Blue Sky of Mars

by Christopher R Wills

  “Then when he’s finished, you had better hand him a towel. Bye.” Jethro left hearing “I’ll get you back for this Jethro Tull.”

  Jethro found Gunny still in the storage area. Gunny told him they had found some amazing things in their search and that they had all been loaded on the Methuselah.

  “By the way Gunny, that salute was a nice touch back there. Thanks.”

  “I saw your friend in the Galleon. Looked like he needed a pickup.”

  “Are we ready to take off?”

  “Fifteen minutes, sir. Oh, I put your stuff in the XO’s cabin along with a couple of souvenirs, one for you and one for your friend.”

  “Souvenirs?”

  “Something for the stately hall you will retire to one day sir.”

  “Do you really think I will live that long?”

  “Don’t say that sir. I used to think like that but now I think of retiring to a place with a big garden so I can raise chickens and grow my own food.”

  “That’s a great dream.” Mom and Dad don’t even know I’m alive yet. I wonder how the harvest is going and who is looking after the sheep?

  Jethro returned to the ship to find Conrad almost fully dressed, having eaten his lunch and Doc had left.

  “This is your ship Jethro. Why are you making me Captain?”

  “I’m not a ship’s Captain. You are. Anyway. It’s the falling off a horse thing. The sooner you get back on the better.”

  “You’re a star Jethro. You really are. You can be my number one.”

  “Just go easy on my crew, they’re not a fully trained ship’s crew, more of a thrown together at the last minute sort of crew.”

  “Has that got something to do with those marks on your neck?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it on the journey back.”

  “Jethro, I owe you my life. Ask me a favor, and I’ll do anything for you. I’ll even ask my sister to date you if that’s what you want.”

  Do I want to date Bronte? Is Mars red?

  “So if I ask you anything,” said Jethro. “Do you promise me you’ll do it for me?”

  “Anything Jethro. You only have to ask.”

  “I want you to promise me Conrad that when you get to Earth, you will go for a full treatment of counseling. You are far too good an officer for the fleet to lose. Will you promise me that?”

  “Is that all? Of course Jethro. I promise I’ll do that. Come here.”

  Jethro felt himself being crushed by Conrad’s hug which made him feel great. He knew Conrad would be OK. But he mentally kicked himself that he didn’t agree to Conrad asking his sister Bronte to date him.

  chapter 37

  “How is she, Doc?”

  “Not bad considering everything she’s been through. It would be good if you could spend some time with her once you’ve got the ship back to Earth.”

  “Conrad’s the captain. He will fly us back to Earth.”

  “And you’re OK with that?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you told me you always wanted to fly spaceships.”

  “Yes I know. But I found out I’m better at doing something else.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Killing.”

  “Jethro. Don’t think like that.”

  “It’s true though isn’t it.” Jethro was more sad than angry at this epiphany.

  “We’re at war Jethro. You do what you must do so we can live in peace. So your parents can live in peace on the farm.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  Jethro felt himself being grabbed roughly by the Doc and being hugged.

  “Jethro. There’s a good man inside you. Please hang on to him because one day you will need him.”

  Jethro knocked on the door to Maddy’s cabin.

  “Come in.”

  “Oh it’s you. Hello Jethro.” Maddy smiled at him but it was not the smile of an old friend he hadn’t seen for a long time; it was the smile of someone who didn’t feel like smiling but knew what was expected.

  Jethro sat on the chair opposite Maddy, who sat up in bed.

  “How’s it going?”

  What a stupid question to ask.

  “Oh, OK.”

  In other words…

  Jethro sat in silence for a moment trying to think of what to say to his old friend. They grew up together as their farms were next to each other on the edge of Dartmoor. They went to school together and were like brother and sister or best mates. Jethro never really recognized Maddy as a girl because she was always there; until her family sold up and left for Mars.

  They were even supposed to be married. According to Mum and according to Maddy’s mum.

  The war between Mars and Earth was over and peace created opportunities. Many had died on both sides and Mars wanted more people so they made generous offers to attract people like farmers who could contribute to society. On Earth the war had meant farmers were not as necessary because during the war farming had largely become industrialized to release people for the military. Jethro’s parents' farm only survived because Jethro’s dad was a veteran and received a tiny pension.

  I hope Mum and Dad are getting on OK.

  “What are you thinking about Jethro?”

  “Mum and Dad and the farm.”

  Idiot. Don’t remind her of her mum and dad, and their farm. Find something else to talk about.

  “I see you’ve got some clothes to wear.”

  That’s lame Jethro.

  “How are your mum and dad?”

  She’s been out of circulation. She doesn’t know. I’d better tell her.

  Jethro pulled the zipper of his tunic from the neck down.

  “Jethro. That scar.” Her face betrayed her shock. “You poor thing. How did you get it? You must have suffered.”

  Jethro could see that Maddy was animated now. She was concerned, and she was interested. This was a good topic for Jethro to raise even if it was still painful for him to talk about. It would take her mind off her own thoughts even if it was only briefly.

  He told Maddy the story of what happened when he went back to the city of Uruk to find Major Miserere and his team. He told her of the destruction of the city by the aliens and of his meeting Doc and how he and his team had rebuilt a spaceship in a scrap yard and flown it to crash land on the Moon.

  Then he told her the painful bit where he felt betrayed by his planet and his Court Martial and the sentence. At this moment Maddy got out of bed and sat on the side and held both Jethro’s hands.

  “Go on Jethro, tell me what happened next.”

  Something wrong here. I came to see you to get you talking. Oh well.

  Jethro told her of the execution and his mission to the far side of the Moon to rescue his team and the visit to the South Pole on Mars meeting up with Doc again although he missed out one event. Finally, he told her of his team finding the Blackbird and his version of the rescue.

  Maddy still held his hands and wouldn’t let go even though tears were streaming down her cheeks.

  Why is she crying?

  Jethro had never understood women, so he let her cry because maybe she wanted to.

  Finally, she let go and dabbed her shiny cheeks with the sleeves of her bed dress.

  “What did your mum and dad say when you told them all this?”

  “I haven’t been able to tell them. My mission is so secret that even members of the Earth government don’t know about it. There are people on Earth who don’t believe in aliens. They think it’s a trick by Mars to start another war.”

  “But that’s stupid.”

  “I know.”

  “And your mum and dad still think you’re dead?”

  “Yes.”

  “They must be devastated.”

  Jethro had no answer to that.

  “When we get to Earth Jethro, take me to see your mum and dad.”

  “I will.”

  I’d like to see them as well.

  Jethro had to go. He said his goodb
yes to Maddy, happy that she was in a better state than when he arrived but no idea how he had achieved it. He went to see Conrad who was still in the Captain’s cabin.

  “You ready Conrad?”

  Conrad stood up and straightened his uniform. “Yes I’m ready.”

  “I’ll take you to the Bridge and hand over to you there. I’ll hang around for take-off because it’s not the same as the Blackbird. OK?”

  “Thanks.”

  “After that Brains can fill you in.”

  “Brains?”

  “One of my Space Marines, but she practically built the engine of the Methuselah so if there’s a problem she’s effectively the Chief Engineer.”

  Jethro led Conrad to the Bridge.

  “Captain on the Bridge.” Jethro stated before anyone else had the chance.

  Conrad stepped onto the Bridge but looked nervous.

  Jethro gently showed him to his seat. As Conrad sat in the Captain’s chair he visibly grew in stature.

  There was a nervous tension in the air amongst the Bridge crew. They were all Jethro’s team, as Doc suggested that none of the original Blackbird team were yet in a fit state to resume their duties. Jethro hoped Conrad was ready. He saw Conrad looking around.

  Come on Conrad, you can do it.

  “Prepare for take-off,” Conrad commanded.

  “Aye aye sir,” Brains replied.

  The tension was gone. Conrad was back in role. At least for now.

  “This is your Captain speaking.” Conrad was on the Methuselah intercom. “We are preparing for take-off, strap yourselves in. Ten minutes and counting.”

  Jethro now knew that Conrad was on the whole going to be OK, if there were no problems. He strapped himself in to his old chair at the controls next to Brains. Oh well. He had flown his spaceship, even though it was a hundred years out of date and falling apart at the seams.

  “Pre-flight checks all done and good sir.”

  “Very good. Ten seconds and counting.”

  Take-off was mostly smooth, and they headed for space.

  “Sir?” Jethro asked.

  “Yes number one.”

  “Suggest we man the guns.”

  Conrad didn’t answer straight away.

  Come on Conrad.

  “Good idea number one, please can you see to it?”

  “Aye aye sir. Permission to leave the Bridge?”

  “Granted.”

  Jethro left to tour the guns. They had managed to fit two extra guns from the Blackbird onto the Methuselah, making her reasonably armed for an old EMV. He found Gunny giving instructions to the Blackbird crew on how to use the older Methuselah guns. He stood the class down and told them to practice with the older guns, and he told Jones to release the target drones for practice firing.

  Jethro asked Gunny about the guns.

  “Happy we’ve now got two more powerful guns from the Blackbird. There’s one mounted on top and one on the underside to give the best coverage.”

  The Methuselah had adequate guns but the Blackbird’s guns were faster firing, more powerful and had better targeting and tracking capability. Gunny hoped this would make them more than a match for any alien craft they might meet.

  Jethro hoped so too.

  “I’ve put the Blackbird gunners on their own guns because they’re better trained on them.”

  Jethro felt they were better prepared than ever for an attack by aliens.

  He passed the Engine room on his way back to the Bridge and heard a discussion going on so he entered to find the Chief Engineer of the Blackbird with Brains looking at the open cowling of the Methuselah engines.

  “Everything OK?” Jethro asked. “Morning Mac.”

  “Jethro, I havenae thanked you yet for rescuing me.”

  “It wasn’t me. Everyone in my team played their part.”

  “Och I know that, but thanks anyway.”

  “No problem. How’s it going Brains?”

  “Just showing the Chief Engineer our power pack, sir.”

  “And a very good power pack it is,” said Mac. “I havenae seen one of these beasties for many years and I’m impressed young Brains here got it to work.”

  “She has her uses.”

  “If you ever tire of her, I’ll gladly take her off your hands. Anyone that can get the mark one anti-matter engine working is fine by me.”

  The ship shook and Mac issued several curses that Jethro had never heard before.

  “Sir, what’s going on?” Brains asked.

  “Aliens.” Jethro was calm and cold. “They’ve found us and they’re attacking.”

  chapter 38

  Ted: “We return to our main story tonight for an update. Hundreds of tourists were drowned today as the cruise liner, Hafgufa, was mysteriously sunk.”

  Alice: “Sorry to interrupt you there Ted, but unconfirmed reports are coming in that a huge sea monster rolled the cruise liner over and pulled it down into the deep. We can’t corroborate those reports and so at the moment it is still part of the speculation what happened.”

  Ted: “Thanks, Alice. The tragedy happened above the Challenger Deep, which is the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. Challenger Deep is about two thousand kilometers south of Japan. Rescue teams are racing to the area as daylight breaks. Satellite images confirm that there are many people in lifeboats but also many are still in the water and sharks alerted by the commotion are feasting on survivors in the water.”

  Alice: “Thanks Ted. I presume you’ve canceled your cruise.”

  Ted: “Yes Alice. We canceled a while back when we were having a few problems.”

  Alice: “How are things between you and the wife now?”

  Ted: “Back in the house but still in the spare bedroom.”

  Alice: “Maybe it’s a good job you didn’t go on your cruise then.”

  Ted: “We were booked on this trip on the Hafgufa.”

  Alice: “What? Oh my God. I’m so sorry Ted, I didn’t mean… I hope you’re…”

  Ted: “I know, Alice.”

  Alice: “So that was the World News for today. Remember people, unlike other news channels we deal in facts. We don’t make this up.”

  chapter 39

  Jethro raced to the Bridge and was nearly thrown off his feet twice when the ship rocked from an attack.

  On the Bridge, Jethro could hear loud voices. He knew what he had to do. He stopped just short of the door out of the range of the sensors. He calmly counted to five, ten would be pushing it whilst under attack, and he regulated his breathing. Then he walked to the door and stepped onto the Bridge.

  “Sir, we need to get out of here fast.”

  “Sir, we need to close all the fire doors.”

  “Sir, we need to…”

  Jethro heard all these requests by members of the Bridge in the time it took for him to reach Conrad, sitting in the Captain’s chair. As soon as they saw that Jethro was on the Bridge, they tailed off in respectful silence.

  Conrad was staring wide-eyed to his front and from what Jethro could see at nothing. He leaned close to Conrad’s ear.

  “Give the order for action stations, close all fire doors.”

  Conrad immediately responded onto the ship intercom. “Action stations. Close all fire doors. Guns attack when targets gained. Maintenance party report.”

  Despite another hit, Jethro could feel the sense of relief on the Bridge, now that order had been restored. The maintenance party reported.

  “Starboard gun hit. Under maintenance. One crew dead one wounded. Out.”

  “Very good. Report as required.”

  This was a standard order under fire asking the maintenance crew to only report changes to the current state of the ship with the Captain reserving the right to ask for an overall assessment occasionally.

  “Aye aye sir.”

  “Suggestions Jethro?” Conrad asked. His voice was calm and ordered which made Jethro feel better.

  Jethro looked at the chart. They were too far from Mars
to return and too far from the Moon to bring the Moon’s defenses into play. There were at least six alien ships out there if not more and there might be others on the way. The Methuselah was an EMV and not designed as a fighting craft; they were doomed to fail.

  There appeared to be only two choices: stay and fight, with the predictable end; or run for Earth, but the ship could never outrun the aliens. If only they had hyper-drive, a new very rapid mode of flying short distances.

  Hyper-drive was being installed in all the current ships in the Earth fleet. The Blackbird was due to go in for refit after its current tour of duty. The refit was not a new engine only a reconfiguration of the current engine system to get the massive power burst needed for the short hyper-drive blast without damaging the engines.

  A thought came to Jethro. The Methuselah’s engines were a bastardisation of old and new. He wondered if it was possible.

  “I have an idea that probably won’t work but I need to talk to Mac and Brains.”

  “What’s your idea?”

  “Hyper-drive.”

  “This old crate hasn’t got Hyper-drive. I doubt they had even invented it when the Methuselah was built.”

  “I can ask Mac and Brains, you never know.”

  “We’re running out of options. Try it.”

  “You OK?”

  “I’m good now, Jethro. Thanks.”

  Would now be a good time to ask for that date with your sister?

  The Methuselah rocked as it was hit again.

  Perhaps not.

  “Permission to leave the Bridge.”

  “You don’t need my permission Jethro. This is your ship.”

  Jethro left the Bridge in the capable hands of Conrad and headed for the engine rooms.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Mac answered. “This is a museum piece not a state-of-the-art patrol ship or destroyer.”

  “Technically it is possible,” said Brains. “We have all the right bits, but not necessarily in the right place.”

  “You’ll tear the ship apart.”

  “Mac,” said Jethro. “If we do nothing, the aliens will tear the ship apart for us.”

  As if to support Jethro, the ship rocked again.

  “Aye that they will,” Mac replied. “Well, come on then young Brains what do we need to do?”

  Brains explained to Mac what they had to do to the engines to allow them to engage Hyper-drive. It was above Jethro’s head.