by Tobias Roote
Her communicator came back online and she saw there were two messages.
The first was from Jasmin.
“Help! I’ve been kidnapped. Just kidding, I got collected by my parents who were waiting for me at the presentation. I’m now off with them to meet some official or other, who has asked to see me. It appears I may have a job offer from the Chinese contingent and I’m waiting to see what it is before I turn them down and join you on Alpha Station. Talk soon.”
The second message was strange and anonymous.
“Well done, Kelly Moon, on your promotion to lieutenant.
When you see this code XBDXFDFHGGH453555FD$, input the response VDFFGGD4GH572DFDF63$.”
Kelly looked at it for a long time, until her new friend across the gangway asked if everything was alright. She realised that she had been screwing her face up in consternation at the cryptic message.
Kelly nodded at the other girl and moved on to ‘any new messages’. The anonymous note disappeared as though it had never been received. Spooky! Kelly had automatically memorised the code and puzzled over what it represented. Obviously, she surmised eventually, it would mean something or not, when it happened - and that was that.
She chatted with Jenna who informed her that she was being assigned to the bridge crew as a backup to the comms officer and the sensor operator. She was quite nervous about it, but Kelly reminded her she had just graduated from the best naval academy in the world, and she shouldn’t consider that her new position was something she couldn’t manage, or they would never have assigned her.
When the space drives took over from the AG, they were already adjusting to weightlessness and recent training took over. Kelly cinched herself a little tighter to the seat, and watched as others did the same. A few small articles flew past as the ventilation pushed air into the cabin and the thrust of the engines drew a slight gravity pull.
The pull continued for about ten minutes then eased off. There was a period of relative peace and tranquillity as everyone absorbed the sensation of weightless flight before the deceleration began and pulled them forward slightly until the speed reduced to a lower level.
During this period the hull switched between transparent and glazed depending on where the sun was relative to the ship. Direct viewing of the bright orb would mean a swift end to anyone’s career as their corneas would burn out to the core. There was no atmospheric deflection of the sun’s strength up here.
The view when it was unrestricted was amazing. The scars of the recent war on Earth showed clearly on all continents. Nowhere seemed to have escaped damage, although there appeared more in Europe and the USA, probably because of the higher concentration of population and shielding.
As they completed their deceleration, the view of the Alpha Station began to loom on the vidscreen. Although it wasn’t large, it was certainly big enough to appear massive to their tiny ship as it approached.
The rough octagonal shape was accentuated by the construction of defence installations all around the station. Antenna of all kinds jutted out into space providing the station’s bridge with essential sensor readings that would forewarn of a new invasion. Smaller asteroids were held in place by tractor beams. These were specifically tasked with taking out any approaching vessels or missiles, and as such were laden with anti-missile batteries of all kinds. The work was still ongoing and Kelly could see construction crews moving like specks on the surfaces as they erected new defences.
She thought that maybe she would be safer here than on Earth, such was the sophistication. However, she also knew from the in-depth analysis during training, (all scientists had to be ‘combat capable’ so learned everything there was to know about the enemy), that the skin-deep shielding would only take so much pounding by lasers before it too ended up as piece of lifeless glass rock.
Kelly understood, as did all recruits, that the way to defend Earth and its platforms was to ensure the enemy never reached them in the first place. This was why the fleet was expanding so rapidly, to ensure they were kept in the outer system at all costs.
Without knowing how she knew, Kelly understood it was only a matter of time until failure occurred. The Nubl were too numerous and dedicated to the extinction of Earth’s species for it not be the case. Deep inside Kelly understood things at a level that made her realise that everything she could do to avert the crisis that would soon be upon them, she would do, regardless of the apparent futility.
Her introspection was cut short as the ship flew into the shadow of the asteroid and all ambient light disappeared, to be replaced with nothing but the blackness of space. As if on cue, the vidscreens turned opaque and the internal lights came on illuminating everyone who, like her, had been mesmerised by their first actual view of the station. Nobody wanted to be first to break the mood that it placed upon them. Kelly activated the small screen by her seat and continued to watch their arrival.
It seemed only a few moments later when the docking platform came into view and the flashing lights indicated they were on track to enter the small passenger terminal. While the large docks were in constant use with the comings and goings of larger vessels, including the odd battleship, the smaller one opened its iris for them as they approached and by the time they reached the threshold the tractor beams had them. The engines cut out leaving an eerie silence in the cabin as the air pressure changed to match the reduced energy output of the batteries. She had arrived.
- 7 -
New Beginnings
Kelly’s first impression of the hangar was amazement. Giant transparent movable shields separated different areas, the whole place built like an enormous cavern. The scale of the place was breathtaking. As she stepped out into the lower gravity and started walking directly to the exit, Jenna caught up with her.
“Where are you going, Lieutenant?”
“The science section where I will be working,” Kelly answered.
“Oh, you’ve been here before, then?”
“No, you can just follow the colour-coded lights that show up just ahead of you as you walk. Science department is two green, one red.”
“Cool, I don’t remember that in training,” Jenna responded.
Kelly pointed at the directional legend on the nearest anchoring pillar. It was engraved in different colours on both sides. All the departments were listed. You could just press a button and it would direct you, or walk and it would offer up the different directions in the colour codes. You just followed the one you knew was correct for your destination.
Kelly had remembered about the indicators from a conversation with a science graduate who had been here when it was first commissioned. She didn’t want to wait around the hangar until someone gave her instructions, she was too keen to get to the science quarter. She continued walking towards the exit while Jenna kept up.
“Do you know where the officers quarters are too?” she asked.
“Yes, it will be on the way, just follow the four greens.” Kelly indicated they were going in the same direction.
“OK, cool! We can just go together then, that’s if I can get used to jumping a foot in the air every time I walk,” Jenna said, laughing at her constant bounds that seemed to result from a mere step motion.
Kelly had automatically slipped into a mode of walking that didn’t create a bouncing effect and looked as if she had been doing it for years. It must be a balance thing, she thought to herself seeing the difference between herself and Jenna.
By the time they stepped into the AG elevator, Jenna was beginning to come to terms with the lower gravity and was almost walking normally. They stepped off onto the accommodation floor, and Kelly accompanied Jenna through to the officers quarters which had moderately more room than the crews. None of the cabins were overly small, it wasn’t as if space was limited, there was plenty of usable volume inside the asteroid.
Jenna wouldn’t let Kelly go just yet, insisting on walking her through to her assigned cabin, on the way exchanging comm-links. Kelly was surpri
sed, as she had hardly been the sociable type in the academy, yet here she was buddying up as if they had known each other for years.
Declining an invitation to enter her cabin and chat, Kelly decided to keep her contact with Jenna to a minimum. There was the difference in rank, plus she felt Jenna wanted ‘girl talk’ and Kelly just wasn’t the type. She was more... well, she wasn’t sure about that - it had never cropped up before.
Still deep in thought, she returned to the elevator and idly waited as she gathered her thoughts as to where she was going. She was about to jump into the shaft when a tall distinguished officer came up from the lower levels and without realising she was causing an obstruction she remained standing there while he stepped off the AG and straight into her.
“Ouch! Anyone ever told you not to stand in front of the shaft, young lady?” the man growled at her.
“Err’m, no, actually, but I’m very sorry, sir,” she stammered, caught by surprise by her own lack of attention.
He looked at her for a moment, then moved past her grabbing her arm to keep her still while he negotiated the limited space he was trapped in. She felt the iron strength in his grip and flinched from some kind of current passing through her. Maybe she wasn’t used to being manhandled or perhaps it was something else, but her arm tingled from the contact, putting her off balance. By the time she had recovered, he had gone, leaving her with a belated sense of recognition. Before she could follow it up the thought was pushed aside.
“Ah! Lieutenant Moon, just the person I was about to go looking for. You should have reported in ten minutes ago.” Kelly turned back around to the elevator to find a shortish young man in a white ‘well-used’ lab coat smiling at her with a jolly face. The sense of mischief in his eyes told her she wasn’t in trouble. She stepped back as he moved into the corridor away from the shaft which was getting busier as all the new recruits began filtering to their quarters.
Kelly immediately stood to attention and saluted like she had been trained to in the academy. “Director Osbourne. Sorry sir, I was just on my way, but – “
“It’s not a problem, Lieutenant, you’re not on parade now. The naval uniform is to give you authority in a military environment as opposed to civilians who have none. You are first and foremost a scientist, and we don’t salute, or stand on ceremony to each other. So call me Ossie when we are together and Director in official company and we will get on fine - okay?” he smiled reassuringly.
He took her arm gently, steering her out of the path of the rush of people looking for their accommodation as he directed her down the corridor back towards the officers quarters.
“Tell me, Kelly, have you eaten yet? You’re still carrying your kitbag, shall we drop that off in your quarters on the way to the mess hall?” he enquired. As he talked he moved them along with the rest of the officers and within minutes guided her to her own cabin.
“I arranged your room myself, so you’re slap bang in the middle of us lab rats. It means you won’t get disturbed when the regular officers turn to at unearthly hours.” Still smiling, he guided her to the entrance and tapped in the code to open the door.
“Decide the code with your AI, who will give you a complete update on shifts, mealtimes, drills and regulations. The AIs are pretty good, but don’t name them. It gives them ideas above their station... hahaha,” he joked.
Kelly dropped her kitbag on the bunk and walked straight back out having taken in her quarters at a glance. She had a lot more room here than her apartment back on Earth. She briefly wondered at the waste, but then realised ironically that she was in space and they could always increase the living area.
The mess hall was buzzing, as all the new arrivals had made a bee-line to the food counters and were busy dialling up their meals. Ossie directed Kelly to a group in the far corner that were watching the melee with amusement, as the new intake, still bouncing around unnaturally in the low gravity, tried out the new food processors. Ossie said he would order up something for her to try as he wanted her opinion. She made her way to the table and sat down. It was too noisy to talk, so she just nodded at everyone They understood and smiled back, then continued watching the antics of the new arrivals.
The food processing was a recent innovation of Director Osbourne’s group. Meals were ‘constructed’ from organic material by nanite teams that manufactured it into different textures and colours. Flavours were added compliments of the chemistry labs. This was then supplemented by laser cookers, or chillers; liquids were added to the end result to provide gravies, sauces or juices. Beverages were still made in the traditional manner, although Osbourne’s team were working on that aspect too. Coffee generated by nanites did not have the same appeal as fresh ground, or filtered, so was still shipped from Earth.
Kelly was impressed with the steak and chips. The meat had a texture that was chewy and knowing an animal hadn’t had to die for it to get on her plate was impressive. She wasn’t a vegetarian, but like most people, didn’t need the guilt. In space it had a much more important aspect than just saving an animal’s life, it meant that food replicators could be used instead of massive stores of supplies. Osbourne also told her that it meant that recycling was a serious option now, and although this didn’t matter yet, on a long journey through new star systems it might prove beneficial if there were no fresh organic sources available to replenish supplies.
Kelly was suddenly only interested in eating, having realised that she hadn’t had food or drink all day, and set about the meal with gusto, much to the amusement of the others at the table. When she was finished, she leaned back and sighed with the rush of energy that began making its way into her bloodstream.
It had quietened down in the hall, so her fellows began introducing themselves and the others at the table. Lang, short, tubby with glasses was the deputy director and he was more on the technical side of the team. Kelly knew he was a specialist in nanite technology and probably had him to thank for the meal she had just eaten.
“That was a great steak, Dr Lang, your work is brilliant,” she said.
“Ah, thank you, although these people here had a lot to do with helping me,” he indicated and introduced Dr. Lockwood and Dr. Burgess, both of whom had worked with Lang from the start. “Then, of course, Dr Osbourne, is the genius behind much of what we do here,” he admitted genially. Kelly immediately liked Lang, and the others seemed easy to relate to. She decided that it might just be a great assignment.
Just then Kelly spied the officer she had a run in with on the elevator floor, and noted with alarm he was walking directly to their table. He was surprised when he saw her sitting next to Osbourne. He came and stood opposite her behind Lang and looked directly at her.
He smiled. “I’m sorry I gave you a hard time earlier, Lieutenant Moon, I was trying to get past all of the new arrivals before they overran the deck,” he said. A light bulb clicked in Kelly’s head as she finally recognised who he was.
Her hand shot to her mouth as she realised the officer she had blocked, was none other than Zeke Callaghan, THE Zeke Callaghan. Admiral Callaghan, as she also noted the four stars surrounding a comet’s tail on his lapel.
Her expression must have said it all because he grinned, realising she had just discovered who he was.
“I’m.... so sorry, Admiral, I didn’t mean – “ she stuttered.
Ossie turned around and seeing that she was floundering came to her rescue. “Now, what did I tell you, Kelly, it’s all first names in this section and that includes Zeke here, when he comes to us without his cap on.” He winked, so that only she could see it.
Kelly looked at the Admiral who was still smiling at her. Clearly, she wasn’t going to be jettisoned out of the nearest port yet. She smiled back at him with relief.
“Good, I would like to borrow one of your team, Ossie, I need a second person to help me test the ship’s new control consoles,” Zeke asked.
Lang looked up. “I’ve got a bit of time to spare, but you might want to take Kell
y along too, she has a good grounding in ship systems according to her academy results. Besides, we don’t have anything for her to do yet,” he chuckled.
“OK, let me know when you’re both ready, and I’ll put you aboard,” he said and went to walk off.
“I’m ready,” Kelly blurted out, leaping up, looking at Ossie and Lang for approval to leave.
Ossie smiled and nodded. Lang got up and joined her in catching up with Zeke who was already halfway through the mess hall. Kelly noticed some of her classmates watching her as she caught up with the Admiral. She remembered just in time to behave like a lieutenant and didn’t wave.
Outside in the corridor Zeke turned to them both and kept them close. He had his head cocked slightly, Kelly noticed as if listening to something. They de-materialised and re-materialised in a small space, a cockpit easily big enough for the three of them. Various sensor consoles erupted out of the deck.
“Wow! That’s an experience and a half!” she said in a strangled voice as her senses tried to compensate for the change in weight, air pressure and confinement. Not to mention a sea of grey rising around her, magically converting itself into three user consoles complete with vidscreens, keyboard, and readouts. Her eyes took in the scene around her, then looked out through the front portals that appeared to be ‘real’ windows and not vidscreens. The view both of Earth in the distance and the foreground of Alpha Station took her breath away.
“Terrific view!” she exclaimed.
Zeke who was standing to one side chuckled quietly, whilst Lang just beamed a smile at her. Both old hands at this they always got a kick out of watching people’s reactions to being in space in a small ship.
“Yep! It does kind of concentrate reality into a bite-sized chunk. You’ll see some impressive views as we run through the tests,” Zeke promised, pointing her towards one of the consoles.
“Lang, you can take that one and I will be helmsman. Pod can take a back seat and just monitor traffic.”
