Matt Black - Book 1 of Re-Forge

Legacy

A few months later, after many training missions, and completion of the 'live' mission to capture the very rich asteroid called Suleiman's Mine, Defender maintained a low stationary orbit above the continent of Australia. Matt's senior officers gathered in the main conference room to discuss strategy for Defender's new mission.

They stood and bowed as Matt entered and Matt bowed back, then said: "Good morning, everyone. I'll start by looking backward and saying that the President has commended our last mission. Sulieman's Mine is positioned perfectly and the mineral surveyors have finished assessing its estimated value."

Matt laughed and said: "I can say with absolute certainty that Defender has paid for herself many times over. Suleiman's Mine will supply an abundance of energy and rare minerals to the colony for many years. I applaud you all and acknowledge President Suleiman's input." Matt joined in with the applause.

He said: "It's time to look forward and move on to the real reason we're out here. That is, as you know, to find our roots... Anything that will assist us. As we move into the future we will face many challenges, not only from domestic enemies, but an unmeasurably deadly alien enemy is on the way."

"Since I was a child, I have felt that Darwin's theory of evolution is spot on. It is especially right in the one area of doubt relating to the unexplained gaps in human evolution that a man named Charles Lyell identified and called... The Missing link."

Joshua asked: "Who is Charles Lyell, Matt."

Matt said: "Charles Lyell was the mentor of Charles Darwin."

With a toothy smile Joshua said: "Ahh, so that's good to know."

Matt ignored Joshua's cheeky tone and continued: "Yes, it is because my decision to go against conventional thought and commit to proving that there never was a link to begin with, led Carl to me."

"I am certain that the answer to our future lies in discovering our past and in particular... Why there is a missing link."

He said: "Commander Aziz has been busy researching vague clues that Carl has given her over the last few weeks while the rest of us performed Defender's 'bread and butter' tasks."

Matt smiled and said: "I'm pleased to say that her hard work has borne fruit and has led her to pinpoint a small town in Eastern Australia called Wellington."

Matt ordered: "Defender, zoom in using a satellite feed to highlight the small town on the southern continent called Wellington."

The holographic display zoomed in Matt continued: "There is cave system almost directly south of Wellington township that interests us. It is a one of the most geographically stable locations on the planet and has survived for millions of years."

Most importantly, when Commander Aziz suggested this location, Carl said he felt a sense of positive assertion that indicates Commander Aziz is right, but later Carl said he also has feelings of danger and caution."

"I interpret this response as; proceed with caution. Why? Because there must be something of value that will be protected and that means danger for the person trying to claim it."

Carl stood and bowed, then waited until Matt acknowledged the interruption before saying: "I apologise for not being more helpful, but I believe that the knowledge I can access is staggered for excellent reasons."

"It is essential for humans to reach critical stages of technological development before information is unlocked from my memory. I don't know why yet, but I surmise that if we find things thing too early or too late, the outcome may be catastrophic."