“Sorry, Captain. I am just going through our options to make sure we didn’t miss anything” Vade stood from his chair and leaned next to the operating table. The Captain had decided to wear his uniform during the experiment, instead of the civilian clothes he had in storage. Just because he was the ‘guinea pig’ of this project didn’t mean he couldn’t wear the clothes he worked so hard to acquire. Rick was also dressed in his uniform, though it was wrinkled, and it looked like it was the one he wore the previous day.
Lieutenant Commander Hayley entered the room and took a deep breath. “All of our diagnostics on the GM report that all of its systems are operational and standing by. Are you ready, Captain?”
“Yes, Lieutenant Commander, I am.”
“Very well. I want you to know that if things look bad while we are making the modifications, we can revert you back to normal and terminate the project. But once we have made the modifications and start to reassemble you, we can’t turn back. Your body will be too fragile after the alterations to reverse the process. I just wanted you to be aware of that before we begin.”
“Thank you, Hayley. I am ready to begin when you and the rest of the crew are.”
“Understood, Captain. I will go into the control room and apply the settings for the alterations. After I am done, we should be ready to begin the countdown to GM activation.” Hayley left Rick and Vade, walked to the door on the side wall that contained the control room, a small room that had monitors and a window that allowed operators to know what was going on in the R&D room while being safety protected within the room.
Hayley entered her code and entered the control room. The room was shaped like a rectangle, and, while it was small, the equipment in the room was positioned in a space-saving way that allowed up to ten people to occupy the room, and with the operation, the room would be very close to its full capacity.
Commander Hayley approached a 65’ inch display screen on the center of the wall and used its touch screen feature to enter her commands. She pulled up the captains’ bio readings and reconfigured the screen’s setting to divide into several sections, allowing her to monitor his readings while using the interface for other purposes. She then pulled up the alterations that were to be made to Captain Vade, among which were bone enhancements which would increase strength, and would also increase blood production and white cell strength, strengthening the immune system. More enhancements would be strengthening muscles to increase stamina, endurance, and increasing skin strength, making it more difficult to puncture. Though the skin strength would make it difficult to apply surgery if the need arose, she figured that her and the crew would simply have to deal with that problem in the future when and if it happened and do what they could to help him.
Just as Hayley was about to send the data to the Genetic Modulator, she heard her communicator beep, indicating someone was attempting to contact her. She lifted her right arm and interacted with the watch-sized device. Touching the call notification on the screen, the device routed her to whoever was contacting her.
“Lieutenant Commander Hayley reporting. Do you need something?”
“This is Lieutenant Bedford in Operations. We are possibly detecting a ship on sonar. There are no responses to attempt of communication, and it is emitting unusual signals toward the Atlanta. Some the computer systems are offline, and others are not working properly. Since Captain Vade and Commander Rickman are currently occupied, I assumed that you would be the proper person to notify.”
“Understood. I am on my way.” As Hayley headed for the door, it occurred to her that she hadn’t confirmed the procedure settings to the Genetic Modulator. She thought about confirming the settings now, but she decided she could do it when she returned, since they couldn’t start the operation without her experience with the Genetic Modulator. As she left the room, the computer automatically activated the password portal and blacked out the rest of the information, a safety precaution installed so no one would accidentally leave the system unsecure, creating the possibility someone could access classified information. After she left the control room, Trisha exited the R&D room, and after briefly explaining the situation to Captain Vade, headed to the operation center to see what was happening.
Unknown to Hayley, as soon as she left the control room, the password portal on the display screen suddenly deactivated, and files and information began to be rearranged, selected, and altered, as the officers in the R&D room continued about their duties, unaware of what was happening.
Warning. Unauthorized access detected. Attempting to secure systems against intrusion.
Reporting firewall breach to security in 5 seconds.
Scans of the Captain Vade’s retina and palm appear on the screen.
Authorization code: Vade, Captain, A789, B217, D793.
Access granted: Captain Jack Vade. Discontinuing security alert.
Show Genetic Modulator Settings and Allow Alteration.
Files selected.
Alter Genetic Modulations to These Specifications.
New physical parameters show up on the display.
Working...alterations complete.
Select New Alterations and Apply Them to the Genetic Modular Operation Program.
Working…application complete: Settings configured to specified parameters.
Alter Settings to Appear as Previous Settings but Keep Current Settings the Same.
Working…task completed: Visual setting parameters altered.
Confirm Changes.
The previous parameters for the Vade’s operation appear on screen.
Changes confirmed.
Discontinue Computer Link and Delete All Logs That Show Alterations Were Made by Anyone Other Than Lieutenant Commander Hayley.
Task accepted: Data purge in progress.
Terminating computer link.
“Report,” Lieutenant Commander Hayley said as she walked into the operation center. Lieutenant Larry Bedford led the Commander to the display in the middle of the room, showing her the unknown object on the radar screen.
“Lieutenant Commander, we have unknown contact on sonar in grid...” The officer stopped and started to input several commands into the computer when the contact on sonar suddenly blinked off the display on the radar screen.
“Is something wrong, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t know Commander. I believe that we were detecting something on sonar, but we aren’t detecting it any longer, and the computers are returning to normal.” He turned toward the Commander. “I apologize for bothering you, sir. It appears the sonar is malfunctioning. I will run a diagnostic on the system”
“It is all right, Lieutenant. Under these conditions, something is bound to malfunction eventually.” Hayley left the control center and headed back to the Research and Development room. It was time to get the show on the road.
“Are you ready, Captain?” Hayley spoke through an intercom system in the Control Room. All the engineers that had been working in the R&D room had either returned to their stations on the ship or gone into the Control Room to monitor the procedure, with Commander Rickman and Ambassador Zephier also present to monitor the procedure. In addition, the medical staff and the engineering crews were standing by at their posts elsewhere on the Atlanta in case something went wrong with the procedure. Lieutenant Commander Hayley didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks that she had to, and preparing for the worst-case scenario was the least she could do to minimize the potential danger the procedure presented.
“For the hundredth-time, Lieutenant Commander, I’m ready. Are you sure you aren’t stalling?”
“Only partially, sir,” she replied with a small grin on her face. “I am just making sure you are really ready to do this. We are t-minus three minutes to the procedure.” She turned toward the officers in the room. “Begin activation sequence.”
“Yes, Lieutenant C
ommander,” they responded as they began inputting their orders through their computer interfaces.
She turned back toward Vade. “Captain, we are going to make you unconscious during the procedure, and we are going to administer some numbing medication. We don’t know if it will be painful, but it will be easier to endure any possible pain if you are unconscious. I am administering medications now.” She pressed a button on the display screen and the drugs began to be filtered into the air vents in the R&D room. While using an IV could be more effective, it was easier to administer the medications through the air, rather than hooking him up from an IV, so they wouldn’t have to unhook the cords after they sedated him. An air vent that was positioned above Captain Vade started to pour down a white mist onto him, containing the numbing and sleep medications.
As the mist was being released, Hayley spoke through the intercom, “Captain, I know you may have the urge to hold your breath, but you need to inhale as much of it as you can.” She saw Captain Vade nod and he started to take deeper breaths, breathing as much of the misty air as he could. Nearly thirty seconds later, Captain Vade’s eyes started to close.
“Rick,” Vade softly spoke through the intercom.
Rick approached the microphone. “Yes, Captain. I am here.”
“Do me…. Proud, Commander.” Vade’s speaking began to slow down, his drowsiness increasing by the second. “I know you... can save… the crew. I... believe... in you.” The captain then went into unconscious, his head resting back on the table. Hayley stopped administering the medications through the air vent, and the white mist slowly began to evaporate off Captain Vade’s body, and the area around him.
“Safe travels, Captain Vade,” Zephier spoke as he watched Vade from the Control Room’s window. “May you find what you seek for.”
“T-minus one minute to the procedure.” Hayley said as she approached the computer console on the back wall. With the procedure nearing its beginning, the operators and technicians began announcing a multitude of updates.
“T-minus thirty seconds. Genetic Modulator is online.”
“Begin rerouting power from nuclear core to the GM.”
“Power transfer in progress.”
Hayley activated the ships communication systems. “All hands. Prepare to switch to auxiliary power. Main power will be unavailable in twenty seconds. Primary computer systems will also be rerouted. The secondary computer core will be online momentarily.” She cut the communication and activated the computer transfer. Moments later, she had the primarily computer core completely dedicated to the Control Room’s systems. She immediately began to input her instructions.
Activate Genetic Modulator program in fifteen seconds.
“T-minus thirteen seconds,” Ensign Laura Matthews, one of the technicians, announced.
Acknowledged. Loading program now…
“T-minus ten... nine... eight… seven... six… five… four… three... two... one.”
Program online. Initiating procedure.
“T-minus zero.”
Chapter 4
Date: July 9, 2132.
Location: Secret Base on Hawaii.
“May I come in, sir?” John Whitefield, an officer with an average height and well-groomed blond hair, captain of the U.S.S Ocean-Walker, stood at the door of Admiral Hofkins’ office.
“Come in, captain. Please, take a seat. We have much to talk about.” Captain Whitefield entered the room and sat down in the chair in front of his desk. The office appeared to be small in its size, and it was even smaller with all the files and file cabinets scattered around the room. Ironically, the admiral’s desk was in perfect order. Even the pens on his desk were lined in a straight row.
“I have a mission for you, Captain Whitefield. I need you to patrol the islands deep in the Atlantic Ocean. If there are Ribiyar in the area, your orders are to take them out.”
“Understood, admiral. I will get on it right away.” He started to stand but then asked, “Is there anything else, admiral?
“There is, captain.” Whitefield sat back down. “I have decided to assign Lieutenant Oakland to you for this mission. He has been posted in the base on this island, and has been tracking Ribiyar movements across the globe. He may be able to keep you informed of their possible troop locations, so you know the best place to patrol and take out the Ribiyar posted in that location. He also has a good measure of combat experience, so he should be able to make a fine addition to your crew.”
“Is that the only reason, sir? No disrespect, but I have officers onboard that have been tracking the Ribiyar as well, and they are quite capable of keeping is on top of their movements. In addition, my ship is filled with officers who have a great deal of experience running a ship of this class. Why are you assigning him to my crew?”
Admiral Hofkins sighed and said, “The lieutenant has been struggling with accepting the loss of a former comrade he had served with in the past. He has been reluctant to face the reality that he may have died during the first assault, and being out there where they last reported might give him a chance to move on.”
“So, reassigning this lieutenant is more about rebuilding his morale and confidence, instead of what he can contribute to my crew?”
“No, captain. I meant what I said. He has been closely studying the movements of the Ribiyar, and has been closely monitoring the Atlantic Ocean, where Olo’s comrade disappeared, and where you will be taking the Ocean-Walker. And from what I’ve seen of him he is a very experienced officer, and will likely be a valuable asset to your crew. This is just my way to kill two birds with one stone.”
“Very well, admiral. Is that all, sir?”
“There is one more thing, Captain. I want you to take my cat with you.”
Puzzlement was clear on Captain Whitefield’s face. “Your cat, admiral? May I ask why you would want me to take your pet with us?”
“It is a prototype anti-personnel device. I want to field test it to see how it works. If it acts like it is supposed to, it will be very helpful if your ship is boarded.”
“If you say so, sir. What is the device called?”
“It is an E.V.A.N. unit. It stands for...”
“An E.V.A.N. unit!!!” Captain Whitefield proclaimed, jumping to his feet. “Sir, why would you even have that device? The entire military knows of the E.V.A.N. incident of 2078!” Because of faulty programming in the unit, the E.V.A.N. disappeared while officers at a military base where showing several commanders possible military devices for future combat. The E.V.A.N. unit then attacked the compound a few hours later after activating the twenty other prototypes they had in storage, which led to a full-on invasion of military-grade robotic cats attempting to take control of the base. They were eventually all neutralized, but not before they virtually destroyed the compound and killing over five dozen officers and wounding one-hundred-fifty more. As the news spread, it was understandably proclaimed that dogs were officially ‘man’s best friend’.
“Captain, I understand your hesitation of using these devices. But the programming of the E.V.A.N. has been altered so it will only attack the Ribiyar. That is why we need to test it. If it works, it will be extremely helpful in ground combat. Don’t worry, Captain; I also have added a function that can deactivate the E.V.A.N. with a remote, insuring that you can deactivate it if it goes out of control.”
“I don’t like this, sir, but I will follow your orders. I do, however, want to note in the logs that I recommend against this action.”
“As you wish. When can you depart?”
“We are scheduled to leave in a few hours. We are still loading supplies aboard the Ocean-Walker. May I see Lieutenant Oakland before we depart?”
“Of course, captain. Talk to Officer Flier, and she can arrange for him to meet you before boarding the ship.”
“Thank you, admiral.” Captain Whitefield stood and saluted the admira
l. Admiral Hofkins returned the salute, and Captain Whitefield left the admiral’s office.
Location: Onboard the Ribiyar Warship Ji’Co, in orbit of Earth.
Squad Commander Tau’Ka walked into the hanger where his squad was docked on Ji’Co. The hanger was a huge, oval-shaped room that had a ceiling high enough to hold four additional levels in the space above the hanger floor. The area above the floor was filled with a large number of catwalks that were used for storage space, small repair bays for the fighters, and additional landing pads for the ships to be stored on. Along one side of the oval of the room were eight entrances placed on the ground level of the hanger, along with several other entrances above that deposited a person on the upper catwalks. On the other side of the oval was a large hanger door, which would split in half and move out and on top of the outer hull of the ship when the hanger was opened.
“Squad Commander.” Tau’Ka saw one of the fighter pilots of the squad approach him. When the pilot reached him, he saluted Tau’Ka by raising his right arm in the center of his chest and closing his fist, slightly bowing as he did so.
“We are ready to fight, Squad Commander. What are your orders?” The other pilots saw Tau’Ka and scurried over, all of them saluting and repeating the phrase when they arrived.
“Warriors, our orders are to destroy one of the organic’s sea vessels. When we encounter it, we are to disable it, and then board the ship and determine if there is any useful data that will aid our superiors in the invasion. After we have extracted anything of use, we will purge the organics aboard, and then the vessel itself. Our target is titled, the U.S.S. Ocean-Walker.”
“It won’t be walking when we get through with it,” one of the officers remarked.
“Save your comments for the battle. Better for our enemies to hear it themselves,” Tau’Ka responded. “Board your vessels, and depart at once!”
Galactic Defenders- Endurance Page 3
