Off Course

by Doug Farren

  AJ didn't know what to say. The Keldans had been living under the threat of extinction for nearly a half a century. Everything they had questioned about the Keldan's treatment of their world was suddenly answered. Why go to the expense of protecting the environment when the entire planet would soon be obliterated?

  Thomas took a couple of steps toward the Captain and said, “We can't let this race perish. They seem peaceful enough – I say we give them stardrive technology and tell them how to build fusion reactors to power it.”

  “I'm sure Earth and the other races will help as well,” Heather said. “He's right AJ – we can't let these people down. We've got to help them.”

  The Captain didn't know what to say. Despite what many people believed, there was no official policy concerning the transfer of technology to a less developed culture. The ability to build a stardrive required an extremely high level of technological competence. Simply giving the Keldans the plans to build a stardrive wouldn't work unless they had the background knowledge to understand what it was they were building.

  If this situation wasn't handled correctly, the Keldans could halt construction of their ships in the hopes of replacing them with faster-than-light spaceships. If they failed to understand the technology or failed to develop the ability to build the drive systems in time, then their entire race would be doomed. Yet, not giving them the technology would be the logical equivalent of genocide.

  Since nobody had the mike keyed on the transceiver, Goeglict had no idea what the conversation had been about. Not knowing what else to do, he waited.

  “Based upon what you’ve just told us,” AJ finally said, “it’s been suggested that we provide you with stardrive technology. Doing so could, on the one hand, help you build bigger and better ships to evacuate your people. On the other hand, it would require you to devote resources and materials towards understanding an incredibly complex, unfamiliar technology. I would not want you to halt construction of your fleet only to discover later on that the technology is beyond your abilities.”

  Goeglict once again displayed that odd jittery appearance and the hairs on his upper body rose slightly. Although AJ was unaware of it, he had just insulted the entire Keldan race by implying that they would not be able to understand human technology.

  After taking a moment to calm himself, the Councilman replied, “In other words, you need to assess our technological abilities before deciding whether or not to share your knowledge with us.”

  “Correct.”

  A voice from someone out of sight caused Goeglict to turn. After a short conversation, he turned back around and said, “I have just been informed that a bus is waiting outside to take you to your ship. I will have a guard escort you.”

  “Thank you,” AJ replied, sounding very relieved. “Have you come to a decision yet concerning my ship?”

  “I cannot make this decision alone; I will have to confer with the rest of the council. We should have an answer in a few hours,” Goeglict replied.

  Chapter 11

  “Fusion powered stardrive technology!” Vevicty exclaimed after hearing what the humans had proposed. The hairs covering his body vibrated with excitement. “You can't possibly refuse such an offer.”

  “It sounds too good to be true,” Commander Toonpin said. “Don't the old stories say the Akuta offered to provide us with untold wonders in order to gain our trust?”

  “I’m convinced the humans are who they say they are,” Doctor Choril argued. “Their Captain's reaction was genuine – he’s afraid of us. The old stories also tell us the Akuta were fearless.”

  “Truth.” Thumis quietly said. “But the stories also say the Akuta are cunning and full of trickery. How can you be so certain that his reaction was not an act? Are you an expert in how humans express emotion? We have no conclusive proof to say if the humans are or are not Akuta.”

  “Let us discuss the possible scenarios.” This came from Councilman Diznet, one of the four councilman who were attending the conference via satellite. Seeing he had everyone's attention he went on, “Let us first examine the possibility that the humans are who they say they are and they will provide us with the promised technology. In this instance, our course is clear and we should offer to help them in any way possible. The benefits of doing so are incalculable and the consequences of not doing so are … well, let's just say that the humans would think we were insane.”

  There was a murmur agreement. Vevicty started to raise a point but was abruptly cut off as Diznet continued. “There is also the possibility that the humans are indeed Akuta. Thumis, based upon what we know of the Akuta, how would they react if we refused to accept their offer?”

  Thumis rubbed her face to hide her nervousness. She had never before been in the presence of the entire council. After a brief pause to consider her answer, she replied, “Little is known of Akuta technology and they have no doubt advanced considerably since our last encounter with them. Less is known about their behavior in circumstances such as this. In my opinion, I believe they will attack in force, destroying our ships before laying waste to our cities. Once we are defenseless, they will occupy our planet.”

  “My forces would not sit idle during any such attack!” Commander Toonpin, hairs standing up, defended his honor. “At the first sign of aggression, we would counter-attack. Our ships are armed with our most advanced weapons and the Akuta would suffer heavy losses. Despite their technological superiority, we may even win the battle.”

  “I do not doubt the honor of your people,” Councilman Diznet replied in a calming voice. “Your point is well taken. What if we believe their story and give them permission to move their mothership into orbit?”

  This scenario was easier to answer as it mirrored what the Akuta did during their first visit. “They would assess our defenses while pretending to be peaceful travelers. Shortly after arriving, they would strike without warning with all the power at their command. Our ships would be destroyed and our defenses laid to waste before we could bring our weapons to bear. Their losses would be minimal. The end result would be the same – our planet would be occupied.”

  “Members of the council,” Diznet began. He seemed to have come to a decision. “The answer seems clear to me. We can respond to their request with two, and only two, answers. If we do not allow their mothership to orbit our world, we could be missing out on a tremendous opportunity or we could be inviting war. If we agree and allow their ship to orbit the planet, we could greatly benefit from their technology. We would also be able to target their ship with a large number of weapons thus enabling us to destroy them at the first sign of hostility. I suggest we allow their ship to assume orbit.”

  “I agree,” Councilman Goeglict said in a firm voice. “What say the council?”

  The vote was unanimous.

  * * * *

  It was dark outside when AJ and his crew exited the building. The air was hot and sticky with a barely discernible breeze that provided no relief. The air smelled of ocean spray mixed with exhaust fumes. Powerful floodlights mounted on the rooftops provided enough light for them to easily see the bus parked next to the building. AJ caught the sound of a jet engine winding up in the distance.

  AJ's nervous eyes kept searching for other Keldans but none, other than their single escort, were visible. The interior of the bus was lit except for the driver's compartment. Heather and Scott flanked their Captain in case he lost his balance because of the blow to his head.

  Although a Keldan would never be able to ride in a human vehicle, the opposite was not true. The Keldan bus was built low to the ground with a wide side door leading into the interior. AJ and the others had to duck their heads slightly as they stepped into the bus. Inside the wide vehicle, they found several low cushions set along each side. The driver could be seen as he (or she) sat on a similar cushion.

  The driver used a mirror to watch his passengers as they climbed aboard. As soon as they were all seated, the doors slid shut and the bus smoothly accel
erated. Soon they were traveling at a good rate of speed. Three other vehicles trailed behind. After a ten minute ride, the bus approached a circle of floodlights. Several vehicles as well as armed Keldans could be seen surrounding the grounded shuttle.

  The ground force backed away, clearing a path for the bus to approach the ship. A few minutes later, the humans were back aboard. AJ collapsed into one of the bunks letting out a sigh of relief.

  “Are you okay?” Heather asked sitting next to him.

  “It's going to take me a while before I can be around the Keldans,” AJ admitted. “I know they're not spiders, but they still give me the heebie-jeebies. The only thing I can think about when they're around is how I can escape. Some ambassador I turned out to be.”

  “You will overcome this problem I'm sure,” Heather told him.

  Thomas, who had headed straight for the cockpit, reappeared. “Propulsion is restored,” he reported. “But, the hull is not fully sealed. If you want, we can fly her to the landing field.”

  “Let's not advertise that fact quite yet,” AJ told him. “Now that we’re out of earshot of the Keldans, does anyone else get the impression that they don't believe us?”

  “I thought I was imagining things,” Thomas replied. “They are acting a bit strange.”

  “I'll bet that fleet they're building is an armada,” Scott said in an excited voice. “They probably have FTL and are hiding the fact from us. Those ion engines we saw are probably fake. They're playing us like a fiddle.”

  “That's nonsense!” Heather fired back. “They're just being cautious, that's all.”

  “Still,” AJ said, rubbing his jaw in thought. “I wonder if there’s any way we can verify that story of theirs concerning the rogue star?”

  As a reply, Thomas raised his voice and said, “Computer!”

  “Yes Petty Officer Thomas?” the ship's computer instantly replied.

  “Are you still in communication with the Keldan computer?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “Ask it to provide you with the location of the approaching brown dwarf.”

  “Stand by.” There was a two second delay, then. “Coordinates received.”

  Thomas raised his eyebrows. He thought the Keldans would withhold that information. “Computer,” he continued, “Can you verify the existence of the brown dwarf?”

  “Negative – the distance is too great. However, the sensors aboard the Star-Pulse should be able to confirm the star's existence.”

  Thomas looked at the Captain who nodded his head. “Contact the Star-Pulse and request them to verify the star's existence,” Thomas said. “How long before we receive a reply?”

  “Seventy-two minutes,” came the instant response. It was immediately followed by, “I have received a message from the Keldans. They have granted permission for the Star-Pulse to orbit their planet. I have received orbital coordinates which will allow the ship to remain clear of all Keldan traffic.”

  Everyone looked at AJ. “Your call Captain,” Thomas told him. “They may not fully trust us – should we trust them?”

  “Don't do it skipper,” Scott said. “Once they have their hands on our ship they won't need us. They're desperate. I don't trust them.”

  AJ glared at Scott but didn't say anything. Scott's view of the Keldans was most likely a bit exaggerated, but he did have a good point. “Computer, have you been monitoring the Keldan broadcasts?”

  “I have,” replied the disembodied voice of the ship's computer.

  “Hypothesize – are the Keldans a violent people?”

  “The Keldans appear to be a normalized, well-integrated, culture. The government appears to be stable and the people content.”

  “Has news of our arrival been made public?” AJ queried.

  “Affirmative.”

  “How have the Keldans reacted?”

  “Their reactions have been mixed. A large number of broadcasts have involved a discussion as to whether or not we are Akuta.”

  “Akuta? Define.”

  “There is a 90 percent probability that the term refers to a race of space travelers who once invaded the Keldan home world in the distant past. There is a 10 percent probability that the term is a reference to a demon or an evil force determined to destroy the Keldans.”

  “Computer,” Heather said, “Have you asked the Keldan AI for clarification?”

  “The query is not answered.”

  AJ's eyebrows scrunched down as he tried to interpret the meaning behind that answer. “Computer, how do you rate the capability of the Keldan AI?”

  “It appears to be quite sophisticated with heuristic programming only slightly inferior to my own. Its processing speed is also slightly lower and it appears to have a limited local knowledge base. Several queries had to be redirected to other systems indicating the use of a global communications network.”

  “Somebody must have told the AI not to tell us about these Akuta – whoever they are,” Scott said.

  “But why?” Thomas raised the question to nobody in particular.

  “We'll have to ask them next time we see them,” Heather replied.

  “We may as well let this game play out to the end,” AJ said, coming to a decision. “Computer, tell Commander Moon that I am ordering the Star-Pulse to set a course for the Keldan home world. He’s authorized to break radio silence. Send them the orbital coordinates.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “What now Skipper?” Heather asked.

  AJ lay back on the cot and stretched. “I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired and hungry. I say we all get something to eat and then get a good night's rest. Computer?”

  “Yes Captain?”

  “Tell the Keldans that the Star-Pulse is on the way. Give them an estimated time of arrival. Then tell them we’re going to get some sleep and not to disturb us for at least eight hours.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  AJ started to get up but Heather put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Stay there Captain. I'll bring you something to eat.”

  AJ was in no mood to argue. His head was beginning to throb again. “Thanks Heather. Bring me something for a headache as well would you?”

  By the time she got back to his cot, AJ had fallen asleep. His head was propped up on the pillow and his hands were resting on his chest. The brim of his hat was down over his eyes. One leg was on the cot and another was on the floor. Heather stood looking at him, thoughts of a possible future with this man running through her head.

  She considered letting him rest but decided he needed nourishment more than sleep and gently woke him up. The Captain quickly downed the sandwich, took a pain pill, and was fast asleep before the others had finished their own meals.

  Thomas desperately wanted to hear the results of their query concerning the rogue star but the gentle hum of the ship's ventilation had other plans. Soon, the entire crew was asleep. Noting that they had forgotten to turn off the lights, the ship's computer did it for them.

  Chapter 12

  AJ struggled to free himself but his movements only seemed to make things worse. The web he was stuck to vibrated, making a dull thumping sound as a huge spider approached. It stopped and looked at him, its huge fangs dripping with poison. A second and then a third spider appeared. Firmly stuck to the web, AJ watched in growing horror as the spiders prepared to eat him alive. Somehow, he managed to free his right arm. He took a swing at the nearest spider.

  AJ suddenly woke up, his right hand stinging where it had struck the wall of the shuttle. He was shaking and covered in sweat from the nightmare.

  “Are you okay?” Heather's concerned voice came from above.

  AJ looked up to see her staring down at him from the upper bunk, a worried look on her face. “I'll be fine,” he said as he shifted position so he could get out of the cot.

  As his feet touched the deck he noticed that the thumping sound he had heard in his dream had not stopped. He paused for a moment to listen – it sounded as if there was
work being done on the hull. Glancing at his watch he noted he had been asleep for just over five hours.

  The cot above bounced a few times then Heather suddenly appeared. “Here,” she said, extending a hand. “Let me help.”

  “I'm not an invalid,” AJ told her but grabbed her hand anyway. “Besides, I've got to pee and I don't think you can help me with that.”

  “I could try,” she playfully fired back.

  AJ shot her a look but she had already turned away and was heading for the kitchenette. AJ stared at her departing backside as she purposefully exaggerated the natural motion of her hips. Since he couldn't come up with an appropriate reply he turned and headed in the opposite direction.

  He used the restroom then grabbed a breakfast shake and a coffee on his way to the cockpit. Thomas was sitting in the pilot's position while Heather occupied the other seat. All of the monitors were active with diagnostic programs running on them.

  “You're up early,” AJ said, sitting his coffee on top of an instrument box so he could drink his shake. The view out the cockpit window caused AJ to remain near the back of the compartment. The sun had risen and the ring of Keldan vehicles surrounding the shuttle could clearly be seen. Several Keldans, some carrying weapons, milled about between the vehicles.

  Thomas mumbled something about not being able to sleep. He was busily keying in a series of commands into his terminal.

  “What's our status?” AJ asked, more to take his mind off what was going on outside than anything else.

  Thomas spun around so he could address the Captain. “All systems operational. I hope you don't mind, but I asked the Keldans to supply us with several sheets of high quality steel. It arrived about half an hour ago and the bots are making good progress in repairing the hull. We should be space-worthy in another hour or so.”