Bethany 
The flickering candlelight in Elias Greaves’s study cast long shadows on the walls, mirroring the turmoil in his mind. The discovery of Lunaris was a huge shock and a matter of confusion. The discovery of the Lunaris Constructs had shattered everything he thought he knew about the cosmos. But now, there were bigger questions—ones that could no longer be ignored.
Who had suppressed Herschel’s true findings? And more importantly why ?? Thaddeus Pike paced the room and stole the observatory ledger clenched his hand. “It doesn’t make sense,” he muttered.
“If Herschel truly saw these structures, why didn’t he document them in detail? His records say nothing of it.”
Elias ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “Because they made him change the records. And they made sure the world believed the Moon was something it was not.” Thaddeus snorted. “With fair tales about the lunar bat-men?”
“Exactly.” Elias pulled out the letter from the mysterious informant. “They knew people would find out something was on the Moon. Hence, they fed them a lie that was so outrageous that real scientists would dismiss the entire notion.
“Exactly.” Elias pulled out the letter from the mysterious informant. “They knew people would find out something was on the Moon. So they fed them a lie so outrageous that real scientists would dismiss the entire notion.”
Thaddeus frowned. “A scientific red herring…”
“More than that.” Elias’s eyes gleamed. “A cover-up with precision. But why go to such lengths?”
A sudden knock at the door silenced them. Elias stiffened. “Did anyone follow you?”
“No one,” Thaddeus said.
The knock came again which seemed desperate.
Elias slid a hand in his drawer where he had kept his revolver shielding getting some power over the unknown fore outside the door. “Who is it?”
A voice answered, low and urgent. “I have answers. But we don’t have much time.”
Elias exchanged a wary glance with Thaddeus before unlocking the door.
A woman stepped inside, clad in a woolen coat, her dark eyes scanning the room. She shut the door behind her.”You’ve seen them, haven’t you?”
“You’ve seen them, haven’t you?” she asked, voice steady. “The structures.” Elias hesitated. ” And who might you be?” She pulled back her hood. “Catherine Bellamy. I was an assistant to Herschel.” Thaddeau’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s impossible, he never hired a female assistant.”
“Not officially,” she prompted “Herschel trusted very few people. And I know what he saw.”
Elias narrowed his eyes. “You’re saying he truly did witness these constructs?”
Catherine stepped forward, setting a tattered journal on the desk. “He saw them, documented them, and tried to share his findings. That’s when the letters came.”
“Threats?” Elias asked.
She nodded. “From an anonymous source. They told him to fabricate a more… palatable discovery. One that the scientific community would scoff at while the public was entertained. Thus, the Moon Hoax was born.”
Thaddeus exhaled sharply. “But who could have the power to silence Herschel?”
Catherine turned the journal’s pages. “That’s where it gets stranger. He wasn’t silenced by the Royal Astronomical Society.” She looked up. “He was silenced by someone far beyond Earth.”
A long silence filled the room. Elias’s hands tightened into fists. “What are you suggesting?”
Catherine’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Herschel received a final letter before he stopped his research. It wasn’t from any government or organization we know.”
She turned the journal to a particular page. A single phrase had been scrawled in Herschel’s own hand:
“You are not the first to look upon us. You will not be the last. But you must look no further.”
Elias’s breath hitched. “This… this was a message?”
Catherine nodded. “He didn’t just see them, Dr. Greaves. They saw him.”
Thaddeus let out a nervous chuckle. “Now, hold on. Are we actually suggesting extraterrestrial intelligence sent a direct warning? In English?”
Catherine shook her head. “No. The message came in an unknown script. Herschel translated it to the best of his ability. He wasn’t the only astronomer who saw the constructs, but he was the only one who was warned.”
Elias took a deep breath, grounding himself. “If what you’re saying is true, then these constructs aren’t just remnants of an ancient civilization. They’re active. Intelligent. And they don’t want us looking.”
Catherine’s expression darkened. “Which is why we have to find out why.”
A silence fell over them as the weight of the moment settled. Then Thaddeus sighed. “I assume you have a plan?”
Catherine smirked. “Of course. We need to see the Moon for ourselves.”
Elias frowned. “The observatory is no longer safe. They know we’ve been watching.”
Catherine slid a folded document onto the table. “Which is why I suggest we use a telescope they don’t know about.”
Elias opened the paper—and his breath caught.
It was a ship manifest.
Destination: South Africa.
Cargo: A fully equipped refracting Telescopic lie.
Owner: Sir John Herschel.
Elias’s gaze snapped to Catherine. “You mean to tell me Herschel’s original telescope is still operational?”
She nodded. “It’s hidden. And if we can reach it, we’ll see the Moon as he did.”
Thaddeus whistled. “That’s halfway across the world. And let me guess… we’re not exactly welcome on passenger ships anymore?”
Catherine smiled. “I know a captain who asks no questions—so long as you have gold.”
Elias leaned back, mind racing. “We have one chance to uncover the truth.”
Catherine nodded. “Then we best not waste it.”
The journey to South Africa would be perilous. The eyes watching them from the shadows would not rest. But one thing was clear—Herschel’s lie had protected the world from something vast, something ancient.
And now, they were sailing straight toward it.
To be continued…
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