Trees, mountains, reasonable atmosphere, with only slightly higher increases in radiation seemed the planetary norm. Fairly certain he had all the information he needed, Kellek loaded up his mobile assembly lab, his surviving twelve “altered” warriors of the House, and as many workers as he could get before heading into the gate which were seventy five in number. Upon arrival he established orbit and took more readings of the planet as well as where its niobium veins were, and made all ready for planet fall. His entry into the atmosphere of Earth was uneventful and he set down in what would later come to be known as western North America.
He did not realize it at the time but his construction of the gate and its weird vibrations and energies had deposited him in the late Jurassic period of Earth’s history. Space and time are tied together separated by only a thin energy membrane as we would understand it. In essence one location can lead to all times within it; everything that ever occurred there could be visited if one knew the proper coordinates. Kellek in his mad rush to complete his pet project did not take this into account and thus deposited himself in the past without even realizing it. He found himself in the time of monsters, containing no intelligent life as we would understand it. Of course he was over joyed to observe and record the beasts who roamed the land looking for a suitable weapon perhaps contained on this world to use against his enemies back home.
As he observed and recorded, he sent his workforce out to start harvesting the young planets niobium resources. Passing his time tweaking his portable lab, recording the activities of the world’s native species, and generally having a good ol time for a scientist. He observed the dreaded Allosaurus during its hunts, the water loving giant Supersaurus, and of course the Stegosaurus, among a score of others roaming and ruling the land. It was the Stegosaurus that fascinated him the most in this world of huge monsters. It was well protected with sharp spines along its back, a spiked tail and was heavily muscled. It cared not one bit about the others around it; rather it went where it would confident in its own abilities to protect itself. It moved in herds able to protect either an individual or the group as a whole. As he observed them Kellek began to form an idea. What if he used this world’s niobium to craft his own Stegosaurus? He could make huge mechs with the resources of this virgin planet, equip them with terrible weapons, ship them back home, and earn the respect and adoration of his House for all time.
Once his work force had assembled enough niobium Kellek sent his work station into motion crafting his first mech. He made them containing complex arrays of ball and socket joints to mimic the maneuverability of the actual creatures. He included mico-niode systems in each joint to provide as of yet unheard of control, all tied into one central niode system in the mechs cockpit. He amplified input to the central “brain” system of the mech to allow for increased detection radius, as well as an unheard of energy analyzer system in the sensors of the mech. Kellek devised extra plating to work in conjunction with shielding to protect the mech without having to sacrifice maneuverability for a machine so large. This allowed it to have extra protection in battle as well as be able to access quickly an internal thermal regulator contained within its systems. This was a very important piece of the mech as the world around Kellek had inspired him to make the weapons mainly those of flame. Volcanic eruptions, lava flows, hot springs, were strewn across the land, all served to further the destructive power of this machine.
His crowning achievement was to equip the machines with what we now call the Jurassic Blast mechanism. Through absorption of ambient light and radiation combined with vibrational frequencies the mech could create plasma cones of intense energy and destructive power. Satisfied with is design, and all his simulation results he began work on his first Ignis mech. During this time Kellek suffered setbacks of course. Workers and his altered dozen would run afoul of this or that creature native to the planet and be destroyed or eaten. When he grew shorthanded he simply made drone machines to do the work he needed. He of course made certain they could defend themselves adequately and gave no thought to his lost crew. In roughly a months’ time of nonstop work he had his first Ignis assembled and ready to be put through its paces. He picked a local Allosaurus as his first target. Mainly because it was the biggest of its kind to be found, also because it was the one who had eaten most of his workforce.
Kellek boarded his newly made Ignis, switched it on, and walked right up to the monster he had chosen for his first target. The creature was confused to see this shiny beast walk right up to it, confusion quickly gave way to rage as the Allosaurus was unable to deter the new creation with its roars and body language. The Ignus came under attack swiftly from the living monster, teeth crunched down on its metal body and predictably shattered, claws barely scratched the exterior hull, body checks failed to so much as budge the mech. Finally Kellek was satisfied with his creations defensive abilities. He switched on its primary weapon systems, powered up the mechs spines, and simply roasted the doomed Allosaurus where it stood. One moment it was roaring loudly while charging at the mech, the next it was little more than half atomized roasted meat.
Kellek was greatly pleased with his new creation, putting his drones and his work station into overdrive he commenced the production of a small army of the design, knowing that this machine could drive back the beast mechs attacking his House and his city. What he didn’t know is that when he returned it would all be just about over…
To be continued..
Submitted by Pat Willis#224534