafts hexagon exterior, 1.6093 kilometres of featureless gleaming obsidian-black metallic compound. With its sharp pointed nose cone, it resembles a giant black crystal.

At 1.6093 kilometres (one mile) above the planet’s surface and 6.4372 kilometres (four miles) south of the Brobryne marsh lands the craft came to a halt. The metallic compound on two sides of the craft surface dissolved into liquid state and then five hundred oblong hatches appeared on both sides of attacks crafts body. From each hatch, in perfect co-ordination, a triloraptor took to the air.

Hundreds of years ago, the female triloraptors were much taller that the males. Universally this is true of most of the raptor species. This however, was not acceptable to the vanity of the triloraptor males! Once triloraptor genetic engineering had been mastered, the DNA structure of all males was modified and enhanced. They now stood at well over two metres tall with a wingspan of over four metres. The males and females were now equal in height. With one thousand of them in the air it was both a beautiful and terrifying sight.

In perfect flight formation and keeping a high altitude, the triloraptors headed north to intercept the oncoming migrating flocks.

As a hunting species, triloraptors are able to see far more detail than most other living creatures. The central region of the triloraptors retina is called the fovea. It is adapted to seeing detail. Most species have one fovea, the triloraptors have three fovea. One of these is dedicated to forward vision the other is dedicated to lateral vision (i.e. sideways) the third is dedicated to upward vision. The three fovea form a small pit in the triloraptors retina and act like a telephoto lens. At just over 1.6093 kilometres (one mile) away the triloraptors could with their extraordinary good eye sight not just see the oncoming flocks but every single bird!

From the triloraptors altitude the attack plan was, with the aid of speed to drop from a great height (stooping) and then strike the prey with their feet. This would either kill the prey outright or the triloraptor would pursue the injured bird to the ground where it would dispatch its prey by gripping it with its talons and exerting so much pressure that its prey would be crushed to death. As triloraptors are carnivores, they would then devour the prey entirely, regurgitating (casting) the indigestible matter in pellet form, once or twice a day.

The lead birds of the migrating flocks were the first to see the oncoming, one thousand strong airborne triloraptors. They instinctively panicked and broke away from the flock, others impulsively followed but, it was in vain. One thousand died in the first few moments, others were also quickly killed. What the flock would never appreciate is the triloraptors they had encountered were only juveniles! This was just an exercise to them in the development of honing their killing skills!

Still totalling several thousands, the largest portion of fleeing birds changed direction and headed back to the Brobryne marsh lands. This is exactly what the triloraptors had planned. Triloraptors have superb weapon technology and the first to be deployed was by the triloraptors standards an antique, but this antique worked superbly. It was an invisible four sided, oblong walled laser grid. Two walls at the outset spanned 16.0930 kilometres (ten miles) long and 4.8279 kilometres (three miles) high. The sides of the wall two were 1.6093 kilometres (one mile) long and 4.8279 kilometres (three miles) high. The grid was a maze of lasers that could be programmed to expand the size of gaps in the maze or to do the opposite. The setting for today’s operation was 1 cm; nothing flying in the air today would get through this.

As the flocks flew over closer to the marsh land the grid was activated. The bird flew head long into the invisible barrier. Within seconds the invisible barrier became visible with minute dissected body parts and blood, the air filled with the aroma of cooked meat!

Out of panic the flocks changed direction and flew west and for a few short minutes, they thought they had escaped, until they ran head long into the 1.6093 kilometres (mile long) south facing invisible wall! Again the invisible barrier light up with the colour of blood and body parts, thousands more died. The survivors now turned north and out of fear and desperation flew even faster. What they didn’t know was the grid size had now been reduced; it was only 1.6093 kilometres (one mile) square! Within moments the fleeing flocks again hit the invisible wall of death, more died but, then the laser wall was deactivated. To the flocks of birds nothing had changed, they could not comprehend what had been happening; they just flew in all directions in a frenzied state. To the thousand strong airborne juvenile triloraptors, it was time to attack again!

By the time the sun was ready to set on the Brobryne marsh lands, all of the thousands of birds that had started their migration that morning were now dead. The marsh lands for hundreds of years to come would remain barren of its feathered wildlife. That was the triloraptors way.

On the same day, five thousand miles west of the Brobryne marsh lands, dawn broke on the grassy plains. Pesticide control was the first line of attack for the triloraptors. The plains at time of the year were not just attractive to all the kinds of grazing beasts; it also attracted millions and millions of flies. At times the air was so heavy with flies that the beasts we’re not be able to breathe without inhaling them into their mouths and nostrils. The triloraptors would also encounter the same problem.

Sunrise was the ideal time to deal with this small problem, with the sunrise came a heavy mist and this would intensify what was about to happen. The second trilo-craft had positioned itself at an altitude of 8465 metres (half a mile) above the grassy plains; it then fired a ten second blast of ionizing radiation that had been modified to electrically charge all the air molecules. The blast covered a radius of 160.9300 kilometres (100 miles); within seconds the air within this radius crackled with the electrical charge, it had just enough power to exterminate every airborne fly and insect! The moisture from the mist also helped to ground the charge killing any flies, insects or lava that were close to ground. The grazing beasts also felt the electrical shock, it spooked the herds and caused an inconsequential stampede but, the injuries to them were minor compared with what was planned!

As soon as the trilo-craft had delivered its lethal blast of ionizing radiation, the triloraptors craft flew to the edge of one of the largest grazing herds, turned parallel so its nose cone was pointing skywards and then started too descended silently and slowly. At one hundred metres, it came to a halt and the lower sides of its body seem to liquefy and from its body, four giant obsidian-black metallic stabilises extended from is hexagon body. Once they were fully extended the trilo-craft continued its decent and then it landed gently.

After being startled and slightly singed from the blast of electrified ionizing radiation, the grazing herds had settled back to what consumed most of their lives, feeding. They seemed oblivious to the craft that had just landed and stood 1.6093 kilometres high and 2682 metres wide. They were equally oblivious when two sides of the craft appeared to dissolve and on both sides five hundred oblong hatches appeared. From each hatch a four metre wide platform emerged and standing on it was an adult triloraptor.

In front of each platform hovered a one metre obsidian-black metallic hexagon. The edges were not visible as it spun at 5000rpm and at its centre it measured one centimetre thick. From its centre, it tapered off until its edges formed a blade that was sharper than any surgical scalpel. This weapon is known as trilo-tron, t.r.o.n standing for; transitional robotic organic neutraliser.

Each triloraptor had a discrete translucent visor fitted around its eyes; the visor was the command centre for the hovering hexagon weapon, numerous other weapons and devises on board the craft. It was connected to the triloraptors synaptic brain connections, neurological receptors and the crafts central brain. In essence through the visor, each triloraptor was interconnected to each other and all were interconnected to the attack crafts brain. Each attack craft’s brain then formed a network with the mother ship being the main brain of the network.

Looking through the visor, the triloraptors could see various symbols; the symbols were activated by thought waves. Each major symbol had several sub menus. The symbol shape that was activated was that of a single hexagon weapon, this brought the option of guidance control into its sub menu, with this activated the triloraptor could control the hexagons weapon flight in any direction, its speed and the overall flight range. It also brought up a menu bar at the bottom of the visor that allowed its controller to change the shape of the disc instantly.

Each triloraptor scanned the outer region of the herd; it then singled out its prey. This was logged and recorded on the triloraptors visor display. Now, no other triloraptor could attack this beast. When all one thousand triloraptors were all ready, this only took seconds, a small symbol in the corner of each triloraptors visors turned red. This was the single to begin the attack. One thousand triloraptors simultaneously launched its spinning hexagon weapon toward its chosen prey.

The triloraptors were masters at killing with these weapons, the trilo-trons blades were so sharp and hard that no bone on the average grazing beast’s two and a half metre long body would stop it its deadly path. Each of the one thousand chosen prey died instantly as the bladed weapon sliced them completely in two! The attack was so silent and fast, with the exception of a few close beasts the main herds had not noticed this slaughter and continued grazing.

This was just target practice, now it was over; one thousand triloraptors took to the air. The visor symbol had now changed from a single hexagon weapon to a hexagon and triloraptor symbol. The trilo-tron weapon was re-united with its controller and now each would fly and kill in perfect harmony. Each triloraptor would now hunt its prey randomly and adapt the trilo-tron weapons shape to suit the kill.

Several different species of beast used these lush pastures to graze; it would be difficult to ascertain at a glimpse which of these fine beasts had the largest herds as all had several thousands. Some species were only one metre tall, weighed no more than thirty kilograms (66.15 pounds) and had long straight horns. At the other end of the scale the largest beast stood two and a half metre’s tall, weighed almost 1,015.87 kilograms (one ton) and the males had massive tusks that could be over a metre long. To the one thousand airborne triloraptors these variations in size and weight would determine exactly how it would kill that particular species.

As the triloraptors flew close to the herds, panic erupted and the beasts scattered in all directions. This is exactly what the triloraptors had anticipated; with its prey running it would be a more creative kill.

A triloraptor had chosen its first running kill, a small straight horn. The small beast tried its hardest to evade the flying triloraptor but the triloraptor was too skilful, it swooped down, grabbed the beast by its straight horns with its feet and lifted it into the air with ease. At approximately thirty metre’s high the triloraptor released the beast. At the same time in the triloraptors visor, the triloraptor changed the trilo-trons weapon’s shape to a javelin, instantly the weapon changed shape and now was a two metre long razor sharp javelin. At the command of its controller, the javelin hit the falling beast’s chest and then went straight though it, killing it instantly. The javelin then did a gravity defying turn and at tremendous speed struck and passed through the dead beast body once more. By the time the small beast’s dead body hit the floor the triloraptor and its weapon were already in pursuit of its next victim.

Its next victim was, one of the main male tusked beasts in a now stampeding herd of the 1.015.87 kilograms (1 ton) species. The triloraptor swooped down just in front of the beast causing it to swerve left; the beast did not see the two metre long, one metre wide and half metre high obsidian-black metallic solid brick in its path, another shape from the trilo-trons vast arsenal. The beast’s front legs collided with solid brick causing it to lose balance, the beast stumbled and fell. With one beast down the other stampeding beasts ran into the fallen beast, they too lost their balance and crashed to the ground and died as they were then crushed to death by the stampeding herd. Thirty beasts were killed and hundreds were injured before the stampeding herd of thousands could change its direction. This was a good kill for the triloraptor and a ploy that had been adopted by numerous other triloraptors. By the end of the day, the total killed and severely injured by this simple but effective tactic would be in the thousands! However, they were the lucky ones.

It was now time for the next stage of the attack. From the triloraptors parked trilo-craft, the remaining triloraptors had been busy carefully scanning the grass lands terrain. A signal was sent to the one thousand airborne triloraptors to drive the herds to the north edge of the plains. As the herds headed north, a proton energy beam, brighter than any white light seen was fired from the craft. With ease, it tore a rift half a kilometre wide, half kilometre deep and one kilometre long into the grass lands. This was done four kilometres due south of the herds. The beam was so concentrated in proton energy that the soil, rock and other raw materials that came into contact with it immediately melted into magma and then crystallised, as it cooled the rifts walls and floor was as smooth as glass. As the beam was turned off, the order was then given to drive the frantic herds due south.

The ground thundered as the one ton beasts and other beasts totalling thousands charged south. To keep the panic at a feverous pitch, the airborne triloraptors continued skilfully killing many of them with their multi-functional weapon.

As the beasts charged forward the ground just seemed to swallow the leading beasts, the herds kept heading south and more and more just disappeared! Looking across the vast plains, everything looked as it had