“Grav Focus engaged at 2 C Sir.” Eva continued her running dialog. She paused for a few seconds as the ship responded to the course settings and then “coming to all stop in Five, Four, Three, Two, One, all stop! Ion drives engaged to hold at 20 million miles relative Sir.”
“Colonel, Damage report?” Jeff asked Glory.
“They took a blind shot and actually got two nukes to explode on proximity sensors. I’ll give them one thing their tactical systems are first rate. We had explosive decompression in the area of nodes 5 and 8. We have casualties but no numbers yet. Engineering reports that one of the Fusion Plants are offline and two of the Grav Drives are out of commission. No estimate of repairs yet.”
“Thank you Colonel keep me posted.” With that he turned to Saoi “I take it your Collective overloaded a whole bunch of systems over there and took them out of commission?”
“We are sorry that we were slow to prevent the missile launch but then exploded their laser batteries, missile launch systems, plasma conduits and then sensors back to their control systems. This disabled their thrusters as well. Currently they are influencing the Basel to believe the phantoms disabled their ship and are going to come for their souls. Since they did damage the ship their commander smells blood and is not easily swayed to the phantom myth. We will continue to overload systems to try to convince them.” Saoi reported.
“Thank you for your efforts. We wanted them to try to track us so there is no fault for anyone but my planning. I cut it too close. Keep harassing them. Leave the drives intact in case they do decide to run but everything short of totally disabling their ship is fair game. If the commander should need to die of a stroke to convince the crew to leave or have their souls eaten, then so be it. Otherwise you will have to overload their drive or blow one of their missiles and then they all die. If we didn’t need to try to send a message I would vote to just blow them apart and be done with it.” Jeff looked back to the plot to view damage status and tactical plot. They all observed the status as the shuttle squadrons made their way back to Columbia and more explosion ripped down the sides of the Invincible.
“I really wouldn’t want to be in their ship right now.” Glory said.
“General we have a suggestion that may push them to leave. Actually the suggestion is to start to pull at them. We have planted the idea that we moved off to get in position to pull their ship in after disabling their weaponry.” Saoi motioned to the plot.
“With two drives out of commission I wonder if we could do it from here? I’m willing to try. If not, then we’ll move closer. Colonel relay to the shuttles to clear out of the space between us. Engineering prepare to Grav Focus and pull on the alien ship. We don’t want to pull them all the way here just start to pull at them and make ‘em work to break free. If they do and head away from Eden then let them go.” Jeff ordered.
“Shuttles clear Sir.”
“Engineering lock on to the bogy and begin attract.” Jeff called out.
“Grav Focus engaged. 25% power. Got positive lock on aft section. They are backing to us at 0.1 C.”
“Excellent, keep ‘em coming at that speed and let’s see what they do.” Jeff urged while viewing the progress.
“They have increased drive power and starting to pull away Sir.” Javier reported.
“Not yet. This cat wants to play with that mouse for a while yet. Increase power until they are coming back again.”
“Increasing to 35% Sir! Gap again closing at 0.1 C” Javier announced.
“General! The second in command just killed the commander and ordered full power to drives. They’re ready to leave.” Saoi informed Jeff.
“Excellent, if they break free this time let then go.” Jeff said
“The gap has now stabilized. They don’t quite seem to have enough to break free.” Glory commented while monitoring the sensor data.
“Let’s give them a few more seconds and see if they can do it themselves. Saoi what’s the status over there?” Jeff asked using the name Glory gave him for the first time.
Saoi gave him a quick glance and then reported “All indications are that the phantom myth has become a reality for them. We still continue to feed their fears. Now they see a phantom coming in the view screen and tactical plot.”
“I wish I could see them but I’ll have to take your word for it.” Jeff replied.
“General the alien ship is breaking free. The gap is starting to widen slightly.” Eva reported.
“Maintain current Grav Focus strength. Let them break free on their own then.” Jeff ordered.
The Invincible was now pulling away, and directed out of system in the direction where they came from, at 0.1 C and accelerating. “Are the Collective ready to leave the Invincible?” Jeff said to Saoi.
“They have one last phantom experience for them as they break free and then they will return.”
At that point the Invincible broke free and headed out of system at 0.6 C. A large explosion erupted aft of the cruiser.
“They slipped a missile out in the confusion and exploded the nuclear warhead far enough behind them to not do serious damage to their drives but enough to complete the effect.” Saoi explained.
Index
Chapter 12 – Adventure
Columbia was in route back to Eden after the conflict with the alien battle cruiser Invincible. The mission was a success in that they were able to send the ship back to her origin with a message that their mythological phantoms awaited them in this solar system. Once again the mission parameters may have been achieved but not without loss. The Invincible got off a lucky shot that damaged the Columbia but also took the lives of 23 crew and 4 of the Collective. Half of the Collective that traveled with the Columbia on this mission were on the Invincible creating havoc and planting the thought of the phantoms. As they blew systems to prevent a second launch and protect the Columbia two of the Collective were too close to some of the explosions and their spirit forms were killed. The physical forms live but without the spirit form to provide the intelligence the bodies were nothing but a vegetable.
As Columbia held station to make some additional repairs they also were able to monitor the Invincible as they left the system. There was no sign that the Basel had any desire to return to fight the phantoms and have their souls eaten.
Colonel Rodrigues entered C&C to report the drive status to General Fitsimmons. “So Javier are we about ready to head back to Eden?” Jeff asked as his Chief Engineer approached the plot where Glory, Saoi and he were discussing today’s events.
“Yes Sir. All Fusion Plants are online and three of the Grav Drives are operational. I would like to keep the fourth offline until we can make more permanent repairs back at Eden. We’ve sealed off Nodes 5 and 8 and will need a few months to fix the damage in those areas. For now, we should be good to 8 C in Grav Focus and a full 0.75 C on Ion Drives. We have some sensors out around Nodes 5 and 8 but have enough overlap that we’re not blind in those areas. We’re ready when you are Sir.”
“Then no sense waiting around out here any longer. Nav plot a course back to Eden at 8 C and then launch when ready.” He called over to Eva.
“Yes Sir. Grav Bubble established. Course plotted and activated. Grav Focus enabled and Launching at 8 C now.”
The trip back to Eden was uneventful but also somber considering their losses. Columbia entered GeoSync Orbit above Babylon and set about permanent repairs to the damaged nodes, sensors and Grav Drives. The Collective were now a common sight on the Columbia and assisted the crew with the repairs and even had some suggestions to improve efficiency as they were able to inspect components at the molecular level. While the ship was under repair that gave the sensitives of the crew time to work with the Collective to improve their abilities.
Quiet your mind and open yourself to the voices around you. Saoi was directing Glory. When you listen you become one with us. Feel us around you, with you, a part of you, a part of us, one.
Glory could feel that warm emb
race again as she felt as they moved together in spirit form to the alien ship and back. She opened to the Collective and felt the warmth grow. Then only a single voice.
We listen, we are one.
The feeling was ecstasy. An incredible feeling of loving embrace she could not have imagined or described. With communion like this it was no wonder they weren’t bothering to have children. Then she heard and faint echo
We listen to you, we are one on this.
Glory followed the focus of the Collective as they tried to locate the foreign chorus.
We listen to you, we are one on this.
The Collective sent back the same message and then the feeling that the others were gone. They had a direction the voice came from and Glory added an overlay of the star charts with the direction. The voice came from the general direction of Tau Ceti but a degree or two off and also beyond that star system.
We will join you on your adventure.
There had already been discussions of some volunteers of the Collective yearning for some adventure. Now there was another Collective beyond Columbia’s next destination so the number of Collective wanting to join has just dramatically increased.
It took three months to complete the node repairs. It would have taken longer except for the cooperation between races. Over this time the Collective was able to listen with the others on two other occasions. The Columbia crew was still not able to pinpoint the exact solar system they were at, but were hopeful that once they made orbit in the Tau Ceti system they could again listen with the others and then by comparing bearings would be able to triangulate and then locate them. Finally, the day came when 2/3 of the original crew along with 5,000 of the Collective were set to travel together to the stars.
“Engineering status please.” Jeff began the launch preparation.
“All Fusion Plants operational. All Grav Drives Operational. All sensor system operational.” Javier reported.
“Colonel Callaghan, ships status please” Jeff asked.
“All other systems show green status. The ship is go for launch Sir.” Glory reported.
“Nav is course plotted?” he asked Eva
“Course plotted and verified Sir. Nav ready at your command Sir” Eva replied.
“Then let the adventure begin. Nav Launch!”
Index
Cast
Glory Bria Callaghan – 45, 20 year veteran of the Western Republic Air Force, Colonel. 5’ 9”, 120 lbs. Appearance: by 20th century standards looks about 21, red hair (shoulder length), green eyes, fair complexion. She is the product of the latest generation genetic “correction” which now begins gene therapy in Utero and continues throughout life correcting DNA errors, and initiating the body’s own T-Cell network to produce youthful cells to reduce aging (in the case of the current generation – halt aging?) The result is extremely slow aging past maturity, genetic based cures eradicating most all disease, and ideal (if not perfect) bodies. Glory also possesses the latest generation (straight from R&D accelerated testing) integrated cyberlink implantation. In essence a supercomputer implanted in her head with full data connectivity to the surrounding network. She can lean on the ship’s main computer merely by thinking the request. Possessing excellent intellect (before the cybernetics) and a career focus she was chosen for 2nd in command of the Columbia mission.
Jefferson George Fitsimmons – 60, 38 year veteran of the Western Republic Air Force, Major General. 6’ 2”, 210 lbs. Appearance: Looks like a 20th century 45 year old male in excellent condition. Missing the in Utero corrections and some of the latest therapies available currently his generation aged slowly but not to the level of the generation the Glory belongs to. However with a full head of Brown hair, tanned complexion, and blue eyes he still has the look of a lady killer and with his gym rat dedication and many years of advanced had-to-hand combat training is not one to be messed with. A no-nonsense commander he has earned the respect of his subordinates, peers and command through many campaigns defending the republic over the years.
Hiroshi Sato – 28, 4 year Air Force veteran, 1st Lieutenant. 6’ 1”, 175 lbs. Appearance: Japanese decent, black hair and eyes, slight build and looks like still should be in high school. Shuttle Pilot.
Chief of Engineering - Colonel Javier Rodrigues
Navigation Chief - Lt. Colonel Eva Svenson
Screen Fleet Commander - Colonel Helen Montgomery
CentCom Commander - General Bradley Emerson
Dr Rhonda Evans - Chief Medical Officer
Marine Commander - Captain Adam Gerard
Chief of Astrometrics - Captain Bonnie Anderson
Chief of Psychiatry – Dr. Emma Gossling
Lead Geneticist - Captain Emily Gardner – Also “Listener” nearly as sensitive as Glory
Lead Pathologist – Lt Colonel Greg Williams
Saoi – one of the natives of Eden and the first to show individuality and a close friendship with Glory
Captain Jason Everret – Space Boss (Shuttle Dispatch Coordinator)
Captain Andrew Zimmerman – Tactical Warfare Specialist
The Collective Page 14
