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

by John Thornton

  “This is to catch a Jellie? Really?” Paul said. “I saw how worthless spears were when Sibat and Oda died. How could this possible be any better?”

  “I said you will also receive a detailed plan. The medallion will show that to you now,” The Artemis stated. “Please uncover the medallion so that I can have the instructions displayed for you.”

  “Wait,” Paul interrupted holding the medallion through his shirt. “I am exhausted. I am hungry. I am not going to learn much right now. I must sleep.”

  “Artemis, we are worn out. We will be much more effective if we can get some rest,” Gretchen said.

  “This chamber might be a safe place to do that, if we could get that door to fold down shut again,” Paul said.

  As if on cue, the door folded itself down and sealed them inside.

  “Artemis? I thought you could not operate the door from your location,” Paul commented.

  There was no response from the medallion.

  “Artemis? What is happening?” Paul asked.

  “The Artemis of D Habitat, Safari cannot operate that door. This unit does have that capability,” a voice said as a display screen lit up along one wall.

  “Who are you?” Gretchen suspiciously asked.

  “It is that Phoenix thing! I will never forget that voice it has,” Paul wailed. “Let us out of here!”

  There was no reply. The folded door remained closed, and the display screen was blank.

  Paul scream and yelled. He said many things and worked hard trying to get a response, but after a while, he quit.

  “I am unable to get any response from The Artemis, or from any system. Even the multiceivers do not illicit any replies, not even from the CPO.” Paul was flustered “We are trapped in here.”

  So Paul pulled out a fusion pack and connected in the molecular torch. “I will just cut our way out of this small structure.”

  “Paul, if we cannot get out, no threat can get inside,” Gretchen said as she halted Paul’s application of the molecular torch. “So shall we rest here while we have a relatively safe place? There is air circulating, and this place is reasonably warm.”

  “I guess a jail is a secure location.” Paul sat down hard and pulled off his backpack.

  “Yes, this place seems secure,” Gretchen placed her arms around Paul as she sat down next to him. “It is not as tight as the FTL scout ship was, and probably not as dangerous. If we need to cut our way out later, we can do that. For now, shall we eat and rest? We are not freezing, right?”

  “We are in this together,” Paul said as he returned her embrace. “Now we are trapped together.”

  A troubled sleep came over them both.

  10 Recovery and continuation

  Larissa’s body was carried by the automacubes into the palace. They approached the Faulkner Infirmary which was located on the ground level. The infirmary was the original building that had stood at that location. The first Governor of the Wilds, Donovan Faulkner had wanted to be close to the infirmary because of his own paranoid fears and obsession about his personal health. He had been raised on Earth, being born just two years before the Great Event and the 90 Hour War. His parents and he had survived, but he had seen too many of the plagues, designer diseases, and radiation sicknesses which had happened while he grew up. Therefore, shortly after the launch of the Vanguard, he had started the building of the palace around the infirmary. He had died during a construction accident while building the palace, and the following Governor, Sharon, named the infirmary in his honor.

  The automacubes lifted Larissa’s body onto a treatment table while the human doctors, nurses, and attendants rushed to her side. She was gently and carefully laid into a position for further treatments and procedures.

  “Governor Konstantin says this was an assassination attempt on Larissa,” one of the nurses said, his voice hushed and quiet. “Two leaders attacked right here in Miass, one dead a while back, and now this one severely wounded. What is behind this attack on Larissa?”

  “We all know who this is,” the lead human doctor replied. “and the motives for the attack do not matter in her treatment.” The doctor was aware of the nurse’s tendency to speak his mind openly. He was tolerated because he was a very good nurse, although he annoyed many people with his jabbering and running commentary.

  The two medical automacubes plugged themselves into the treatment table. One of them announced, “I am Doctor M903, I will be the attending physician in the absence of the guidance of TSI-4411. Let the record show my colleague will be the human, Doctor Janacek, as per protocols for situations when the medical artificial intelligence system is nonfunctional.”

  “Do we really have time for formalities?” Doctor Janacek asked. She was a short and thin woman with long black hair. “This is a severe injury.”

  The automacube responded, “Doctor Janacek, there is always time to follow proper protocol and procedures. Initiating diagnostics.”

  “You are positive TSI-4411 is not responsive?” Doctor Janacek asked.

  “Yes. Emergency requests sent four times. No response to any of those requests. TSI-4411 is nonresponsive,” the automacube replied. “Unable to contact Machine Maintenance for assistance.”

  The display screen behind the treatment table lit up.

  The gravity manipulation fields took over, and Larissa’s body hovered above the treatment table. The stretcher that held Larissa was deflated, and it then was gently pulled away. The tubes, lines, ports, and apparatus which had established the suspended animation state in Larissa remained in place. The manipulation arms on the automacubes removed her gear, and precisely cut off her clothing, The area around Larissa shimmered as temperature, lighting, and air circulation was exactly controlled.

  Doctor M903 began dictation with its mechanical voice. The same findings were also scrolled on the display, “Admitted under Emergency Medical Evacuation Protocol is a 33 year old female, well known to the database. Designation, Larissa. Inhabitant of E Habitat. Identification markers in place and functional. Patient in excellent health prior to incident with evidence of remodeling of injury to forehead in the recent past. Multiple healed fractures from childhood evident. No other medical history. Patient is suffering from severe ballistic trauma to right side of anterior chest, and exit wound to right side of posterior back. Patient maintained in suspended animation. Wound is consistent with projectile of roughly eight millimeters impacting at 320 meters per second. Angle of entry is 28 degrees from horizontal. Chest wall hemorrhage from the muscular, intercostal, and internal mammary artery damage has been contained by coagulation agents. Risk of exsanguination contained. Severe thoracic injuries with seven fractures in the rib cage from both penetrating projectile and secondary boney fragmentation evident. Pulmonary system suffered 47% failure. Both entry and exit wounds and has been stabilized by suspended animation. No other major organ damage. No spinal damage. Do you concur Doctor Janacek?”

  The woman stood and looked over the images on the display, as well as turning to physically examine Larissa’s body. “Please rotate patient for visual assessment.” Larissa’s body turned over as it hovered in the air. The large exit wound was still sealed over with the clotted blood, but its size was significantly larger than the entry wound. Doctor Janacek pondered and considered before she answered. “Yes, I concur with assessment and diagnostic findings. Please establish treatment plan.”

  The automacube responded, “Suggested treatment: Bathing of patient in sterilization field. Removal of all foreign bodies. Removal of damaged areas with autogeneic reconstitution. Tissue engineering and regeneration of entire right lung required. Reconstruction of orthopedic injuries in ribs required. Growth of surrounding supportive tissues to vascular system, muscles, integument, and associated systems and structures required. Suspended animation to be maintained during entire regeneration process, followed with rehabilitation period under accelerated mechanisms. Hemodynamic system components replacement required. Treatment for Neurogenic s
hock required. Prognosis good. Complete recovery expected. Subsequent referral to mental hygiene for post trauma care suggested. Findings submitted by Doctor M903. Do you concur Doctor Janacek?”

  Doctor Janacek reviewed the suggestions, and carefully reassessed Larissa’s body.

  “If we mess this up, Governor Konstantin will have us all killed,” the nurse said. There was genuine fear in his voice.

  “Enough of that kind of talk, Jonathan. Tend to your duties. We would render the same exact aid and treatment no matter who had these injuries,” Doctor Janacek stated. Although in her heart she knew the nurse had spoken a legitimate fear the entire medical team shared. Since the infirmary’s primary medical artificial intelligence system, TSI-4411 had failed, they were forced to rely on older methods of treatment. None of them were absolutely convinced the older methods would be as effective, especially with such an important, and gravely wounded patient. The nurse, his worry just blurted out in his typical unrestrained manner, was only verbalizing what each of them were thinking.

  Doctor Janacek then spoke to the automacube, “Yes, Doctor M903, I concur. Consult with TSI-4411 please.”

  The automacube responded, “Unable to make link or coupling to TSI-4411. Unable to connect to lattice for referral. TSI-4411 remains unavailable.”

  Doctor Janacek then ordered, “Initiate treatments.”

  The automacube responded, “Initiating treatments. Removal of foreign bodies underway. Removal of necrotizing flesh underway. Regenerative processes and tissue engineering begun. Time for completion of treatment regime, eighteen hours while in suspended animation, and then nine hours of treatment under sedation. Full physical recovery expected in twenty seven hours. Addendum: unusual finding is evident in patient’s immune system. Antibodies in thymus, spleen, bone marrow and especially in the lymphatic fluids as well as blood are unknown to data base. Initiating investigation on the properties of these antibodies on this patient.”

  Larissa’s body was bathed in golden colored light. More instruments and devices extended up from the treatment table and down from the ceiling. These entered into her body and began the restorative process while she remained in suspended animation. The coagulated blood on the entry and exit wounds was removed cell by cell. The internal injuries were similarly addressed.

  “I will go and speak to Governor Konstantin,” Doctor Janacek stated and left the area. “Continue to monitor and alert me to anything unexpected. Make sure these systems are functioning as we need. Without the AI they need closer attention.”

  “Understood,” the nurse replied. “I hope there are no more shootings.”

  Except for the one nurse, the rest of the staff departed.

  Jonathan the nurse watched as Larissa’s body was rebuilt. He redundantly checked the patency of the lines, tubes, and channels by which the treatments were flowing in, as well as the power supplies to the treatment table. All was well. The display behind the treatment table showed graphics of her status and the repairs in progress.

  Jonathan spoke to himself, “I would hate to think what will happen to the shooter. A simple execution will be a lucky break for that one. I wonder if it was a lone shooter or more of a conspiracy. When Governor Muravyev was murdered there were several smugglers. I just wonder.”

  The two automacubes remained plugged into the treatment table. The nurse pulled out a stool and sat down to monitor the progress. He had little else to do now that the process had begun. The machines were doing the physical manipulations, and he was there to oversee their progress.

  “Yes, I hate to think about what she will do to the person who shot her. It would be better if the troopers kill that shooter in a firefight than fall into Larissa’s hands after all this,” the nurse, Jonathan said out loud.

  The display screen flashed suddenly. The words scrolled across the display just as the automacube made those same words audible. “This patient is immune to the Outbreak.”

  The nurse was stunned. For one of the few times in his life, Jonathan the nurse did not know what to say.

  Meanwhile, Brinley had been escorted by Governor Konstantin to a secure location inside the palace. He had then left Brinley with a trooper. She used a bathroom to clean up, and then was brought to a large conference room in the palace. There were about a dozen people sitting around a tables, and there were troopers standing guard at the entrances. The troopers had grim and determined looks on their faces and holstered sidearms.

  “Brinley!” Tennard said as he rose from the table and walked over to hug her. “It is so good to see you. Let me look at you!” He looked briefly and then pulled her into a tight embrace. He whispered into her ear, “They are rounding up all the Free Rangers.”

  “It is good to see you again Tennard,” Brinley said, and a few tears ran down her face. His age was even more pronounced than when Brinley had seen him before. The deeply wrinkled face, short white hair standing erect over his head, and his stooped stature now looked more advanced and more elderly.

  “I heard about the shooting,” a woman said in a beautiful voice as she too came up to Brinley. “You were not injured, were you?”

  “Jodie!” Brinley turned and hugged her as well. Jodie had a beautiful voice, straight black hair which hung down to her chin, and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in sweeping and shimmering robes which reminded Brinley that Jodie had been the leader of a minstrel troop before all the chaos with the Jellies. “Are there any shows going on? Is Feegin the Thief being performed here?”

  Jodie laughed a bit. “I wish those time could be relived. We had been working to help integrate the Free Rangers with the people of the Wilds, but after what has happened today, I am not sure if that will ever be possible.”

  Constable Brock walked in. He was flanked by two more troopers. These were carrying carbines. Everyone became quiet and looked to the Constable.

  “I believe,” Constable Brock began, “that all of you were treated more than fairly and shown courtesy when you needed to escape from the Jellies and the Roe. You came from the dangerous and ruined places outside of the Wilds. We opened our home to you, despite the Quarantine, despite the Roe, and despite the Jellies. Larissa was instrumental in those operations to assist you.”

  There were some murmurs from around the gathered Free Rangers, but no outright mocking or heckling.

  “And for all her efforts, one of you has tried to kill her,” Constable Brock continued. “Sigmond was found with weapon in hand. I am here to uncover who was assisting him in this act of cowardice and wickedness. He pulled a Baldwin, and I am here to see who helped him to do it.”

  The Free Rangers grew in a collective gasp. It was clear they had heard that Larissa had been shot, but they did not know the name of her assailant. Many also took offense at the idiom, ‘pulled a Baldwin’ as they traced their ancestry back to the Pilot Baldwin who founded the Free Rangers.

  Tennard stepped forward, with a bit of a limp, but a pride in his walk. “I knew Sigmond well. I worked with him to escape from the massacre at the hanger bay, and together we avoided much danger and many threats. Yet, I did not know he was planning this attempted killing.”

  Constable Brock walked over to the old man. “I am glad you admitted your association with the criminal. I already knew that and had you tried to hide the facts, I would have had you taken away for interrogation.”

  “I believe Sigmond was capable of this act,” Tennard replied. “Yet again, I was not aware of his plans. Had I been, I would have dissuaded that assassination attempt. Larissa has much to answer for, but the Jellies pose a much worse threat.”

  “How can you side with these bio-habby scum?” One of the Free Rangers commented. “Tennard you are old and feeble. Your mind is going.”

  Constable Brock walked over to the woman who had made that comment. Brinley did not know her well, and thought her name was Katherine. She was a slender woman with a prominent chin and high cheekbones.

  Constable Brock slugged her in the abdomen. She t
ried to react, but his punch was far too quick. She toppled over in agony and fell to the floor.

  “I am asking the questions here, and I do not appreciate your attitude,” Brock said. “Take her away and place her in a cell next to Sigmond. Make sure the recording devices are operational in case they share with each other.”

  A trooper leapt to obey and had Katherine hogtied and carried away. She was still gasping for breath, and the restraints did not help her in breathing.

  “Now back to you Tennard,” Constable Brock said. “I believe you when you say you did not know of Sigmond’s plans. However, as we have just seen, not all the smugglers agree with your cooperation with me. I have my troopers reviewing the logs and security monitors. I will know who worked with Sigmond shortly. I have also sent a runner to the Reproduction and Fabrication Center to consult with TSI-980RF. As you know, Tennard, you have enabled that AI to remain operational as a stand-alone unit. The weapon that was used is of antique design, and remains now in my possession. It was recently manufactured. We will know everything that the AI has in its logs when the runner returns.”