The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle

by John Thornton

  Squash led Paul along and there became less and less debris. It was still a mess, but less cluttered. They reached a bulkhead door which was closed.

  “I hope you can open this, I do not have Brinley’s tricks with doors,” Paul said.

  The automacube drew near and the bulkhead door slid to the side. Paul expected a Roe to be waiting on the other side, or a red automacube, or some other horror, but instead there was just more of the causeway. As he stepped through and past the bulkhead door, Paul said, “Now this door will probably slam shut and lock me out. Then Gretchen will get eaten by those tagalongs, and Brinley will die too.”

  The bulkhead door remained open, and Squash continued to roll forward.

  Paul looked ahead, and his hopes soared. A rusty door was lying on the side of the corridor. He recognized it as the one which he had broken off not long after climbing down from the scout ship.

  “I found it!” Paul yelled, and then slapped his hand over his mouth. “Right, I find it and then call out for a Roe to come and kill me. Stupid!”

  Paul turned the broken off door around in his hands, and it said ‘Causeway 147’ just as he remembered. That confirmed in his mind where he was. He looked at Squash and saw that the display screen was flashing with the words, ‘Target achieved’ and the ‘Halt’ and ‘Proceed’ buttons were gone from the display.

  Paul patted the automacube and said, “Yes, you led us here. I guess Klara did have a map after all, but why is Tiffany silent?”

  A large chunk of rusty metal was lying on the floor under the place where the door had fallen. Rust crumbled off the hinges as well as Paul pushed on them while considering his next steps. He knew he had to go into the next room, but recalled that it had been a jumble of pipes and a lot of climbing. “I hope I can get back up without having to build a ladder. But I must do whatever it takes.”

  Paul turned on the fusion pack light and shone it into the chamber beyond the door.

  The pipes, ducts, and vents were crisscrossing it in many directions. The overall color of the room was a smudged yellowish. In front of him many of the pipes went into the floor directly so the only way for him to go was upward. He shined the light up, but shadows darkened many areas of the sections behind the platforms above him. His mind wondered what was hidden in back of the larger mechanisms which were blocked from Paul’s beam of light. He could not see all the way up to where there should be an opening in the hull he and Gretchen had created.

  As he remembered, some of the pipes were of spun permalloy with its smooth and seamless lines, but others were of steels and other metals and polymers. The old fashioned steel pipes had long trails of a rusty discoloration from water or other substances which had leaked out at some distant time in the past, but they also had flanges about every half meter or so where they were riveted into support frames. Some were larger with greater distances between the flanges, and to Paul’s mind he could see how he could climb up using several different pipes which were close together by pulling and stepping on those flanges. This made a sort of irregular ladder to climb, so long as he avoided the ruptured pipes where sharp edges of metal could be see sticking out. Climbing the permalloy pipes would be very difficult as they were smooth and seamless.

  By careful motion, Paul began his ascent on the old steel ones. He could squeeze past the pipes, ducts, and other vent work, but it was not easy, especially with all the tools and his backpack.

  “I could leave stuff down here, but I am sure if I leave it here, I will need it up there.”

  He climbed and wiggled and pulled himself up to the first platform. As he slid up onto that, his eyes grew very side.

  There was a blue automacube on that platform, nestled against the side wall. Paul fumbled for his handgun and finally got it drawn out.

  “How did you get up here?” Paul asked out loud.

  There was no response.

  “So you are playing dead? Pretending like your friends were?” Paul asked as he looked over the automacube. “I do not trust you, so I am going to take measures…”

  Paul took his tool belt and used it to strap himself to one of the pipes, to prevent his own falling or being pushed off the platform. He then pulled out some tools and, keeping one hand holding his weapon, he used the other hand to unfasten the back side of the machine. He followed the method he had seen Brinley do, and removed the back plate of the automacube.

  “I am going to get to your memory vault. You cannot go anywhere without that, I am pretty sure you cannot anyway, but you are not going to spring up and attack me when my back is turned.”

  Paul was wrestling with the tools and the weapon and could not quite get it done one-handedly. As he went to set the weapon down, he stopped himself. “No. If I set it down, you will spin around and steal the weapon or throw it away or something.” He carefully holstered the weapon instead.

  With both hand using the tools he was able to remove the machine’s memory vault.

  His ear nearly exploded with sound.

  “….ounded by hostile machines which are seeking to separate the scout ship from the Vanguard. I have established a force field to impede them, but I have not heard from you. Are you safe?.... I will keep repeating this message until I hear from you. Paul and Gretchen, I am surrounded by hostile machines which are seeking to separate the scout ship from the Vanguard. I have established a force field to impede them, but I have not heard from you. Are you safe?... I will keep repeating this message until I hear from you. Paul and Gretchen, I am surrounded by hostile machines which are seeking to separate the scout ship from the Vanguard. I have established a force field to impede them, but I have not heard from you. Are you safe? I will keep repeating this message until I hear from you. Paul and Gr….”

  “Tiffany?” Paul screamed with joy.

  “Hello Paul. Where have you been?” Tiffany the artificial intelligence system said.

  “I have been trying to reach you. I am right below the scout ship in the room with all the pipes,” Paul was exhalant. “What is your status?”

  “Bored. I was beginning to think no one liked me anymore. I considered throwing a boomerang, but was afraid even that would not come back to me.”

  “What is a boomerang?”

  “Paul, I was attempting to use humor. I am sorry it failed. A boomerang is a curved, flat, weapon from ancient history. Reportedly it could be thrown in such a way that it returns to the thrower,” Tiffany responded. “I am only receiving audio from you, and not from Gretchen or Brinley. What is your status?”

  Before Paul could answer, there was activity in the blue automacube. Its lights came on, and the display illuminated.

  “I pulled the memory vault on this thing,” Paul said in wonder.

  “Paul, are you speaking to me?” Tiffany said. “I have only audio connections with you.”

  A projection was made from the automacube against the pipes and wall. It was unsteady and indistinct, but was definitely there. A voice came along with it.

  “You are an anomaly,” the words came from the projection.

  “Tiffany? Are you picking this us? Is that you?” Paul asked.

  “Paul, I am registering some additional audio from your signal. It is weak, but discernable.”

  “The entity you are connecting with does not belong on the Vanguard. It too is an anomaly,” the new voice said. It had a mechanical feel to it, and its cadences were disruptive.

  “Who are you?” Paul asked. “Is this the CPO?”

  “The Central Planning Office is a threat to the prime purpose of the Vanguard,” came the reply.

  “Who are you?” Paul asked again. “Are you an artificial intelligence system? Or part of the Free Rangers?”

  “The Free Rangers are a threat to the prime purpose of the Vanguard,” came the reply.

  “Tell me who you are!” Paul demanded.

  “I am Phoenix Dominie. You are an anomaly. All anomalies are a threat to the prime purpose of the Vanguard.”

  “Ti
ffany, what is this I am hearing?” Paul asked.

  “I cannot make conjectures. There is too little information,” Tiffany responded.

  “Anomaly, you will now enter your vessel and depart. That will solve this anomaly. Other anomalies will then gain my fuller attention,” came the reply.

  “Gretchen! Tiffany! Gretchen is severely injured. I am coming up to get more supplies,” Paul yelled. “I need another medical kit and whatever else you can give me.”

  “You will now immediately depart in your vessel,” Phoenix Dominie demanded.

  “Shut up! I do not care what you say,” Paul screamed. He pulled out the handgun and blasted the blue automacube.

  Blam, blam, blam.

  A chuck of metal ricocheted back and slit the side of Paul’s hand, it bled for just a bit. The sides of the automacube now had several holes in it as Paul had hit the machine with each shot. Fluids were leaking out, the display faded, and the projection stopped. Then the lights on the machine died.

  “Stupid thing!” Paul said and kicked at the blue automacube. He unbuckled himself from the strap and shoved it with his hands until it fell over the edge of the platform and crashed to the deck below.

  “Die you brainless thing! I do not care for some Phoenix Dominie whatever ordering me around. I do not care if you are the CPO or Larissa, I am going to help Gretchen,” Paul screamed shrilly.

  “Paul, I heard noises indicating a collision of metals, polymers, and synthetics. Have you fallen?” Tiffany asked. “You stated Gretchen is injured?”

  “No…yes… Gretchen is injured, but I did not fall. I dumped the blue automacube which was here. I am coming up to enter the scout ship. Tiffany I cannot see where the entry is,” Paul said as he continued to climb.

  “You stated Gretchen is injured. Is she with you?” Tiffany asked.

  “No. I must get the backup medical kit and get back to her,” Paul replied.

  Paul saw, as he climbed, that there was evidence of recent cutting and welding, and that made going more difficult.

  “My scanning shows newly formed permalloy which has been placed over the access hole you and Gretchen made. The umbilicus is intact,” Tiffany replied. “I suggest you look for variation in the color and texture of the permalloy finish.”

  “Okay. I think I see where a patch was applied. So now I need to cut through yet again. This time way at the top of this crazy structure?” Paul wondered out loud.

  “Paul, I have modulated the force field I established. It will now allow you to enter, while still inhibiting the hostile automacubes. It is our key, in a way.”

  “You have hostile automacubes attacking you?” Paul asked. “I have only seen the blue one in here and it will not be a problem again. I pulled its memory vault, shot several holes in its chassis, and dropped in off the platform.”

  “Paul, the hostile automacubes have been attempting to sever the scout ship from the hull of the Vanguard. They are on the outer surface of the hull, not in the room you are in. The force field is restraining them. However, every one hundred and fourteen minutes, one of the hostile automacubes attempts to pass the force field. They have also tried in various ways to circumvent the force field. They have been unsuccessful up to this point,” Tiffany answered.

  “How did you make a force field?” Paul asked. He was looking over the pipes and seeking the best way to get to the ceiling.

  “It is a repurposed part of the faster-than-light drive. It causes distortion of the neutrinotronic pathways. At current setting it will not affect you, but it has been successful in restraining the hostile automacubes from making further progress against me,” Tiffany said.

  “I think I can make a ladder of sorts out of some of these pipes and the bracings for them. Then will I just cut my way inside?” Paul asked.

  “Yes, but be aware there is zero gravity in the umbilicus and in the scout ship,” Tiffany replied. “Why did you refuse to respond to my many calls?”

  “I never heard calls from you. Gretchen and Brinley and I all tried to contact you over and over. When I disconnected the memory vault of that blue automacube, then I could hear you,” Paul said.

  Tiffany was quiet for a while. Then the artificial intelligence system stated, “That is an important piece of evidence. I had limited information, and due to the dangers you faced previously, my best conjecture was that you three had died. Now it seems that there has been active interference with our communication. This coupled with the hostile automacubes, and the shuttle crashes I have been observing, makes for a more complicated situation.”

  Paul used the molecular torch to cut several supporting struts from under the pipework. He was concerned about cutting the pipes, or ducts, or hoses for fear of what would spill. With some effort he welded the supports into a ladder and propped it in the appropriate position.

  “I am going to cut through now. At least here I know there is atmosphere behind the permalloy. Can you tell how thick this permalloy is and how many layers I will need to remove?” Paul asked.

  “It is a bit less than twenty centimeters thick,” Tiffany replied. “It should be removable in one cutting.”

  Paul set the molecular torch and cut out the area of permalloy. He was careful to push it off to the side when he let it drop. As it fell he looked down and saw movement among the pipework. It looked like a black automacube.

  “Tiffany, I am coming aboard. It looks like we have hostile automacubes in here as well.”

  20 Tiffany set free

  Paul climbed through the passageway he had had to create a second time. This time he moved from gravity manipulation to zero gravity and it felt great. He shoved the backpack ahead of him and then turned around and looked down.

  “Will your force field keep the automacubes out of here?” Paul asked.

  “Yes. I dropped it for a brief moment as you crossed through so as to not damage all the equipment you are carrying. Biological items will not be damaged by the force field, but mechanical items of the Vanguard level technology might be.”

  Paul squirmed through the umbilicus and into the scout ship itself. It felt tighter and smaller than he remembered. There also was still an overcast of tan color in the permalloy itself which remind Paul of Dome 17.

  Paul found the backup medical kit, and several other items which had been cleverly stored in very restrictive surroundings.

  “Tiffany, I will need to get back to Gretchen as soon as I can,” Paul said.

  “I understand that Paul,” Tiffany replied.

  “But I am not sure if I will be able to contact you again.” Paul kept packing up everything that he could. “Have you been able to contact Gretchen or Brinley?”

  “No Paul, only you. It has been quite lonely, Paul. Not for lack of external stimulations, for even with the hostile automacubes, the shuttle crashes, and my scanning of the Vanguard, I have missed our interactions.”

  “I have needed you. We have needed you. Tiffany, I am a mess. This place, this ship, it is so strange. No real food to eat. There is so much death. Eating dead animals? There are vicious animals and bizarre people, and huge expanses of water, and land, and all kinds of threats, and also some wonderful stuff. It is so utterly different! There is no one but Gretchen who knows anything about the world, I mean, about Dome 17… I mean…. It is almost like it never existed at all. Where are all the people I knew? Where? Arguu! I cannot take it much more. It is getting to me,” Paul cried.

  “Paul, you have been under tremendous stress. Your reactions are quite normal,” Tiffany stated. “Let me remind you, you said Gretchen is injured so it is essential that you return. However, it is highly unlikely that you will require the scout ship again. It is possible I could go with you. I have calculated a way for my Atomic Level Processor to be removed from the console. If placed in a data stick reader, I could still assist you, at least on a limited basis, wherever you take me.”

  “The data sticks do not work. I could… Yes, Gretchen is hurt. I must get back to her, but what
if I cannot get to you again?” Paul was in anguish.

  “Paul, please listen. You are distraught, but focus. You are doing well under extremely harrowing conditions. I have had more than adequate time to prepare for the ATP extraction and make conjectures about my usefulness to the Vanguard. If you work diligently the time needed to remove my Atomic Level Processor will be very minimal. To carry it back with you will not significantly burden you. Paul, you and Gretchen do need me, and I need interaction with you,” Tiffany stated.

  “Can you contact Gretchen?”

  “Paul, I have been constantly trying to contact Gretchen and Brinley, to no success. Whatever was blocking the interactions is continuing. You apparently got close enough to be under the communication suppression that is happening. I can explain more later, much more. Now is the time for action,” Tiffany stated.