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

by John Thornton

  “The man told his psychological advisor that the nightmare consisted of his pushing and pushing at a door marked ‘ziehen’ but he was unable to escape. The psychological advisor told him that ‘ziehen’ was a word that meant pull.”

  “So, are you saying I just need to find the proper way to escape? That is what I am telling you. Find me a way to escape the Vanguard!” Paul yelled.

  “Paul, changing the environment around you will have a far greater chance of success than trying to flee,” Tiffany stated. “That was the point of my illustration. I am sorry I failed to covey the proper meaning.”

  “I insist you find me a way to escape from the Vanguard. Just do it!” Paul stated.

  “Destination?” Tiffany asked.

  “Somewhere safe. Anywhere else would be better! I must leave here.”

  “Paul, that is not accurate. I am not trying to be quarrelsome, but you could step out of an Exterior Repair Station’s airlock and leave the Vanguard. That would not be a better situation than remaining here,” the AI stated. “However, I take it to mean that you desire a suitable location which will be safer than here, correct?”

  “Of course. I am not suicidal,” Paul said. “But we must escape the Vanguard. Can we use a shuttle to fly us somewhere?”

  “No. The Vanguard shuttles are not capable of flight to anywhere besides the various locations on the Vanguard. Those short flights are also subject to the attacks which destroyed the Free Ranger’s use of the shuttles,” Tiffany responded.

  “Do you know what caused those attacks?” Gretchen asked.

  “I am still collating data on that issue. When I have sufficient information to make a conjecture, I will let you know,” Tiffany answered. “The danger is still present for those flights, especially in light of the unknown etiology of the attacks.”

  “So no shuttles. How about the scout ship?” Paul asked. “That got us here. Can we use that to go somewhere else?”

  “The scout ship uses faster-than-light travel and does have the potential to reach other places. A sling into orbit is not needed since the Vanguard is not a planetary body, so theoretically a faster-than-light mission is possible. However, the scout does not have atmospheric landing capacity. The mass limit on faster-than-light travel does not permit the proper shielding for reentry. This greatly limits any destinations.”

  “Tiffany, could the scout take us to that Colony Ship Esoteric?” Paul asked.

  “I believe you mean the Colony Ship Eschaton?” Tiffany clarified.

  “Yes, where all the Dome 17 people went. Can we fly the scout ship there?” Paul asked.

  “Paul, let me remind you that when we made contact with the remains of Dome 17, in our abortive effort to connect the teleportation mechanisms, we learned the dome had failed. The artificial intelligence system Copernicus gave us the message which read in part, ‘Teleportation orifice to Colony Ship Eschaton was established and emergency evacuation through orifice took place. The number of refugees evacuated is estimated at 877; however that number is not precise and is a best conjecture. Teleportation orifice from Dome 17 to Eschaton shut down after evacuation. Sending equipment failed.’ That message does suggest that the Colony Ship Eschaton is a habitable destination.”

  “So we get in the scout and fly there and join our friends from Dome 17,” Paul said and grinned a rare smile.

  Gretchen frowned at him, but did not say all the obstacles which she immediately recognized. Tiffany did not have that hesitation.

  “Paul, there is a potential for making the journey which you suggest, however, there are three major impediments. The first impediment regards the scout ship. The scout ship has been anchored to the hull of the Vanguard with a permalloy umbilicus. This would require severing and then movement of the scout ship into a suitable hanger bay for assessment. Then the scout would need to be retrofitted and rebuilt for a second FTL mission. We currently do not have the resources to detach the umbilicus from the scout, or to move the scout to a hanger bay, or to refurbish the scout if it could be delivered into a hanger bay. Additionally, I am still not certain of the cause of our FTL malfunction during our mission to the Vanguard.”

  Paul was looking dejected. He did say, “What else is a problem for taking the scout ship somewhere else?”

  “The second impediment regards the Colony Ship Eschaton. I have the plotting and astrogation for the location of the Eschaton in relation to Dome 17 on Earth for the date of the sling launches. I do not have that same information for a mission from the Vanguard to the Eschaton for a current date. Both the Vanguard and the Eschaton are moving at a significant portion of light-speed in separate trajectories. At present the best I could offer is a generalized location based upon the old targeted robotic probe launch information. We have no idea of the exact current location or movement of the Eschaton, nor do we know the velocity, direction, and vector of the Vanguard. To launch an FTL mission to the Eschaton would require an exact measurement of its current location in relationship to the Vanguard, factoring in all the variables about each ship. Even a fraction of inaccuracy could mean vast distances away from the designated target which would leave the scout ship stranded in space, an unacceptable outcome.”

  “But Tiffany, they did it already in one scout ship. You can duplicate that, right?” Paul asked.

  “It is not that simplistic. Using all the technology of Dome 17, Brink and his team were able to launch a robotic probe which did reach the Eschaton. I do have that information, but it was dependent on Earth as a starting point. I was provided with plotting and tracking information for the probe to the Vanguard, yet even a comparison of the two probe missions will not give me accurate enough detail due to unknown movements of the two ships since the original probes. The life span of the robotic probes is well expired, so there is virtually no chance any of them are still functioning. The scout ship used the beacon on the probe for final adjustments to the faster-than-light travel. We do not have the capacity to build a robotic probe.”

  “So what else?” Paul lamented.

  “The third impediment is the potential for attack. The shuttles were attacked. I conjecture a high probability that the scout ship would also be attacked prior to engagement of FTL system. Additionally, the Jellie aliens are in positions on the hull of the Vanguard. It is likely that they too could launch attacks on the scout ship. There are at least two levels of threat against the scout ship which has no realistic defensive capabilities.”

  “So we cannot fly the scout anywhere,” Paul said. “But what about the teleportation?” He was recalling Brink’s words in his nightmare.

  “Teleportation offers a potential for escaping the Vanguard. However…”

  Paul interrupted. “We know teleportation worked for the Dome 17 people to go to the Eschaton, but only because Jamie and Michael made that connection first. If we had connected first, they would be here.”

  “Paul? Would that be better?” Gretchen asked. “I mean for the people of Dome 17? Would it be better for them to have come here?”

  “Not for them, no,” Paul admitted. “At least I do not think so, but if I had just been faster and worked harder in that snow, we would have connected in first, and maybe the Dome 17 systems would not have failed and all of them would have been saved, not just half. And they could have brought all the technology and staff we needed to make this place safe.”

  “Paul, we just about froze to death. You could not have worked harder,” Gretchen said.

  “What if the other five teams also succeeded?” Paul said, and shrugged off Gretchen’s attempt to console him. “The other adventurers may have been like us and just got it set up too late to help Dome 17. What if they also set up receiving pads? Those receiving pads could still be waiting to connect in. Or what if the receiving pad on the Eschaton is still in service? Brink went there, he would keep it running. The AI Copernicus said teleportation ended because the Dome 17 sending unit failed. We could just build our own teleportation sending unit and connect
to one of those receiving pads. It would give us a way to escape the Vanguard.”

  “Paul, that is a potential, perhaps with a greater chance of success than the proposed FTL scout ship flight. However there are impediments to that course of action as well,” Tiffany stated. “While I do have the plans and detailed schematics needed to build both the sending and the receiving teleportation pads, we lack the production facility to do so. We also lack the astronomical data and equipment to be able to search for the receiving pads signals. However, I do believe the Vanguard’s systems can be repurposed to meet those goals. The chances of success are small, but not infinitesimal.”

  “So Tiffany, how do we begin?” Paul asked. “The plan is we will set up our own teleportation sending pad and get away from here. Anywhere else would be better.”

  “What about me?” Brinley said from the doorway. “Paulie? What about me?”

  3 Brinley, choices and courses

  Brinley, her shoulder length, medium-brown, hair was straight and her hazel colored eyes were inquisitive, stood in the doorway. The tool belt around her waist had various implements, including a holster with a pistol that was of Dome 17 design. She repeated her question, “What about me?”

  Paul looked to her. “You can come and escape the Vanguard with us.”

  Gretchen looked at them both and held back her own comments.

  “Paulie, I came down here to tell you good news. Three more Free Rangers made it to Inaccessible Island by boat, and two more came through the corridors. We now have sixteen people here working to rebuild this safe zone,” Brinley looked stressed. “They said that the people in the town of Murom still have fresh water, from their stream, even though the sea is the toxic brown mess. Governor Svoboda and Constable Herric are missing. But you are leaving, or were you just speaking about potentials and possibilities?”

  “Was Tennard one of those who came back?” Gretchen asked.

  “No. I am still hopeful he survived. Especially after hearing that the town of Murom is mostly intact and the people there are working to survive. The Jellies did not strike them directly. The town of Kimry we have not heard from. The people in Murom have fresh and safe water flowing again. I am working to increase our own fresh water supplies here as well. I think I can divide out the contaminated water sources from the pure ones which feed the waterfall. It will take some time, but we need to have more potable water as our population increases.” Brinley’s normally cheerful self hesitated. “If we get better water, we can get the gardens going again, and the hydroponics. The water is the essential element.”

  “No, Brinley, it will not matter if you have drinkable water, gardens, or food again or not. They will just find some other way to kill you. We must escape from the Vanguard. Come with us, you have valuable skills and we want you to be safe,” Paul said.

  “So you were serious about leaving and not just exploring scenarios? Paulie, I want to be safe as well. This is my home. I want everyone to be safe. We are working to make that happen. I cannot just run away from my responsibilities.”

  “Brinley, you are not even from these Free Rangers. Your own people died in that massacre, killed and murdered. You should be glad to escape,” Paul said.

  “Paulie, the Vanguard is my home.” Brinley’s mouth frowned, an unusual sight on her pretty face. “These people need me. They have been traumatized, wounded, and displaced. They came here looking to find safety. I cannot abandon them,” Brinley looked stricken.

  ‘Brinley, there is no safe place on the Vanguard. You were taken by the Jellies, you know that,” Paul chided.

  “That is why I must organize a defense. I cannot run away on a whim,” Brinley replied.

  “On a whim? I am not doing this on a whim. I have been frozen, attacked by animals, attacked by people, attacked by machines, and attacked by aliens! I am leaving this place, with or without you or anyone else!” Paul wailed his complaints.

  “I will not leave these people here when they need my help, not when I know I can help them,” Brinley retorted. “Neither should you. These people need help. They need heroes who will stand up and help them to defend themselves.”

  “What good are heroes? Everyone I have tried to help is dead. They are dead because I failed them.” Paul turned away from Brinley. “So, no more helping people. No more fighting. No heroes. I am leaving.” Paul picked up his backpack and started to load all his gear. “Tiffany will find us a way to get away from here. I am leaving now.”

  “Paulie, these people need your help,” Brinley said. “I need your help. If we work together we can make this place as safe as possible.”

  “Get Larissa to help you,” Paul said sarcastically. “She was such an ally before.”

  “Paulie, you helped me, and I did not die,” Brinley replied, trying hard to ignore the hurt Paul’s comment had done. “I worked with Larissa to stay alive. We worked together to fight the Jellies. Larissa never broke the truce we set, and she is now back in the Wilds organizing their resistance. I am working to make this safe zone secure again. That will be easier with you. Stay here and help me, please?” Brinley walked over to Paul and touched his shoulder. “Please stay and help me.”

  “I am leaving,” Paul stated flatly and shrugged her hand off his shoulder.

  Brinley turned away from Paul. “Gretchen, talk some sense into this man. Please do not let him leave here on some bizarre odyssey, to run away from evils. There are probably more dangers away from here than in staying here.”

  Gretchen was torn. She clearly understood what Brinley was doing and how noble her work was. However, she also felt Paul angst. “Brinley, I am with Paul. We are in this together. We started this mission together, and we will finish it together. I think the plan to go elsewhere has potential and we need to pursue it.”

  “It is your free choice,” Brinley stated, the disappointment evident. “And my choice is to stay and help to keep these people stable, safe, and secure. If you do go, you will always be welcome back here. But please reconsider?”

  “There is nothing to reconsider. I am tired of being attacked and chased and seeing people die. I will find a way to escape,” Paul said and turned back. “Brinley, I promise, when we find a way off the Vanguard, I will contact you so you can come with us.”

  Gretchen looked at Brinley and then at Paul. “So I guess both ends of the possibilities are covered. Paul and I will contact you when we find a way of escape. If we do not, we will come back here. Are we all agreed?”

  “I will miss your help,” Brinley said to both Paul and Gretchen. “I am concerned about where you will go. What are your plans? I only heard the last part of the discussion.”

  “That is what we need to discover,” Gretchen stated. “We have no destination, and we only have a rough idea of the method, but we do have much to try to uncover or recover.”

  “Since you are not going with us, we can handle this alone,” Paul said.

  “Paul, that is just rude,” Gretchen said. “There is no reason to treat Brinley that way. She is our friend and will always remain our friend.”

  “I apologize, Brinley. That was wrong. I am just overwhelmed,” Paul muttered.

  “Paulie, you are a friend forever. I wish you luck and safety on this quest,” Brinley said. A tear ran down her cheek. “I have the communication link, so let me know what you do, even if it is just to say good bye.” Brinley turned and walked away.

  “Tiffany? What is the best course to get to a safe place?” Paul asked.

  “I must say that I agree with Brinley,” the artificial intelligence Tiffany answered. “The best course of action, the one with the most likely safe outcome, is to stay here and work with Brinley and the other indigenous people and rebuild the safe zone. Making a fortified and secure place on the Vanguard is the logical, rational, and practical choice.”

  “Forget that option. I am not staying on the Vanguard. What is the fastest way to make the escape from the Vanguard possible?” Paul said in anger. “No more equ
ivocations, you know what I want, and now tell me how to make it happen.”

  “Yes, sir,” Tiffany replied with a tone of derision. “I will make the conjectures on those parameters. Teleportation offers the fewest and least difficult to overcome obstacles. The first order of that course would be to find a working facility for astrogation. As I said, the Vanguard’s systems may be able to be retooled and repurposed for that. I will need to enter the nonphysicality to do an assessment of possible locations for the astronomy work.”

  “So do what you need to do,” Paul instructed.

  “Paul, you are being very demanding. I think it would be wise to listen to Tiffany’s suggestions,” Gretchen said. “And you were just offensive and rude to Brinley. I am with you in this endeavor, but it will not be reckless, and foolhardy. We will fully assess the potentials, and we will listen to what Tiffany and others have to say. Stupidly getting ourselves killed is not an option.”