Shen Ark: Departure

by John Hindmarsh

  “Marvellous,” said Fern who had been speechless for almost fifteen minutes, as she absorbed the visual impact. “And the stars don’t twinkle, they are just spots of light.”

  Dinner was an informal party hosted by Capin Julio. He explained to Freddie, “The teams here, on board Shen Ark, also have been working hard, trying to match the pace of your design team. This evening gives them all an opportunity to relax, perhaps with some technical discussions, although I gave instructions for everyone to stop work for the evening.”

  “The design team and the admin team are also relaxing. Fern gave me a lecture, told me to take some time off,” said Freddie. “And I agree, it was needed.”

  Fern cornered Freddie later in the evening. “Come with me,” she instructed. “We can say goodnight to everyone. We’ve some distraction to attend to.”

  ***

  Chapter 32

  Freddie’s next trip to Shen Ark was almost four months later. The unmanned shuttle was ready for its initial test flight and Freddie wanted to see how it performed. Once the shuttle passed this basic test, the engineers would install their trial bubble warp drive in the small spacecraft and then the real testing would begin. While there were numerous volunteers prepared to take a risk, Freddie refused to sanction a test of the bubble warp drive on a crewed shuttle. He considered the possibilities for failure for the first test series to be far too high, and if a disaster occurred, losing the shuttle was acceptable, while losing a pilot and crew was not. He had persuaded Capin Julio to construct two unmanned shuttles just in case there was a disaster with the first one, in which case they would have the second craft ready.

  One of the larger shuttles had towed the newly constructed unmanned shuttle to its planned test location, fifty miles off Shen Ark. The test team had already tested the craft in manned flight, and now it was time to test the shuttle under its remote controls. The test team had taken over one of the Shen Ark command decks, where they had set up a flight control station for the shuttle test pilot. This station mirrored the flight deck of the shuttle, relaying instrument readings, controls, viewscreens, and, in return, would relay every command from the pilot to the small spacecraft. Freddie was pleased to see Colonel Thè at the remote controls.

  The command deck was crowded. The test audience, in addition to the immediate project team members, included shuttle engineers, warp drive designers and engineers, shuttle pilots, and others. Freddie noted three Capins were seated at the back of the command deck, with individual viewscreens, monitoring the test. Ser Nish and Ser Glade were standing with the Capins; all were also very interested in the test process. The Shen had contributed substantial technical expertise to the shuttle construction team and were anxious to see it realised. He assumed Zen 33 also was somewhere on the command deck; this test would also be of interest to the security team. He suspected there were video and sound relays to both the Embassy and the Institute. He took his seat next to Fern and her Shen Ark admin team.

  The test manager handed a microphone to Colonel Thè, who proceeded to give details of the proposed test. “This is unmanned shuttle test number one. The test scenario is simple. Currently the shuttle is stationary, with engines on standby. I’ll conduct pre-flight checks, and if successful, I’ll start the engines. Once I have ignition, I’ll fly the shuttle on a triangular course. We have three buoys in place, as navigation marks; and yes, they’re too small to see from Shen Ark. We’ll use computer aids to navigate each leg. Once we’re within a hundred yards of a buoy, I’ll approach on manual controls until I’m close enough to relay an image of its ID marker to the overhead monitor. On return to the third buoy, I’ll stop engines and conduct post-flight checks. There may be minor communication delays; however, these are unlikely to interfere with flight controls. We’ve four crewed shuttles out there, one at each buoy and one following the unmanned shuttle, and they’ll relay visuals to the viewscreens. This test is likely to be boring to everyone except the test team.”

  Freddie said, “Yes, please ensure we have an excitement-free test flight. Please.” The audience chuckled their appreciation of his comment; they, too, would prefer a boring, accident-free, flawless test result.

  A hush descended upon the command deck as Colonel Thè commenced execution of the test program. He announced each step and its conclusion as he put the shuttle through its paces. The command deck viewscreens relayed details from the observer shuttles, which were transmitting images of the three buoys and of the test shuttle floating in space.

  “Pre-flight completed. Igniting engines,” announced Colonel Thè.

  “Ignition successful. Setting course to first buoy. Estimated flight time is ten minutes.”

  “Buoy detected, one hundred and twenty yards. Now on manual control.” The viewscreens displayed an image of the small buoy which gradually increased in size as the shuttle approached. Other viewscreens showed the test shuttle moving towards the buoy. “There, we have buoy one recorded.” The audience cheered and Colonel Thè waited for the noise to die down.

  “Setting course to second buoy. Estimated flight time is ten minutes,” he continued. The test team conferred and made notes while the audience remained quiet.

  “Buoy detected. One hundred yards. Now on manual control.”

  “Buoy two recorded.” The cheer was even louder this time.

  “Setting course to home buoy. Estimated flight time is ten minutes.”

  “Buoy detected. One hundred yards. Now on manual control. Shutting down engines. Post flight check completed. Test completed.” Colonel Thè stood and waved his arms. “That’s it—our first unmanned flight test completed—and successful.” This time the noise from the audience was almost deafening.

  Freddie approached Colonel Thè; he had to struggle to penetrate the congratulatory crowd. He borrowed the microphone used by the test pilot and waited a moment for the noise to reduce. “May I add my congratulations, as well? And I’d like to congratulate the build team as well as the test team. Very well done. We’ll meet tomorrow to plan the bubble warp build and test.” He handed the microphone back to Colonel Thè to further applause.

  ~~~

  “Will the engineering team be able to meet your target for the bubble warp drive?” They were waiting for their shuttle flight back to London. Fern was anxious.

  “Yes, I think so. It’s their schedule, not mine. They’ve made good progress on the engineering design. Now that the unmanned test shuttle has passed its first test, their enthusiasm will drive them forward. They’ve commenced designing the foundation structure for Shen Ark; that’s also going to be a challenge.”

  “Will it work?”

  “Our test results are very positive. We’ve some very bright people working on implementation. My answer is yes. Perhaps not on the first test, but certainly on the second or third. We might lose a test shuttle. We could lose two.”

  “Are you going to test a manned shuttle?”

  “No. The risk is low once we have results from the unmanned tests. Keep in mind, shuttles are not designed for warp transit, the stresses are too great. We could build a small starship, and use it for further testing. Sam 32nd and I discussed the possibility. However, when I told him it would add at least another year to Shen Ark’s departure schedule, he decided not to. Rats are impatient to leave Earth. You know most of the core governments in Europe have now passed legislation prohibiting Rats from owning any kind of property? If the English opposition gets into power in the next elections, they’re threatening to pass the same confiscatory legislation.”

  “We know. Rats have transferred most of their European property to the Institute, and we’ve helped to protect them from losses. In the more crucial countries, we’ve already completed disposal sales, and have transferred the proceeds to the Bank of England. I understand their urgency.”

  “It seems the Institute is everywhere.” Freddie said.

  “No, not really. Just England and parts of Europe. We’ve small offices in other places, just not
very many. It’s just as well. Three of our people were executed in the Eastern Bloc, for spying, to Dr. Krowe’s disappointment. The pity is, they were not spies.”

  “I am sorry.”

  “Most of our foreign tasks are now about identifying humans who should come with us, on Shen Ark. Assuming they want to come. We had to stop those activities in the Eastern Bloc. Of course, apart from Europe, there are very few other countries where we need to check.”

  ”How many humans do you think will want to board Shen Ark, when we open the door for that?”

  “Currently our estimate is close to eight thousand. About half are English, the remainder are from other European countries. Most have moved to London already, and we’re running briefing sessions for them. A few have withdrawn, mainly because they don’t wish to leave Earth permanently.”

  “Understandable. It could be a difficult decision. What about you? All the Ferns?”

  “We’re totally in agreement; we will send you off by yourself, while we stay in London and party every night.”

  Freddie adopted a serious mien. “As long as you are all home by midnight. And seriously?”

  “As I said, we are in total agreement. We’re anxious to board Shen Ark. Our bags are packed.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Oh, we’re aware of the schedule. According to the Capins, it will be six months before the Shen Ark renovations are completed. We’ve an Institute team designing human accommodation, with a Rat construction team carrying out the modifications on board the starship. Fortunately, there’s a lot of space, and only a small portion will be taken up by the Institute and our humans, once we get a green light for boarding.”

  ***

  Chapter 33

  Freddie sighed and sat back in his chair. He was tired. His team was exhausted. Fern was annoyed with him. Progress was slower than he expected. Another three months had passed and the design for his bubble warp drive was still not complete. He sighed again. Sabre nudged his knee and Freddie reached down and scratched his ears. As usual, after a moment or two, Felis pushed Sabre away and presented her head for his attention. He scratched her ears as well.

  “Fern is correct, isn’t she?” Freddie asked the two sabre tigers.

  “Of courssse,” replied Sabre, nudging his knee. Felis just stared at Freddie and then blinked. She thought the answer was obvious.

  “All right. I’ll give the team a week off. According to Fern, they need time out. Come on, let’s go find Fern.”

  The two sabre tooth tigers did not need a second instruction. They pushed open the door of his apartment and headed off at a pace Freddie struggled to match. Their impatience at the lift bank showed in twitching tails and bristling fur. They rushed into the lift almost before the door was open wide enough to let them through. Sabre had pressed the floor button with his forepaw before Freddie had entered the lift. Once they reached the top floor of the Institute building they raced ahead to Fern’s office, skidding around corners in their haste.

  “Fern, Fern,” cried Sabre. “Freddie sssaysss we can have a week off.”

  Fern looked up from her laptop screen. “Did he, now? And what caused that magnanimous gesture?”

  “He wasss tired—and sssighing,” stated Felis.

  Freddie entered her office. “Yes, and I said you were correct.”

  Fern stared at her visitor, mouth agape. “My. Are you seriously ill?”

  “Fern, don’t. You know—”

  “I know you are driven, and that drives everyone else. So the team will have a week off, to recharge. What will you do?”

  Freddie shrugged. “Go fishing. Sleep. Hike up a mountain. Worry.”

  Fern laughed and stepped around her desk to Freddie. “Dear boy, what are we going to do with you?”

  “We could take Freddie fissshing,” said Sabre. “It sssoundss interesssting.”

  Freddie and Fern both laughed. Sabre was discomfited by their reaction and Freddie apologized. “Sabre, it was a human joke. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

  “Me too,” agreed Fern.

  “I’d better let the team know.”

  “Hmmm. That could be difficult.”

  Freddie looked intrigued. “Why?”

  “I told them earlier this evening to take the week off. I think they all left about an hour later and I think there was mention of Tenerife. The team on Shen Ark have taken a shuttle trip, to do some exploring; I heard a moon orbit was being planned.” She braced herself, waiting for the explosion.

  Freddie closed his eyes and shook his head. “All right, I surrender.”

  “We could go out, you know. For dinner.”

  “You mean like on a date?”

  Fern’s eyes twinkled. “That’d be a good idea. I know a good restaurant just off Park Lane. I’ll book a table and arrange an ecab. You have thirty minutes, so come on, get your weary body into motion.” Fern looked at the two sabre tigers. “No, you’re not coming. You both can have an off-duty evening. This is just for Freddie and me. Besides, the protests have quietened down, there should be very little risk—Freddie will protect me.”

  For once the sabre tigers did not argue, probably because they were both half asleep, curled up on a couch. Nor did Freddie, and he was ready and waiting in the lobby exactly thirty minutes later. Fern gave their destination to the ecab driver and pushed Freddie into the vehicle. “Come on, this won’t hurt. Well, not until you see the prices on the menu.”

  Fern was obviously known by the restaurant staff and she was warmly welcomed.

  “Miss Fern, how good to see you again. Your usual table?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “So you’ve never been here before?” joked Freddie.

  “Well, not recently. It’s a favourite of Dr. Krowe’s. He helped the owner with a small investment when it opened. We—Institute staff—have been welcome ever since.”

  The restaurant owner sat at their table for a few minutes, greeting Fern and welcoming Freddie. “The Dover sole,” the owner stated, “is my recommendation for today. It’s very fresh and we’ll grill it with our secret herbs, especially for you.” He stood up to leave the table. “Fern, do bring your friend again. Soon, yes?”

  Fern smiled and waved her hand. “It depends on Freddie. I hope so.”

  Freddie enjoyed his meal, as well as light conversation with Fern, and was almost disappointed when the meal ended. The owner escorted them to the front door. “Do you want me to order an ecab?”

  “No, thanks,” replied Fern. “It’s a nice evening and we don’t have far to walk.”

  “Are you sure?” queried Freddie. “This is London, remember. It could rain any minute.”

  “Let’s tough it out.”

  They turned into Park Lane and walked towards Marble Arch and Oxford Street. It was late, approaching midnight, and despite the hour, the streets were very busy. Freddie could see crowds of people on the other side of the double width of Park Lane, gathered in the part of Hyde Park known as Speakers’ Corner. Surprisingly, as late as it was, there were speakers haranguing the crowds, and along one side of the corner a number of open fires were flaring into the night.

  “Let’s cross over and see what the attraction is,” suggested Fern. “We can take this walkway, it should exit at Speakers Corner.” She tugged at Freddie, and almost reluctantly he allowed himself to be directed.

  The crowd was noisy, boisterous, and, Freddie thought, threatening. The speakers were not subtle in their criticism of politicians, and as he listened and caught up with the context of their rants and vehement utterances, he realised the speakers were almost all expressing wild statements against New Rats and Shen.

  “They have stolen our rightful heritage,” claimed one, interspersing his monologue with commands instructing his listeners to take up arms and kill Rats. The audience, mainly men, cheered at every wild statement.

  The next speaker Freddie could hear and understand was directing his vituperative words at English politician
s, claiming they had colluded with Shen to bring about the Great Floods, and that Shen were trying to take over the world. His every sentence was applauded. No one was allowed to contradict this or other speakers; there were heavy-built minders on patrol, ensuring the words of the speakers reached their audiences without interference, without logic being applied.

  Fern whispered, “I think we’re in the wrong place.”

  “You could be right. We should be able to reach the next entrance to the underpass without difficulty, though.”

  As they drew near the underpass, they also were approaching a row of steel barrels in three groups; they apparently held combustible material and were in full flame. These were the fires Freddie had seen from the other side of Park Lane. He stopped in his tracks. “Do you see that?” he asked in low, urgent tones.

  “What? Oh, no. I don’t believe it.”

  The fires were not for cooking food. Freddie counted. Fifteen Rats had been captured and were bound with cord; five were held at each of the three groups of fire barrels under heavy guard. Freddie shuddered. The guards were armed and armoured Cats, and he counted two for each Rat. The Cats each held machetes, and they also had other weapons on their armour harnesses; Freddie saw each Cat had a crossbow.

  The barrel attendants were haranguing the passing crowd— and their intent was clearly stated. “Come and watch the re-birth of Tyburn Tree,” cried one. “Except we won’t hang these Rats. Hanging’s too good for ‘em. We’ll purge ‘em with fire.” The area near Speakers’ Corner had been the site of a scaffold called Tyburn Tree upon which thousands had been executed in the centuries from the Middle Ages to the 1800s.