by Knox, Barry
Captain Bowser’s Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking
0322—March 29, 2372
“Captain…Captain?” Mary’s Anna said into her ear implant until she awoke.
“What is it, Anna?” Mary asked and rolled over on her back.
“Doctor Pettway wants to speak with you. She says it’s urgent,” Anna said.
Mary got out of bed, went to her desk, and brought up a communications link to the sick bay. Dr. Pettway appeared.
“Captain, the children and women are missing!” Pettway blurted. She looked shocked.
“What do you mean, missing?”
“They’re not in sick bay, and my Anna or the ship’s AI can’t locate them.”
“I’m on my way,” Mary said and terminated the transmission.
“Anna, contact Lieutenant Klaxton and have him meet me in sick bay on the double,” Mary said.
***
“Doctor, I’ll have my men check every nook and cranny of the ship. They’ll find them.” Gideon told Dr. Pettway. “Anna, have my marines report to me in the sick bay ASAP.” Gideon said.
“What’s going on?” Corpsman Wong almost yelled as he stood over one of the children’s bed. Then he walked to the next bed and pulled down the sheet.
“What is it, Corpsman?” Dr. Pettway asked as she, Mary, and Gideon walked across the bay to where he was.
“The kids’ clothes are in their locker, and their sleepwear is lying in their beds,” Wong looked puzzled. “Not only are the children missing; they aren’t wearing anything.”
Gideon went to the bed nearest him and pulled down the sheet. White sleepwear lay on the bed as if the child wearing it had just disappeared. He noticed something lying at the base of the pillow and picked it up. It was a necklace, its chain made of thin synthetic gold with an attached pendant made from plastanium.
The pendant was shaped like a cross. It took only a few seconds for Gideon to recall, from reading the Bible that the pendant represented the cross Jesus had been crucified on. He ran to each bed, pulling down the sheet and finding a necklace.
“What are you doing, Lieutenant?” Mary asked as Gideon moved from bed to bed.
“A cross…the kids were wearing a cross!” Gideon exclaimed. “Corpsman, check the women’s beds for necklaces.”
As Wong hurried to inspect the women’s beds, Gideon’s Anna said. “Gideon, I contacted all of the marines except Corporal Gault. Corporal Gault’s Anna reported his ear implant has been removed.”
Gideon’s heart raced as he realized what may have happened.
“Their sleepwear is here, and so are some necklaces,” Wong yelled from the other end of the sick bay. He held up several necklaces.
“Anna, contact Sipes and see if his implant has been removed,” Gideon said.
“Petty Officer Sipes’s implant has been removed,” Anna responded.
“Anna, contact every crewman and scientist and see if their implants have been removed,” Gideon ordered. He paused and turned toward Dr. Pettway. “Doctor, I suggest you check the morgue.”
Dr. Pettway look confused for a second and then ran to the morgue with a horrified look on her face.
A few seconds later, Anna reported that all the scientists had their ear implants installed but several crew members’ implants had been removed. Anna listed those crew members on his forearm display.
Gideon accessed the platoon communications channel and said, “Gunny, change in plans. All the children and women are missing, along with Gault and several crew members. Anna will send you a list of who’s missing. Search the entire ship for them and keep me updated.”
“Yes, sir,” Xia said.
“And Gunny, check and see if Doctor Bailey’s son is missing,” Gideon added.
“Yes, sir,” Xia responded again.
“What are you doing?” Mary asked Gideon. She looked confused.
“I’m trying to find out who is missing,” Gideon said.
Ship’s Brig, SRS Stephen Hawking
0400—March 29, 2372
Gideon and Mary rushed to the ship’s brig and looked into the cell where Joseph had been held. His clothes lay on his bunk along with his portable media device, his Anna forearm device, his ear implant, and a necklace.
“He’s gone! That’s impossible!” Mary exclaimed.
“Gideon, Gunny Xia wants to talk to you,” Gideon’s Anna said.
“Patch him through,” Gideon said.
“Sir, I found Corporal Gault’s uniform, weapon, his Anna, ear implant, and a necklace on the floor of the bridge where he was on duty,” Xia reported, paused and added. “I just searched Doctor Bailey’s quarters. Her son is missing, and she’s hysterical.”
“Understood. I’ll ask Doctor Pettway if she’ll go and see Doctor Bailey,” Gideon said. “When you’ve finished your search of the ship, report to me in the Triple C.”
“Yes, sir,” Xia responded.
Before Gideon attempted to contact Dr. Pettway, the doctor contacted him. “Some of the bodies are gone! Sergeant Mucha and the child who died are gone but the bodies of the old women who died are still here!” Dr. Pettway reported and began crying as she continued between sobs. “What’s going on, Lieutenant? I’m scared!”
Gideon didn’t want to attempt to explain yet. He simply asked Dr. Pettway to go to Dr. Bailey’s quarters. He then asked the ship’s AI to open the cell door. The cell door opened and he went in. He picked up the necklace Joseph had been wearing and looked at it.
“Lieutenant, I suspect you know what’s going on,” Mary said as she entered the cell behind him.
“I think I do, sir, but you’ll think I’m crazy,” Gideon said. He slipped Joseph’s necklace over his head, the cross now displayed on Gideon’s chest outside his jumpsuit. “The Bible describes an event that will occur during the end-times. It says, ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.’ This event is referred to as the rapture of God’s church.”
Combat Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
0635—March 29, 2372
Mary ordered her officers and scientists to the Triple C, and told them about the missing people.
“There has to be a logical explanation of where they are,” Dr. Harper said. “We’re traveling in the time-speed dimension, so there’s no way they could’ve left the ship. Safeguards are in place to detect if a hull door into space opens, and the ship’s AI would have immediately dropped us out of the dimension.” He paused for a second and added, “I’m sure Sipes is involved, and he somehow orchestrated the entire event.”
“For what purpose?” Gideon asked.
“I have no idea, Lieutenant. Maybe he’s trying to take over the ship,” Dr. Harper offered with a shrug.
A second later the marines entered the Triple C. “Lieutenant, we couldn’t find any of the missing. They’re not aboard the ship,” Xia reported. “Just what’s going on, sir?”
“I’m not sure, Gunny. All I know is we have missing people,” Gideon said.
“What do we do?” Dr. Jones asked.
“There’s nothing we can do, Doctor,” Mary answered. “We’ll contact Mount Mitchell tomorrow, as scheduled, and see if they have any ideas.”
Gideon was going to share his theory but decided not to. If the rapture had occurred, he and the crew would know for sure tomorrow during the QMAC communication.
Mission Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
1400—March 30, 2372
The Stephen Hawking dropped out of the time-speed dimension, and Dr. Jones established a QMAC connection to Mount Mitchell. Admiral Frank, Dr. Layton, and Senator Rimms sat at a conference table.
“Good to hear from you, Captain Bowser,” Senator Rimms began with a somber look on his face. “A lot has happened in the last thirty hours. There are reports from every nation on
Earth and colonized planets of people disappearing. All the children are gone, and about a sixteenth of the entire adult population of Earth and colonized planets is missing. No one’s come up with a plausible explanation of what’s happened. As a result, social unrest has increased everywhere, and several nations on Earth and colonized planets have gone to war. Alliances between nations are dynamic since no nation trusts another nation, and I’m sad to report several nuclear exchanges have taken place and a nuclear device has exploded in Washington, DC. The source and delivery of the weapon are currently unknown.”
The news shocked the crew and scientists in the MCC.
“What are our orders, Admiral?” Mary asked, hoping the admiral would read between the lines and send her an encrypted order that would give her more guidance and details.
“No changes in orders, Captain,” Admiral Frank answered and paused as he looked at Senator Rimms for approval to continue. Rimms gave him a slight nod, and Admiral Frank continued. “The news media releases you are receiving will report that the United States government in Washington, DC, was totally destroyed by the nuclear device. This is not true. The president is safe and is here at Mount Mitchell. Congress, however, was in session. The vice president and ninety present of the House and Senate were killed. Those representatives and senators that were not in Washington at the time, are being located and flown here. The president has declared martial law until we can regain control over the social unrest and assess our situation. Any more questions?”
“No questions, Admiral, but I have to report that all of the children and old women aboard have disappeared along with several of the crew,” Mary said.
“When did this happen, Captain?” Dr. Layton asked.
“Around zero three hundred on the twenty-ninth,” Mary said.
“That’s the same time the disappearances on Earth and colonized planets occurred,” Dr. Layton said as he looked toward Senator Rimms.
“Is there anything else?” Admiral Frank asked.
No other questions were asked, and no other comments were made. Everyone seemed to be confused, lost, and worried because of the current events.
“If there is nothing else, we will communicate again in two days,” Admiral Frank said, and the connection was terminated.
Mary stood and ordered, “Carry on with your duties. There’s nothing we can do now. Dismissed!”
“Lieutenant Klaxton, Commander Steward, remain please,” Mary added as the rest of her officers and scientists left.
Mary sat down and accessed an operations console. She secured the MCC and then asked her Anna if she had received an encrypted message from the admiral.
“Yes, Captain, I did,” Anna said. “Displaying it on the main display now.”
To: Captain Bowser,
Captain, SRS Stephen Hawking
From: Admiral Frank, USECC Mount Mitchell, United
States Navy, Naval Intelligence Command
Subject: Situation Update
1. My previous orders concerning the destruction of the Stephen Hawking have not changed.
2. Your previous encrypted orders haven’t changed.
3. The news media information provided to you during today’s QMAC communications is completely accurate.
4. Be advised that the president of the United States has been contacted by the UNP to discuss the “Consolidation of Nations” to prevent the spread of war and stop social unrest.
“Pretty straightforward except for the UPN consolidation-of-nations thing. What do you think that means, Captain?” Commander Steward asked.
“Not sure, Commander,” Mary said.
“It looks as if there may be an attempt by the UPN to unite some nations that may be on the verge of collapse into a single nation that’ll be temporally protected and governed by the UPN,” Gideon suggested.
Gideon’s Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking,
1147—March 30, 2372
Gideon sat on his bunk, holding the necklace cross with his right hand, looking at it. He had been troubled about what had happened since the disappearances of the people, especially Gault and Joseph. He now believed God had created the heavens and the Earth as he had witnessed and read the event in the Bible. And he also believed the rapture had occurred. More importantly, he believed Jesus wasn’t only the words Lord and Savior but also his personal Lord and Savior. He wished Joseph was there to help him with what he wanted to do next.
Gideon closed his eyes and mentally scanned the Bible, looking for what he should do to be saved. He recalled several passages such as, “‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that ask shall receive; and he that seek shall find; and to him that knock the door shall be opened.” “What should we do, brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”’”
Finally, Gideon looked up and prayed, “I’m not sure what to do, but I know I’m a sinner. I want your forgiveness, and I know you can and will forgive me because I believe Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. Please wash my sin, shame, and guilt away and come into my life, Jesus, to be my Lord and Savior. I ask this in your name, Jesus, amen!”
Gideon suddenly felt warmth within him, and everything that had happen to him since his assignment to the mission began fitting into place. He now understood. He felt joy, tears streamed down his face. He had also finally found what he had been looking for all his life-a family’s love. And now he wanted to share it with everyone.
Captain’s Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking
0110—March 31, 2372
Mary sat at her desk, still in her jumpsuit. She had been reading the Bible, trying to understand things: creation, the rapture, Jesus, eternal life, sin, salvation…It all seemed impossible to understand, especially since she had never been taught anything about God and the Bible. Something was compelling her to read, to learn more.
As she flipped through the pages, she saw some verses and read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Mary began to cry, and as she was crying, she heard a knock on her door. She wiped her eyes, and straightened her jumpsuit in an attempt to compose herself.
“Enter,” she said.
Gideon entered and stood just inside the door.
As the door closed behind him, Mary stood. After a few seconds she began to tremble. No longer able to control herself, she ran and embraced Gideon. She sobbed, “Help me, Gideon. I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you believe in Jesus?” Gideon asked.
“I do,” she replied through her tears.
“Pray with me,” Gideon said as he recalled his earlier prayer. “I’m a sinner. I want your forgiveness, and I know you can and will forgive me because I believe Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. Please wash my sin, shame, and guilt away. Come into my life, Jesus, to be my Lord and Savior. I ask this in your name, Jesus, amen!”
As Gideon recited his prayer, he stopped after each sentence to allow Mary to repeat what he’d said. When the prayer was finished, Mary’s tears changed from tears of anguish to tears of joy.
“I found what I was looking for,” Gideon said.
“What did you find?” Mary said as she smiled, resting her head against his shoulder.
“A family, and the love that comes with it,” Gideon said.
They remained embraced, standing there, now brother and sister in Christ.
Mission Control Center, SRS Stephen
Hawking
1417—April 1, 2372
“Several mainland and foreign deployed US military bases and facilities were totally destroyed in a coordinated nuclear attack during the early evening hours of March thirtieth,” an exhausted-looking Admiral Frank reported via QMAC. “Our current military readiness was reduced to twenty-five percent, barely enough to protect the continental United States. Intelligence reports that the attacks originated from the Leonis Council of Czars. How the nuclear devices were deployed and detonated without detection is still unknown.”
The crew and scientists aboard the Stephen Hawking listened in disbelief.
Senator Rimms then spoke. “As of zero one hundred hours, March thirty-first, 2372, by executive order of President Clayton, the United States of America has been dissolved and has joined all of the North American nations to create the nation of the Republic of North America. The Republic of North America is one of ten nations created by the United Nations and Planets on Earth in an attempt to prevent further attacks among nations and planets.
“This action was proposed by the new UNP secretary, Lucius Russo, and was unanimously approved by all members of the UNP. The Republic of North America, along with the nine other global nations, is currently under the direct control of the UPN, and all remaining military forces of these nations are assigned to and controlled by the UPN.
“As such, Secretary Russo has ordered the halt of all military offensive actions and ordered the new UNP military to extinguish all social unrest among the ten nations. So far, no further attacks against any nations or planets have occurred, and social riots are diminishing.”
“Admiral, where does that leave us? Officially we have been branded terrorists,” Mary said.
