Codename Salamander

By Herbert Grosshans

Salamander, the fourth planet in the Horsehead System, 270 light-years from the Solar System, is a good planet for colonizing. Weather conditions are descent. There are deserts, savannahs, mountains, lakes, and forests. Like any other planet it also has dangerous animals, but giant lizards are not a native species, so why are dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex terrorizing the native tribes? Where did they come from? Even though humans have established a mining town, there are others who have an interest in Salamander. Master Scout Terrex Stonewall and his nephew Scout Bret Grayson have signed a one-year contract to work for Salamander Mining Ventures.

Bret Grayson has an eidetic memory, which means he never forgets anything. He is a genius and his mind sees things differently from what other people see. He is a trained xenologist and Salamander Mining Ventures hired him to study one of the indigenous tribes on Salamander. That is the official reason, but he soon finds out that he was actually hired by the Solar Government because of his unique mind. After the real purpose of his presence on Salamander is revealed to him, events begin to unfold quickly and he is propelled across the Galaxy to regions unknown. His uncle, the legendary Master Scout Terrex Stonewall, has his own agenda, known only to him. Grayson discovers how little he actually knows about his uncle and Stonewall’s real identity and reason to be on Salamander.

There is something on this planet the humans want to keep for themselves. It would give them access to a device that would make it possible for the humans to become the most powerful species in this part of the Galaxy and beyond. However, it seems the Spiders, the Anorians, the Accilla, and most other species already know about the device and all of them are willing to start a war with the humans to keep them from sole ownership of what is buried beneath Outpost Salamander. There is just one problem—nobody knows how to unlock the secret. Only the brilliant mind of Bret Grayson may be able to decipher the symbols on the artifacts an ancient race left behind. When Gorana, a sexy Anorian female, makes Grayson an offer he can’t refuse, he is forced to form an uneasy alliance with her. To make matters worse, the Spiders and the Anorians also want to be present should Grayson be successful in unlocking the key to the device, and they, too, find a way to be part of Grayson’s scientific team. Grayson soon discovers that even he may not be able to decipher the symbols. At the same time, Stonewall has to deal with a threat from within the Solar Union. The Military High Command has a sinister plan and the job of thwarting the plot is thrown into Stonewall’s lap.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Nov 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781680463835

Herbert Grosshans

About MeHerbert's WorldI am a writer. I write mainly Science Fiction, but I also dabble in other genres. Most of my stories contain Erotica and are written for adult readers.Some of my other interests and hobbies are reading (of course), hunting and fishing, drawing, gardening, making wine (and drinking it), tropical fish. I enjoy traveling with my wife, spending time with my children and grandchildren.

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Codename Salamander

Operation Stargate

by Herbert Grosshans

Published by

Melange Books, LLC

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

www.melange-books.com

Codename Salamander, Copyright 2016 Herbert Grosshans

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ISBN: 978-1-68046-383-5

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States of America.

Cover Design by Lynsee Lauritsen

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Codename Salamander

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

About the Author

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CODENAME SALAMANDER

by Herbert Grosshans

Xenologist Bret Grayson was hired to make contact with one of the indigenous tribes roaming the savannahs on the planet Salamander. He soon finds out the real purpose he is on Salamander. His uncle, the legendary Master Scout Terrex Stonewall, also has a hidden agenda, but even he doesn’t know about the secret that lies beneath the original military outpost. It seems every species living in this part of the Galaxy has a sudden interest in Salamander and they are willing to risk a war to keep the secret from falling into human hands. Grayson and Stonewall have no choice but to form an alliance with representatives from the Spiders, the Anorians, and the Accilla. The motley group embarks on a journey that takes them to regions unknown. They face dangers they can only overcome if they set aside their prejudices and work together as one unit.

Prologue

Through tired eyes, Ahrragula watched the flock of black Cloudsingers circling above the Koura-trees. His eyesight, along with his ability to hear, had been gradually failing. Sick and weak because of his stiff joints and loss of muscle, he was of no use to the tribe now. Only young and strong males could protect the offspring and the females. There was no place for an old warrior like him. He had become a burden, so the tribe cast him out and left him in a remote area of the swamp to fend for himself. His chances for surviving more than a few days were slim to none. He had no illusions about that.

Death would most likely come in the dark mantle of the night. Too weak to thrust the spear they left him he would not be able to defend himself against the giant Swamp-eels or the striped Windghosts roaming the sandy lands beyond the swamps. In his youth, he had been an expert with the wookka, always bringing down his quarry with the first throw. Now it hung from his belt of woven reeds, an ornament, useless for anything else. He even lost the ability to throw it in such a way to make it return to him when he missed his target.

He carried no grudges because he knew the tribe had not made him an outcast to punish him or out of cruelty. It was the way of the People, and it had been so as long as he could remember. The tribe could not support the old, the crippled, the malformed, and those whose mind had been touched by the gods. The only thing they were still good for was to become nourishment for the wild beasts. It was their final sacrifice to the eternal gods.

A distant roar made him cast a look behind him, but he saw nothing in that direction except high grass, rocks, and the windblown skeleton branches of shrubbery foreign to him. He was used to the lush plants of the swamps, the tall, thick reeds with their purple globes of feathery seed carriers, and the broad-leafed giant Ferns.

Things were not the same as they had been in his youth. The presence of huge, fierce beasts not native to this world and three times the size of the Windghosts forced the People out of their home territory. Used to living in the swamps since the beginning of time, they felt uneasy and out of their element on dry land. It was not their natural environment. The plants were not the same and the animals were different. Unknown dangers lurked everywhere.

Some said the demons from the sky brought these beasts to the World. Not even the Seers-of- the-Future had seen this in their dreams. There had not been time to prepare the People for this new menace.

Even though resigned to have his life end shortly, he was still curious enough to investigate when he witnessed the arrival of a massive silvery, oblong rock descending out of the clouds to land near the swamp amidst the tall Koura-trees. The rock had skin so smooth and shiny the reflection of the light from the Lifegiver nearly blinded him for a quick moment as he watched it coming to rest on the ground.

Crawling on his belly, he was careful not to give away his presence. He didn’t know why, because in a way it didn’t matter if the demons found him. He was destined to die anyway, but some survival instinct made him cautious. Survival instinct and the need to know what they were and would do.

As he watched, a crack appeared in the belly of the sky-rock and a number of demons spilled out of the opening, like seeds from the pod of a bursting Blood-flower. Then a larger hole opened in the rear of the sky-rock. A bulky object floated from it and settled gently onto the ground. The demons went to the object and began removing round spheres the size of a young male’s head. They carried them into the wooded area that surrounded the Koura-trees and deposited them among the tall shrubs.

In the meantime, another, much larger object had emerged from the hollow sky-rock. It looked like a cage and something moved behind the thick bars. The old warrior held his breath when one of the demons opened one side of the cage. A few moments later, a beast unlike any he had ever seen stepped into the open. It must have crouched inside the cage, because, now free, it rose on its powerful hind legs and it looked twice the size it had appeared behind the bars. It moved its giant head slowly from side to side as if surveying the area.

Shuddering with sudden fright, Ahrragula lay unmoving among the tall grasses. Pressing his thin body as best as he could against the ground, he peered over the small boulder he had chosen as his observation post.

The demon beast could not have sensed him, but it fastened its small, glittering eyes on his place of shelter that seemed suddenly much too small. Its thick tongue lolled between double rows of pointy teeth in those massive jaws that were large enough to swallow an immature male with one gulp. A deep sound like thunder escaped from the beast’s throat as it moved sluggishly away from the sky-rock that had spawned it.

The demons stood watching the beast for a moment and then they withdrew into the belly of the sky-rock. A few moments later the silvery rock rose into the air and shot with ever increasing speed toward the Lifegiver hidden in the hazy sky.

Ahrragula watched it disappear behind the clouds, as he lay still frozen among the grasses. His gaze moved back to the scaly giant beast the demons had left behind. He realized its movements were slow and lethargic and he speculated this was not typical for such a creature. It seemed almost half-asleep, but Ahrragula knew the beast would soon be awake, and when that happened, he’d better be far away, unless he wanted to be its first meal in its new home.

He didn’t have the desire to give up his life yet. With new hope, he slowly crawled away from the rock, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. There was a good chance the tribe would welcome him back if he brought testimony of what he had witnessed. This proved what so many had already assumed—the sky-demons released the menace that threatened the survival of the People on this world. To what end nobody knew.

He was certain that those round spheres were eggs that would hatch more of those demon-beasts. Perhaps he should try to destroy them before that happened, but he had to wait until the scaly demon left the area. He needed to be far away but still close enough so he could watch the beast.

When he found a safe hiding place between two large boulders, he crawled into the narrow crack and settled down for a long wait.

Chapter One

They had been walking for hours. Bret Grayson worried about his uncle, wondering if he could keep up for much longer. He had been complaining about cramps. Terrex Stonewall was the oldest in their group. At least he didn’t have to worry about his other two companions, Pilsner and Lee.

Leave me behind, Bret. I can’t walk anymore. The cramps in my leg are more frequent and getting worse. Get yourself to safety. I’ll dig in here. Stonewall stood bent over, gasping for breath. I’m getting too old for this.

Grayson grabbed his arm. Nobody stays behind, he rasped.

I’ll be okay. Stonewall chuckled. I’ve survived worse situations than this one. I can hang on for a couple of days. You can pick me up with the Slider.

I won’t hear of it, Grayson said with an impatient voice. We’ve eluded them so far, but we don’t know how close they are.

He looked at the dark clouds in the alien sky and let the gaze of his eyes rove over the flat grass-covered savannah toward the south. One of the two moons came into view as it slowly rose above the far horizon.

We have about three hours of daylight left, he guessed. We should be able to make it to the forest before darkness falls, even if we slow down our pace. We’ll set up camp in the protection of the trees.

What if we don’t make it because of me? Stonewall insisted. I’m only slowing you down.

Don’t even think about that, Uncle, Grayson said sharply. You’re the one who taught me never to give up, remember? So, please, don’t give up on me now. I’m not leaving you here, no matter what. We’ll make it. All of us.

I don’t know why I let them talk me into coming to this forsaken dust ball. Stonewall removed his wide-brimmed hat and wiped the sleeve of his Scout’s uniform across his forehead, painting it with rusty streaks of wet dust. This damn heat is killing me. Reaching for the water bottle dangling from his belt, he unclipped it and took a sparse sip. Even the water is warm, he complained after clipping it back onto his belt.

Grayson shifted his rifle from his left shoulder to his right, at the same time adjusting his backpack. Look at the bright side, Uncle Terrex. Our contract is only for one year. I for one am not sorry we came. He smiled. After all, what better way is there to learn from the legendary Master Scout Terrex Stonewall than being with him on a hostile planet?

Stonewall chuckled humorlessly. You know, the bastards at Salamander Mining Ventures lied when they described the situation here. Salamander Town was supposed to be located in a peaceful part of this planet. Nobody mentioned hostile natives.

The Newt aren’t supposed to be in this area, Ned Pilsner added. The only ones around here are the Naard. You never know where they are because they’re nomads. The Newt are swamp dwellers and live much farther south deep in the swamps.

So what are they doing here in the Drylands? Stonewall asked.

Pilsner shrugged. Beats me. There must be something that brought them here. He squinted at the alien sun, still a blazing ball in the Western Sky, even though it had nearly reached the tops of the ragged mountain ridge. It isn’t that far to the river anymore. Once we reach the river, we should be able to shake our pursuers. Hopefully, the boat we hid among the tall bamboo-like plants is still there.

Why shouldn’t it be? Grayson eyed the Trooper with curiosity.

No reason. I’m just saying.

Grayson shook his head. Let’s not get paranoid now. He turned to his uncle. Are you ready to continue?

Stonewall nodded. Let’s go. He gave a strained laugh. Next time we’ll take one of the Sliders to travel across this bleak landscape. I can teach you all about survival even on a Slider. It’ll be faster and safer.

That would be okay with me, but won’t that defeat the purpose of this exercise? Grayson asked. The problem with taking a Slider is that you miss all the treasures this land has to offer. We would have never found those emerald deposits.

Yes, those emeralds, Stonewall said, smiling. We should get some kind of bonus for that. Searching for treasures wasn’t part of this trip.

No, it wasn’t, but at least we have something to show for our troubles, since we didn’t even find a trace of the Naard.

Company, Pilsner said hoarsely and brought up his weapon.

Grayson whirled around, lifting his own rifle at the same time. From the corner of his eye he saw the white flash of lightning explode from Pilsner’s laser and heard the harsh scream of displaced air. A slim shadowy figure disappeared behind one of the huge boulders strewn across the landscape. He thought he saw a second shadow behind another boulder, but then it was gone. He wasn’t quite sure if he had actually seen something.

Devil’s Comet! Pilsner cursed. They move too damn fast. Cover me. He held his rifle in front of him, ready to shoot, and walked toward the boulder.

Grayson watched him with apprehension, his nerves tight like the strings on a violin. He had his laser up, aimed at the boulder, and ready to fire at anything that moved.

Pilsner approached the giant rock with obvious caution and walked around it. Lowering his weapon, he shrugged. After looking around for a moment, he came back to the group.

They’re like magicians, he growled. They just disappear.

I never saw anything, said Robert Lee, peering into the shimmering air. Perhaps it was just an illusion. People get those if they’ve wandered through the hot desert for a long time.

No illusion. I know what I saw.

Stonewall cleared his throat and spit into the dry dust. This planet sure isn’t anything like Epsilon. That planet was nothing but deep jungle, even though there were quite a few deserts there. We didn’t have hostile natives chasing us.

A peaceful planet, except for the dinosaurs roaming those jungles and the flying dragons attacking you from the air, Grayson said with a chuckle. At least we don’t have to worry about them around here.

No dinosaurs, Pilsner said, but we do have our own nasties—Shaglions and Moonvipers in the savannahs, Devilapes in the forests, and Snowbulls in the mountains. Oh, and let’s not forget the Rhinogators in the swamps. Those are the largest and most dangerous ones that we’ve run across so far, the brutes if you will. There are dozens of tiny critters who can kill you when you least expect it. We haven’t a clue what lives in the oceans and the big lakes.

You forgot to mention the natives, Lee said. Being a rookie Scout, he usually didn’t say much, trying to absorb as much knowledge as he could from Stonewall. At least that was the impression he gave Grayson.

Right, the natives. Pilsner touched the left side of his face. A vivid scar ran alongside his jaw to his ear. On our first encounter with the Newt we lost a man and three of us were wounded. The Newt got away without any casualties. We weren’t prepared. We didn’t expect natives with such ferocity. Even our so-called superior weapons didn’t help us much. How can you hit a target that moves as silently as a ghost, has the ability to blend in so completely, and is as fast as a lizard?

Thanks for cheering us up, Pilsner, Stonewall said dryly. And here I thought we’d have a peaceful and quiet vacation on this planet. Seems I was mistaken.

No vacation, Master Scout. Pilsner smirked. Don’t forget, we’re all getting mega credits for being here. You’ll have to earn your keep. You’ll be able to retire comfortably after your contract runs out.

What good is money if you don’t live to enjoy it? Stonewall grumbled.

He touched the button on the remote, activating the magnetic field under the sled that carried most of their supplies. It lifted a few inches into the air and hovered behind Stonewall, waiting for him to start walking.

Grayson walked silently beside Pilsner, while Lee trailed behind the group as the rear guard. Grayson kept scanning their surroundings. The landscape had changed significantly since they left the swamp. Even the thick tall grasses had given way to clusters of thin, brown blades growing from the yellow dry ground. Small dust devils rose as the wind became stronger, and when he looked in the direction of the river, he saw dark clouds moving in from the mountains.

Looks like rain, Stonewall remarked behind him.

I’m afraid there’s a nasty storm brewing in those mountains, Pilsner said. I don’t want to be caught out in the open.

Do you think the Newt-warriors are still trailing us? Grayson asked, glancing at Pilsner.

The dark-skinned man nodded. Ever since we left the tall grasses behind, it became more difficult for them to hide, and they’re keeping their distance, but once we enter the forest it’s a different story. Those beasts they ride can cover the distance from the swamps to the trees in an amazingly short time. Don’t forget we’re on foot and can only walk so fast.

So you think they haven’t given up?

Probably not, but I can’t say for certain. We don’t know much about them. I can’t even guess why they’re trailing us. Pilsner stared into the distance. As I said, we know very little. We know they’re hostile and warlike. Why are they like that? He shrugged. We don’t know. They’re primitive and they can throw stones with uncanny accuracy using those slingshots. They’re also skilled with their curved wooden sticks. If they miss their target, those sticks return to their owners, but if they don’t miss you end up with a hole in your skull. Very handy little weapon. Primitive but effective.

What do the Newt look like?

We haven’t gotten a good look at them, yet, but Dr. Bernard thinks their ancestors were reptiles, because they prefer the swamps to dry land and are definitely reptilian. It’s quite possible they’re not even native to this planet.

You mean some reptilian race seeded this planet?

That or they are descendants of stranded space travelers.

What about the Naard?

They are different from the Newt. Not warlike and not aggressive—in fact, they seem to avoid contact with other species. Perhaps that’s why they became nomads. The ancestors of the Naard were definitely not reptiles. Most likely, they were tree dwellers. Their long, muscular arms support that theory. Anyway, that’s what Dr. Bernard believes. One thing is certain, they’re unquestionably mammals.

Have humans had contact with them at all?

Not much, but, apparently, they have approached the town on at least one occasion. Probably out of curiosity. There are stories that some of the miners have traded artifacts with them. He threw a glance at Grayson. I assume that’s why they brought you here, to make contact with the Naard and to study them.

That’s what I was told, Grayson said. But it seems it may be more difficult than I thought to even find them.

They walked on in silence, each of them following their own thoughts. Pilsner checked his compass occasionally to make certain they were still walking north.

Can I ask you something, Pilsner?

The dark man threw a quick look at Grayson. Sure. What do you want to know?

How did you get that scar on your face?

Pilsner’s hand went to his face to touch the scar. Courtesy of the Newt. It happened the second week after our team arrived here. I got hit with one of those sharp stones they use as missiles, and I call myself lucky. Trooper Rik Lamonte wasn’t so lucky. He died with a hole in his forehead. He stopped talking for a moment as he obviously recalled the skirmish with the natives. We were good friends, he said in a low voice.

Grayson didn’t know what to say. He had never been good at expressing his sorrow and he searched for the right words, but before he could comment, Pilsner spoke.

In our profession it’s best not to get too attached to somebody. It’s less painful.

Also much more lonely, Grayson added.

The wind had been picking up speed while they talked. Grayson coughed as a sudden gust of wind whirled up small clouds of dust in front of them.

The weather is turning ugly, he said. Straining his eyes, he thought he saw trees ahead, but he also noticed that the clouds were much closer and darker now. Lightning flashed through those dark clouds and the rolling thunder increased in intensity.

Another few minutes of walking revealed those were indeed trees he had seen. It wasn’t a large forest, but there were enough trees there to provide them with protection.

I suggest we camp here, Pilsner said. I miscalculated the time. We’ll never make it across the river and to the forest before dark. We may even get caught by this storm while we’re on the river.

I agree, Stonewall added. The storm is moving in fast.

He was right. When Grayson looked at the treetops he saw them bending toward south and he could hear the roaring of the wind. He knew this was going to be a bad one. The first drops of rain were beginning to fall. They left dimples in the dry dust of the ground at first, but then they began to form small dark spots in the yellow dirt that grew larger as the drops changed into rain. This happened quickly, and he knew they didn’t have much time to erect their tent.

They reached the relative safety of the trees within minutes. It wouldn’t take long before the rain penetrated the umbrella of branches and leaves above them, but it gave them extra time.

It took them less than ten minutes to set up the tent. Using ropes, they secured it to nearby trees and then entered their shelter. Before Pilsner followed the others, he sent up a couple of spy-eyes to warn them of possible intruders.

The thin walls of the tent were not soundproof, but they offered protection against wind and pouring rain. The four men lay on their blankets, listening to the pounding of the water and the howling of the wind that was drowned out by constant thunder.

We’re lucky we found this grove of trees, Pilsner said. I wouldn’t want to be without their protection now. This is a bad storm. A deafening thunderclap underlined his words.

It seems to be right above us, Stonewall said. I think we’ll be stuck here for a while.

Aren’t you glad we didn’t leave you behind, Uncle Terrex? Grayson asked, smiling.

Of course I am. Stonewall chuckled. Actually, when I suggested you go on without me I was only testing you. It was part of the drill.

Testing us? To what purpose?

To see how you would respond. Would you leave a member of your team behind to save yourself or would you decide not to split up and protect a weak member, even if it threatened you own survival?

How would you have reacted had we actually decided to leave you behind? Grayson asked, curious to hear the answer.

I would not have stopped you, but you would have failed the test. Of course, I would have been somewhat disappointed. Spending a night in this weather is no picnic without the protection of a tent. However, even though a tent provides comfort, it isn’t imperative for survival. It wouldn’t be the first time I had to fight hostile elements. Did you forget I’m an old Scout? Stonewall’s eyes sparkled with amusement. I’ve been trained for situations like this. This is nothing but a walk in the park compared to Epsilon and a few other planets I’ve been to.

Sure you have been trained, but the emphasis here is on ‘old Scout’. You’re not that young man you were on Epsilon.

What about this Epsilon? Pilsner interrupted. This is the second time you mentioned it.

I did, didn’t I? Epsilon played an important part in the history of human expansion into space. I was there twice. The first time was thirty-five years ago when the outpost was the only habitat. I was just a rookie, young and eager, with a taste for adventure. He chuckled. And adventure I found. More than I bargained for. Stonewall closed his eyes for a moment, either to remember or to shut out unpleasant memories. I fell in love with a Tangari girl. Her name was Sheera.

How did that work out?

It didn’t. Humans and Tangari are not compatible. They have wings, we are earthbound. Stonewall laughed quietly. Yet the time I spent with her was one of the best memories I have.

You said you were there twice, Pilsner said. When and why did you go back to Epsilon?

Fifteen years later. Humans had begun to colonize the planet, even though it was and still isn’t an ideal world for humans anyway. The mushroom jungles are populated with ferocious giant lizards and poisonous plants. To make it worse, the weather on Epsilon is unpredictable. Storms are wild and destructive. Humans can only survive in covered habitats.

So what is the attraction?

An abundance of minerals and gemstones, but there are other reasons why Epsilon is so desirable. It is strategically located and important for us humans if we want to keep our foothold in that region of space. The Spiders and the Dragons are also very interested in Epsilon for various reasons. In fact, twenty years ago I was instrumental in preventing a war with the Spiders—a war that could have had disastrous consequences. Humans are still newcomers to Space and a war with the Spiders or any of the reptilian races is not a good idea. It could spell the end of human expansion and possibly the annihilation of our home planet Earth.

Pilsner laughed. I think now you’re exaggerating, Stonewall. You’re underestimating the might of our Space Navy.

I’m not, Stonewall responded. Of course, you as a Union Trooper think differently. The Spiders and the Dragons were already fighting battles a hundred thousand years ago with weapons that could destroy whole planets. Humans at that time were still using wooden clubs and flint knives to kill each other.

We’ve come a long way since then, Pilsner argued.

Sure we have, but we’re babies playing with matches compared to the Spiders and most of the reptilian races. Even the Crows were traveling through Space long before man set foot on Earth’s moon for the first time.

"I agree, Stonewall, but I’m confident our