Devil at the Door

The meeting turned contentious and raucous as the scientist fought to expound on their theories regarding the causes of the extreme and unprecedented increase in seismic activity experienced along the Aleutian Trench positioned between the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. Numerous and alarmingly high magnitude earthquakes had suddenly beset the region along with the unexpected rebirth of long dormant volcanos sprinkled throughout the Aleutian Island chain. The source of the activity had been traced to the deepest section of the trench which dropped a precipitous 26,000 feet beneath the ocean surface to the deep rift along the subduction zone; that area where the Pacific Plate plunged below the North American Plate.

As the intensity and frequency of the quakes increased a gathering of the planet's preeminent geologists, seismologists, volcanologists, geophysicists and other earth science specialists had been called to try and establish the cause and formulate a possible solution to reverse the trend before a horrific catastrophe occurred. It was only a matter of time until the quakes ripped the earth's surface apart and generated cataclysmic tsunamis that would lay waste to coastal zones across the globe.

Growing weary of the unrestrained shouting between the delegates, the moderator of the meeting Admiral Harriman Nelson (ret) of the Nelson Institute of Marine Research, invoked over 40 years of military training and command presence and called the meeting back to order using a command voice that left even senior officers and NCOs wide-eyed and focused. "ENOUGH!" his voice boomed over the occupants in the room. The resulting stunned expressions and silence would have been comedic if the situation weren't so dire.

"Ladies, gentlemen, we are solving nothing with this uncontrolled and pointless chatter. We will exercise the proper decorum and courtesy that this meeting demands so that we can appropriately hear your various theories and give each the consideration it is due. Time is limited and if we do not work together we may well seal the doom of our planet. If you fail to play nice I will have you removed from the hall and we will proceed without you and possibly miss a critical piece of this puzzle because you are not here to present it. Is that understood?"

As the looks of shock and umbrage faded from the faces of the delegates and they realized Nelson was right, everyone nodded in agreement and moved to retake their seats. The worst offenders also seemed to have the good grace to blush slightly in embarrassment as they took stock of their behavior.

"Good, that is an excellent start," Nelson said. "Here is what I propose to move us forward. We will listen to theories from each of the schools of science, evaluate what they have to present then move on to developing a course of action based on what has been presented. Does that sound acceptable to everyone?"

All assembled nodded again in agreement. The implications of what was at stake should they fail to achieve their task asserted itself and those assembled subsumed their considerable egos so they could move forward towards a course of action.

"Dr. Sperry can you start us off by providing a situational briefing on the current conditions along the trench?" Nelson asked.

"Of course Admiral," Bruce Sperry replied. "As you are all well aware there has been an alarming escalation of seismic and volcanic activity along the Aleutian Trench. The first indications of this began to manifest about 18 months ago. The region, normally seismically active to begin with, has become a hotbed of activity resulting in increasingly stronger earthquakes, the eruption of 12 active volcanos along the Aleutian Island chain and the rebirth of 15 volcanos previously categorized as extinct. The magnitude of the quakes have increased from the more common 4 to 5 range on the Richter Scale to the high sevens and low eights. Given this increase we are rapidly approaching quakes that will equal or surpass the 9.2 Good Friday earthquake that decimated the Alaskan mainland in 1964. Thus far the damage has been relatively minimal centered on the Aleutian chain but as the magnitude of the quakes increase so will the damage and the areal extent of that damage. The potential for immensely destructive tsunamis is growing with each day."

"Based on the information we have received from the few sensors and probes we have in the epicenter of all this activity it's as if the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate are being ripped or shoved apart from the inside. If that is the case and the subduction zone is breached the ocean above will drain into the breach and our planet could potential be blown apart at the seams. There are also indications that the seismicity is spreading as activity has increased along the major fault lines located around the globe and as you are all aware there are major population centers along those faults," Sperry added in conclusion.

"Thank you Bruce," Nelson said. "Now let us begin addressing the issues at hand." Harri began directing the presentations from the major camps of earth sciences as they all presented their findings and offered potential solutions to quell the increased activity. As the last of the presentations was made, a young woman seated in the back of the room stood waiting to be acknowledged by the meeting chair.

"Admiral Nelson, may I speak?"

"You are?" Nelson inquired.

"Dr. Kendal Ferguson. I'm an astrophysicist from NASA, sir."

"Of course Dr. Ferguson, what would you like to share with the group?"

"Admiral, my colleagues and I believe there is another factor that could be playing into the sudden increase in activities across the planet. It's tough to say this without sounding like a "New Age" crackpot, but there is an impending planetary alignment that may be impacting forces on earth. Based on our calculations all the planets of this solar system will be in straight line alignment in 28 months. Nothing like this has ever occurred in the history of our solar system so there is no information on the effects such an event could have. What is even more troublesome is that this shouldn't occur at all. There have been shifts in the various planetary orbits and more pronounced wobbles of certain planets as they spin on their axis. " There were a number of snorts and condescending chuckles that rippled through the crowd.

"Excuse me Doctor," Nelson cut in. "I believe we all agreed to approach this situation with an open mind and afford each other the professional courtesy of listening to different or divergent points of view. Please, keep your less than constructive comments to yourself. I'm sorry for the interruption Dr. Ferguson, please continue."

"Thank you Admiral. The main reason I'm here today is to alert you to a potential source of this activity and to provide you with a timeframe in which a critical event could occur. It is well known that such alignments would have negligible effects on the earth in terms of gravity but there are other cosmic forces out there such as radiation, radio waves, solar winds plus a host of things that may be unknown to us. We find these recent events to be more than a little coincidental given the increased activities in the Aleutian Trench have mirrored the changes we have seen. We believe that in not offering this information for your consideration we would be negligent. There's nothing we as a people or planet can do on the universal scale to restore the planets to their original trajectory but we may be able to affect some mitigation of the forces on the earth if this information is added to the mix. Thank you for your attention."

The room remained silent for a moment following Dr. Ferguson's comments as the assembled scientists considered the information provided as a potential source for the increased activity. Kendal was gratified and relieved that she wasn't laughed out of the hall in large part thanks to Admiral Nelson's admonishment to those in the room.

"Thank you, Dr. Ferguson that indeed is something to consider," Nelson finally said. "I suggest we all take the next 90 minutes to go to lunch and to consider all that we have heard thus far. We will reconvene at 1300 to begin formulating a plan of action." There was a murmur of agreement and the meeting participants rose and began filing out of the room.

"Dr. Ferguson, a moment please," Nelson called out over the din. Harri made his way across the room and extended his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Admiral Nelson," Kendal said taking the admiral's hand. "And thank you very much for allowing me to speak."

"The pleasure is mine, Doctor. That is some revelation you made, I was wondering if I could get a copy of the results of your scans and observations?" Harri asked.

"By all means Admiral, I think you'll find that our observations paint a rather startling picture of the local celestial neighborhood." Kendal replied.

"Most assuredly," Nelson replied. "Given my review of the data collected here on earth, I'm hard pressed to identify a specific source for the drastic changes we've seen of late. The idea of an extraterrestrial source poses some very interesting questions and I think gives us at least a timeline on which to work."

"That was our whole intent sir, as we started seeing the patterns and potentials we got the feeling it may just be one of the sources of the recent activity. If there's anything we can do to assist your efforts to resolve this problem please let me know and we'll provide any help you might need."

"I appreciate that Dr. Ferguson, we may take you up on that offer," Nelson replied as he pulled his business card out of his pocket. "If you would be so kind as to transmit your data to my personal email account I would appreciate that as well."

"Of course Admiral Nelson, I'll take care of it personally. Well sir I need to be on my way, I have other business while I'm here in D.C.," Kendal said as she handed her card to Nelson. "If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to contact me."

"Thank you, Doctor and the same holds true for me. I look forward to talking with you in the future." Nelson once more shook Ferguson's hand and then made his way to his hotel room to alert his staff at NIMR about the new information.

The remaining conference transpired with less drama and the committee settled on a list of tasks that needed to be completed in the near term. The first task was to deploy more sophisticated sensors along the trench especially at the epicenter of the events. Additional monitoring needed to be conducted on the volcanoes along the Aleutian Island chain as well as positioning more sensors along the other major faults around the world.

With regards to positioning the sensors in the Aleutian Trench there was no question as to which platform was to be used. Nelson's research submarine SSRN Seaview was the logical choice as she represented the largest and most technologically advanced vessel in the world and one of the most highly regarded command crews in or out of the Navy, Captain Lee Crane and Commander Chip Morton to boot.

()()()()()

The time was drawing near, it could feel it and the growing sense of anticipation at its opportunity to escape was nearly unendurable. It had been eons since it had been imprisoned in this cell of solid iron wrapped in molten rock, hardened mantel and fathoms of water. It had been patient recouping its powers biding its time until the galactic forces aligned giving it access to that last bit of energy it needed to shatter these bonds and escape to exact its revenge on those who so cruelly trapped it here.

It had been with this planet since its birth. It felt the comings and goings of the eons and epochs, knowing all those creatures that called this place home. Only now with the current dominant version of life did it have something to work with to aid it in its bid for freedom. It had been with them from the start when they first emerged from the primordial ooze and it pushed and wheedled its way into their minds and subconscious through dreams and distant voices.

It found those consumed with greed and the lust for power to be the most easily influenced and infiltrated their thoughts inflaming their hunger and thirst for conquest and domination. It seeded their dreams with the need to develop bigger and more destructive weapons capable of blowing this world apart in their desire to vanquish all adversaries. It also blurred the realities that those very weapons would destroy them as well as those they chose to enslave, to keep them striving ever forward. It fueled their blind fanaticism and stroked their wanting egos as it drew them closer to their extinction. It funneled its anger, cruelty, malevolence and hate into their being leading them most willingly to their doom. It needed their help to crack the mantle, to open the door to the outside universe then nothing would be safe in its quest for vengeance.

It had reclaimed the ability to move the orbs around this star to focus the energy it needed to complete its escape. There would be no one here to stop it now, the Keepers were no doubt long gone or had forgotten their charge locked away until the end of time. That would be their undoing; it had to proceed cautiously so as not to draw attention to its actions until it was too late. If it still had a face the thoughts of escape and retribution would have manifested in a nasty and foreboding grin.

()()()()()

Harri climbed out of the limousine after it pulled to a stop in front of the NIMR admin building. He had caught the red eye out of DC without alerting his captain Lee Crane because he didn't want to disturb him. Had he let Lee know, he would have been at the airport at 0300 to collect his boss and bring him back to the institute. Harri watched as the driver pulled his bags from the trunk and set them on the curb.

"That's fine Robert; I'll take them in myself. Thanks for the ride, head on home and catch up on some sleep." Nelson said as he moved to pick up his suitcase.

"You sure Admiral, it's no bother."

"Yes I'm sure, go on and head for home," Nelson said with a smile and then turned and walked up the steps to the building. When he reached the front door he set down one of his bags and started fishing for his keys, as he pulled them from his pants pocket the door suddenly swung open and Lee Crane stepped out.

"Good morning, sir. You know you should have called and I would have picked you up," Lee said with a smile.

"Good morning Lee and what the hell are you doing here?" Harri replied with a smile.

"You honestly think I don't keep tabs on you?" Lee laughed. "Actually I just got here myself to catch up on a little work while it's quiet."

"Lee its 0430, you should be home in bed sleeping not burning the midnight oil. No wonder Jamie harps on you about getting more rest and relaxation." Harri let loose an exasperated sigh at Lee's shrug and smile.

"So how was the meeting sir? Did they actually come to any resolution or plan of action?"

"Surprisingly yes," Harri replied with a chuckle. "There was a very interesting bit of information regarding changes within our solar system from a representative of NASA which may or may not play into the changes we've seen. The bottom line though is that more information from the subduction zone along the trench is needed and NIMR and Seaview have been assigned the task of deploying the sensors."

"That's not too unexpected. I had assumed something along those lines and already have Chip laying out the ground work for the mission," Lee responded.

Harri just stared at him for a moment his eyebrows raised in amazement. "Then why did I bother to go to the conference if you had it all figured out? I could have saved myself a week of exasperation and headaches." He shook his head and just laughed at Lee's apparent ability to plan for every contingency.

"Oh come on sir, it doesn't take a genius to know that scientists always want more data and what vessel is better suited to deposit additional sensors in a deep and seismically active trench than Seaview?"

"I guess you've got me there. Well come on son let's head on in, get a cup of coffee and you can tell me what else you've planned for on this mission."

Lee smiled at Harri then laughed. He picked up one of his bags and opened the door for the admiral. Harri grabbed the other patted Lee on the back and entered the building. They walked down the hall caught the elevator up to the executive floor and then headed to Harri's office.

As Harri freshened up in his private bathroom Lee started the coffee and retrieved the box of donuts from his office. He poured two cups of coffee and set out napkins so they could enjoy the treats without dusting the entire room with powdered sugar.

"Thanks Lee, I'm famished," Harri said as he pulled a couple of the pastries out of the box and sat down at the conference table.

"You're welcome sir," Lee replied as he sipped on his coffee and joined the admiral at the table.

"Aren't you going to have any?"

"I'm not that hungry yet sir." Harri glowered at him for a moment, Lee finally relented and picked up a chocolate frosted donut. "So what all do we need to prepare for this cruise, Admiral?"

"There is a shipment of 100 seismic sensors en route as we speak, along with the software package to set them up and get them running. NASA also has some sensors and a couple of probes they want deployed to test out their theories regarding the planetary shifts they've observed."

"Are we bringing any passengers with us this time?" Lee inquired.

"NASA will be sending along their lead astrophysicist to assist with the calibration of the sensors once they're dropped into the trench and to operate their probes. I believe it will most likely be Dr. Kendal Ferguson."

"Fine, if you can give me his contact information I'll get in touch with him and see if there are any special accommodations needed for his equipment."

"She," Nelson replied.

"She, sir?"

"Dr. Ferguson is a she and here's her card."

"Very well, I'll contact Dr. Ferguson and see if she needs anything special for the mission. Anything else we need to address, sir?"

"No I think that's enough for now Lee. I want to shoot for departure in a week if that's doable and I think we should plan on at least 3 months to get everything laid out and operational," Harri added.

"Not a problem. Other than waiting for the special equipment, we're ready to sail at a moment's notice. Once Chip gets in I'll get him started on recalling the crew and outfitting the boat for our voyage."

()()()()()

Over 100 billion light years across the universe an ancient entity was stirred from its slumber by a shift in the universe it did not recognize. Like a spider sitting on its web the slight tremble in the continuum rippled through existence alerting it to the unusual change. Slowly it focused its massive mind and systematically scoured the vast expanse for the source of the disturbance, much like following the ripples on the surface of the water back to the source.

As it neared the area of origination a sense of familiarity with this galactic backwater began to register. The images of that long past event flashed vividly through its consciousness igniting a sense of alarm. There's no way these changes should be taking place, they had locked it away, rendered it powerless and impotent. They had imprisoned it so that it never could escape and threaten the universe again.

The entity shot out a scan which quickly traversed the inconceivable distance and conducted a complete assessment of the area looking ardently for a small blue planet positioned third from its sun. Touching the orb with its mind it was shocked to find the entity within alert and exerting its own force on the planets orbiting that small sun.

This was not possible; it should have no power to act beyond its prison of iron. As it touched the planet an insidious and cruel intelligence rumbled across the distance. The game was about to start anew with a refreshed and revitalized foe. This could not be permitted; measures had to be taken to keep the entity contained and forever seal its doom.